Xenotilapia spilopterus Care Guide
Xenotilapia spilopterus is a sand-sifting Lake Tanganyika cichlid of the southern lake that lives in groups and is a biparental mouthbrooder.
Compiled by Aquairi from published sources · Published · Updated
Overview
Xenotilapia spilopterus is a cichlid of the family Cichlidae described by Poll and Stewart in 1975. It is endemic to Lake Tanganyika, where it is widely distributed in the southern part of the lake. FishBase records a maximum total length of about 9.6 cm.
Taxonomy
- Family: Cichlidae
- Genus: Xenotilapia
- Scientific name: Xenotilapia spilopterus
- Described by: Poll & Stewart, 1975
Habitat
The species is endemic to Lake Tanganyika and is widely distributed in the southern part of the lake, where it lives over sandy substrates. It occurs in groups and sometimes forms large schools.
Tank requirements
- Minimum tank volume: 350 L
- Temperature: 24-27 °C (75-81 °F)
- pH: 8.5-9.2
- GH: 12-25 °dGH
- Group size: 6 or more individuals
- Lifespan: 6-10 years
Diet
According to FishBase, Xenotilapia spilopterus feeds on insect larvae by scooping up sandy substrate and sifting it through the gills. A deep, fine sand bed supports this natural feeding behaviour, supplemented by small frozen and prepared foods.
Compatibility
This peaceful group fish should be kept in shoals of six or more. Compatible tankmates include Cyprichromis, Cyphotilapia and other Xenotilapia, while aggressive Mbuna and Tropheus should be avoided.
Breeding
According to FishBase, Xenotilapia spilopterus is a biparental mouthbrooder that lives in groups and sometimes forms large schools, with both parents sharing care of the brood.
Conservation status
IUCN Red List: Least Concern. The species is recorded in the aquarium trade.
Xenotilapia spilopterus Breeding Guide
Overview
Xenotilapia spilopterus (also written spiloptera) is a sand-sifting cichlid endemic to Lake Tanganyika, preferring sandy substrates and reaching about 9.6 cm (3.8 in) TL (Wikipedia). Peer-reviewed phylogenetic study of the genus classifies it as a bi-parental mouthbrooder, one of the Xenotilapia species in which both parents share incubation (peer-reviewed study).
Sexing
Visual sexing is limited; ripe females become rounder in the belly when carrying mature eggs. Reliable breeders are usually obtained by raising a group and allowing pairs to form.
Conditioning
Condition the group on small invertebrate foods appropriate for a sand-sifting micropredator, keeping water hard and alkaline in line with its Tanganyikan habitat.
Breeding Setup
Provide an open sandy substrate with some rockwork for orientation, and keep the fish as a group so compatible pairs can establish. As a biparental mouthbrooder, a settled pair shares the incubation duties.
Spawning Behavior & Trigger
Spawning takes place over the sand. As in other biparental Xenotilapia, the female first takes up the fertilised eggs into her mouth (peer-reviewed study). The shared incubation that follows is the defining feature of the biparental species in this genus.
Egg & Fry Care
In biparental Xenotilapia the female holds the brood for the first part of incubation before transferring it to the male, who completes incubation; both parents then guard the released fry (genus-level pattern documented for biparental Xenotilapia). Note: the exact brooding durations and clutch size for X. spilopterus were not confirmed in a whitelisted source, so the transfer mechanics here are given at the level of biparental Xenotilapia and should be treated as genus-level guidance.
Common Challenges
Maintaining a balanced group to allow natural pairing and providing ample open sand are the main practical points. As with related sand-sifters, fine first foods such as brine shrimp nauplii are needed once fry are released.