Spathodus marlieri Goby Cichlid Care Guide
Spathodus marlieri is the largest Tanganyika goby cichlid, a shallow surf-zone rock-grazer that broods young in the mouth.
Compiled by Aquairi from published sources · Published · Updated
Overview
Spathodus marlieri is the largest of the Tanganyika goby cichlids, endemic to the lake and described by Poll in 1950. It is known only from the northern portion, where it inhabits very shallow rocky areas and grazes microorganisms from the rock biocover. The species name honours Belgian zoologist Georges Marlier.
Taxonomy
- Family: Cichlidae
- Genus: Spathodus
- Scientific name: Spathodus marlieri
- Described by Poll, 1950
Habitat
FishBase reports it from rocky substrates in very shallow water down to about 2 metres in the northern lake, where it swims over the rock bottom alone or in pairs. It is a freshwater, benthopelagic species of tropical waters around 25-27 °C.
Tank requirements
- Minimum tank volume: 200 L (53 gal)
- Temperature: 24-27 °C (75-81 °F)
- pH: 8.5-9.2
- GH: 12-25 °dGH
- Strong water movement and high oxygenation; rocky surf-zone layout
- Lifespan: 5-8 years
Replicate the shallow surf zone with strong current and high oxygen. FishBase lists a wild temperature near 25-27 °C; the parameters above follow the verified care record for hard, alkaline Rift-lake water.
Diet
Feeds by picking microorganisms from the rock biocover, with a trophic level around 3.3 per FishBase. In the aquarium offer small frozen and prepared foods with vegetable content, fed about twice daily.
Compatibility
Semi-aggressive and bottom-oriented. It suits Tanganyika tanks with other goby cichlids and open-water Cyprichromis. Avoid mbuna and Tropheus, which would outcompete this specialist.
Breeding
A mouthbrooder. FishBase reports the female broods and cares for the young, holding eggs and larvae in the mouth in the manner typical of Tanganyika goby cichlids.
Conservation status
FishBase lists IUCN Near Threatened (assessed 2025); an earlier Wikipedia entry cited Least Concern, reflecting differing assessment versions.
Spathodus marlieri Breeding Guide
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.