Spathodus marlieri Breeding Guide

Breeding Spathodus marlieri, the largest Tanganyikan goby cichlid: a maternal mouthbrooder in which the female broods the whole clutch herself.

Overview

Spathodus marlieri is the largest of the Tanganyikan goby cichlids, reaching about 10 cm (3.9 in) TL, and is endemic to the northern portion of Lake Tanganyika, preferring rocky substrates in very shallow water to about 2 m depth (Wikipedia). Unlike the other eretmodine goby cichlids, peer-reviewed research finds that S. marlieri performs exclusively maternal mouthbrooding: the female broods eggs and larvae in her mouth but does not transfer the larvae to the male (peer-reviewed review of eretmodine parental care).

Sexing

External sexual dimorphism is limited in the goby cichlids; reliable visual sexing is not documented in the consulted whitelisted sources, so it is omitted here. Raising a group is the practical way to obtain breeding fish.

Conditioning

As a grazing surge-zone species, S. marlieri should be conditioned on a vegetable-rich diet with some small invertebrate foods, with strong oxygenation and current matching its shallow rocky habitat (Wikipedia for habitat).

Breeding Setup

Provide a shallow, rocky, well-oxygenated aquarium with vigorous water movement that mimics the surf zone. Because brood care here is maternal rather than shared, a single brooding female does not depend on a partner to complete incubation.

Egg & Fry Care

The female carries the eggs and developing larvae in her mouth throughout incubation and, unlike Eretmodus and Tanganicodus, retains the larvae herself rather than passing them to the male (peer-reviewed review). She will not feed while brooding. Once released, fry of Tanganyikan goby cichlids generally accept fine first foods such as brine shrimp nauplii.

Common Challenges

The species is demanding to keep and breed because of its need for very high oxygenation and strong flow. Note: this species' mouthbrooding mode (maternal) differs from the biparental pattern of the other surf-zone goby cichlids; specific clutch numbers were not confirmed in a whitelisted source and are omitted.