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Edit Boulengerochromis microlepis

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Name

Scientific name

Boulengerochromis microlepis

Described by

Authority Boulenger, Year 1899, Bracketed

Family

Cichlidae

Common names

Emperor Cichlid

Photograph credits

All 8 credited

Summary

The emperor cichlid, Boulengerochromis microlepis, is the only member of its genus and the largest African cichlid, endemic to Lake Tangany…

Size and aquarium

Maximum size

550mm, standard length

Aquarium size

Not recorded

Water

Water conditions

Temperature 24–28°C, pH 7.5–9

Hardness

10–25dGH

Conductivity

Not recorded

Behaviour

Temperament

Predatory

Social needs

A pair

Community suitability

Not for a community

Where it lives

Countries, regions, rivers and lakes

Burundi, DR Congo, Tanzania, Zambia, Lake Tanganyika

Writing

Etymology

Not written yet

Distribution

Endemic to Lake Tanganyika and has been recorded throughout the lake.

Habitat

Mostly inhabits littoral to sublittoral zones, habitats which comprise a mixture of rocky rubble and exposed sandy areas, but has been recorded to depths of ar…

Aquarium size

Suitable only for public installations or the very largest private aquaria. An adult pair would command a territory measuring at least 5 m² in nature.

Maintenance

A simple set-up with a sandy substrate plus a few large rocks arranged to break up the space should suffice. Place the latter directly on the base of the tank …

Water conditions

Not written yet

Diet

Juvenile specimens are omnivorous but become increasingly piscivorous as they grow. Most captive specimens will accept dried foods but are better offered live …

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Behaviour and compatibility

Not particularly aggressive with anything too large to fit in its mouth but due to its adult size the choices are fairly limited. In suitably-sized surrounding…

Sexual dimorphism

Males are larger and more colourful than females.

Reproduction

Substrate-spawner. It has been bred in aquaria, albeit infrequently, and is produced for the aquarium trade on commercial farms in Florida and the Far East in …

Notes

This species is the only member of its genus, the largest African cichlid species and a prized food fish around Lake Tanganyika. As an adult it's almost entire…

References

References

2 on this profile