Christmas Fulu (Xystichromis phytophagus) Care Guide
Xystichromis phytophagus, the Christmas fulu, is a herbivorous Lake Victoria haplochromine. It is a maternal mouthbrooder and a popular conservation strain.
Overview
Xystichromis phytophagus, known as the Christmas fulu, is a haplochromine cichlid endemic to Lake Victoria. It was described by Greenwood in 1966 and is also catalogued under Haplochromis phytophagus. Unlike many of its relatives, it is a dedicated plant-eater, and it is among the most widely kept Lake Victoria conservation strains in the hobby.
Taxonomy
- Family: Cichlidae
- Genus: Xystichromis
- Scientific name: Xystichromis phytophagus
- Common synonyms: Haplochromis phytophagus
Habitat
FishBase records the species as endemic to Lake Victoria, a freshwater benthopelagic fish of shallow sandy littoral zones near aquatic vegetation. Its preference for vegetated shallows reflects its largely plant-based diet.
Tank requirements
- Minimum tank volume: 250 L
- Temperature: 24-28 °C (75-82 °F)
- pH: 7.5-8.5
- GH: 10-20 °dGH
- Maximum size: about 8.6 cm SL (FishBase)
- Substrate: sand
- Lifespan: 5-8 years
Diet
The species is herbivorous (phytophagous). FishBase reports gut contents of phanerogam leaf tissue along with epiphytic diatoms and blue-green algae, giving it a low trophic level of 2.0. A vegetable-rich aquarium diet, such as spirulina-based foods, matches its natural feeding.
Compatibility
It is a semi-aggressive, mid-water cichlid suited to robust Victorian haplochromine communities with Astatotilapia and Synodontis catfish. It should be kept away from Lake Malawi Mbuna, Tropheus and gentle fish such as Discus, Apistogramma and other dwarf cichlids.
Breeding
FishBase records the species as a mouthbrooder; the female incubates eggs and fry in her mouth, in line with the wider Haplochromini.
Conservation status
IUCN Red List: Data Deficient (assessed 2010). Lake Victoria haplochromines suffered severe declines after the Nile perch introduction, which underpins their value as captive conservation strains.