Dhont's Telmatochromis (Telmatochromis dhonti) Care Guide
Slender bottom-dwelling Lamprologine reaching 12 cm with subtle vertical bars. Pair-bonding cave spawner; peaceful for its size and a good partner for Cyprichromis or shellies.
Compiled by Aquairi from published sources · Published · Updated
Overview
Telmatochromis dhonti is a species in the family Cichlidae. Slender bottom-dwelling Lamprologine reaching 12 cm with subtle vertical bars. Pair-bonding cave spawner; peaceful for its size and a good partner for Cyprichromis or shellies.
Taxonomy
- Family: Cichlidae
- Genus: Telmatochromis
- Scientific name: Telmatochromis dhonti
- Origin: Africa, Lake Tanganyika
Habitat
Endemic to Lake Tanganyika, inhabiting rocky shorelines. A robust cichlid that shelters and breeds in rock crevices; larger and stockier than its shell-dwelling congeners. A substrate-spawning cichlid that forms territorial pairs.
Tank requirements
- Minimum tank volume: 200 L
- Temperature: 24-27 °C
- pH: 8.5-9.2
- GH: 12-25 °dGH
- Adult size: 10-13 cm
- Lifespan: 5-8 years
- Difficulty: intermediate
Diet
Classified as carnivore. Recommended feeding frequency: 2x daily. In captivity, offer a varied diet appropriate to the species — quality prepared foods supplemented with frozen or live items of suitable size.
Compatibility
- Temperament: peaceful
- Swimming level: bottom
- Compatible tank mates: Cyprichromis, Julidochromis, Other shellies, Synodontis petricola, Cyphotilapia
- Avoid with: Mbuna, Tropheus, Aggressive haps
Breeding
- Breeding strategy: cave-spawner
- Breeding difficulty: intermediate
Breeding Telmatochromis dhonti
Overview
Telmatochromis dhonti is a slender bottom-dwelling Lamprologine endemic to Lake Tanganyika, reaching about 12 cm total length. According to FishBase it is a cave-brooder that forms temporary pair bonds and inhabits many types of rock substrate, even in very muddy water. It is listed as Least Concern by the IUCN and appears in the aquarium trade.
Sexing
External sexing is difficult. As with related Lamprologines, males tend to reach a larger size, but reliable pairing is usually achieved by raising a group and allowing a bond to form naturally.
Conditioning
Maintain the hard, alkaline conditions of the lake. FishBase lists a pH range of 8.5-9.0, hardness of 10-15 dH and a temperature of 24-26 C for the species. A varied diet suited to its omnivorous, microorganism-based feeding supports spawning condition.
Breeding Setup
Provide a spacious aquarium with sand and abundant rockwork forming caves and crevices. Empty shells are also used facultatively, as the species occurs both in shell beds and on sand and rock; offering both shells and rock holes gives a bonded pair a defensible brood site.
Spawning Behavior & Trigger
Pairs are temporary and bond around a spawning site. The female lays the eggs within a cave or crevice, with FishBase reporting clutches of up to 500 eggs. Mature, stable lake-type water with a suitable brooding cavity is the principal trigger.
Egg & Fry Care
Care is divided between the parents: the female tends the eggs and offspring inside the cave while the male defends the surrounding territory. Once the fry are free swimming they can be offered small live and powdered foods appropriate to their size.
Common Challenges
Because the pair bond is temporary, the male may become intolerant of the female between broods, so a large tank with visual barriers reduces aggression. Free-swimming fry in a community can be predated, so monitor the brood closely.