Edit Xenotilapia flavipinnis

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Name

Scientific name

Xenotilapia flavipinnis

Described by

Not recorded

Family

Cichlidae

Summary

The yellow sand cichlid, Xenotilapia flavipinnis, is a bi-parental mouthbrooder endemic to Lake Tanganyika, where groups swim over sandy su…

Size and aquarium

Maximum size

90mm, standard length

Tank size

Minimum length 75 cm, Minimum depth 30 cm, Minimum height 30 cm

Water

Temperature and pH

Temperature 23–27°C, pH 8–9.5

Hardness

8–25dGH

Conductivity

Not recorded

Behaviour

Temperament

Not recorded

Community suitability

Not recorded

Where it lives

Countries

Not recorded

Supporting text

Etymology

Not written yet

Distribution

Endemic to Lake Tanganyika.

Habitat

The fish are found swimming in groups over sandy substrates in open water. When spawning, they retreat to rockier areas.

Aquarium size

75 ∗ 30 ∗ 30 cm30 ∗ 12 ∗ 12 in - ~68 litres~18 US gal.

Maintenance

The tank should have plenty of open floor space, with a substrate of sand to allow the fish to exhibit their natural behaviour. Gravel can become trapped in th…

Water conditions

Temperature: 23 – 27 °C73 – 81 °F pH: 8.0-9.5 Hardness: 8-25°H

Diet

In nature it is a micropredator, feeding chiefly on small invertebrates it finds by "sifting" mouthfuls of sand. In the aquarium it will accept most foods offe…

Behaviour and compatibility

A gentle and peace-loving species that will not compete well with more boisterous or vigorous fish. Do not keep it with mbuna. Good tankmates include some of t…

Sexual dimorphism

Not easy to sex. Male fish tend to be slightly more colourful than females. Examining the vents of the fish is the only reliable method of sexing, but this app…

Reproduction

Not too difficult. Bi-parental mouthbrooder. We suggest the purchase of a group of young fish and allowing these to pair off naturally. If kept as a single pai…

Not too difficult. Bi-parental mouthbrooder. We suggest the purchase of a group of young fish and allowing these to pair off naturally. If kept as a single pair, they may squabble and fare much better when kept as a group like this. The aquarium itself should be at least 30" in length and set up as suggested above, with a pH of 8.2-9.0 and a temperature of 25 – 26.5 °C77 – 80 °F. Condition the fish on a good, varied diet.

When spawning, the fish develop a strong pair bond, initiated by displays from both sexes. They will then select a territory (generally just an area of substrate) of some 12" in diameter and will defend this against conspecifics. No particular spawning site is selected by the pair, and they may move around the territory during the act itself. Just prior to the actual event, the pair will begin to defend an area around twice as big as normal.

Spawning consists of the female laying her eggs in small batches. She will clean an area of substrate, deposit a few eggs and then move away to allow the male to fertilise them. She then takes the eggs into her mouth. This process is repeated until the female can hold no more in her mouth. During spawning, the female will not lay any eggs if the male is away defending the territory, instead waiting for him to return or assisting him.

Following the spawn, the territory is reduced to its original size. The female continues to hold the eggs for 9-12 days, before passing the entire brood (now hatched) to the male, who continues the incubation for a further 10 days or so. He then releases the free swimming fry within the territory. Brood care by the parents continues for 3 weeks or so, with the fry seeking refuge in the mouth of the male if they feel threatened. If any fry happen to wander into the territory of another pair, they will be protected by the holders of that territory.

The fry will accept brine shrimp nauplii or microworm as first foods.

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Where does this come from?

My own experienceFor example, I've kept twelve in a planted 60 cm tank since March 2024.A website I sawFor example, an IUCN Red List assessment, a museum catalogue or a FishBase page.A paperFor example, Marshall et al. (2011), Water temperature differences in interfluvial palm swamp habitats of Paracheirodon axelrodi and P. simulans.A book, or something not onlineFor example, Tappin (2010), Rainbowfishes: their care and keeping in captivity.Something already on the profileFor example, the Behaviour and compatibility section already says this.

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DOI

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Authors

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Year

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Pages

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Notes

In nature, the pair bond formed by this species lasts only for the duration of the breeding season. However, in aquaria this bond can last much longer, with th…

References

No references

Name

Scientific name

Described by

Family

Summary

Size and aquarium

Maximum size

Tank size

Water

Temperature and pH

Hardness

Conductivity

Behaviour

Temperament

Social needs

Community suitability

Where it lives

Countries

Supporting text

Etymology

Distribution

Habitat

Aquarium size

Maintenance

Water conditions

Diet

Behaviour and compatibility

Sexual dimorphism

Reproduction

Notes

References

References