Burundi

Benthochromis tricoti is a deep-water cichlid endemic to Lake Tanganyika, where it lives in open water and feeds on zooplankton. The species is seldom seen in the hobby as it is difficult to collect and ship, and the similar B. horii, described in 2008, had been confused with it and traded under its name. It needs a long tank with the upper two thirds left clear for swimming, and calm tankmates.

Caecomastacembelus albomaculatus is a spiny eel endemic to Lake Tanganyika, where it inhabits rocky areas around the shoreline. Rarely seen in the hobby, it suits a Tanganyikan community of species too large to be considered food, and its hard, alkaline water requirements rule out most other freshwater tanks. The stiffened dorsal rays that give spiny eels their name mean care is needed when handling it.

Caecomastacembelus plagiostomus is a spiny eel endemic to Lake Tanganyika, found in shallow water over rocky areas around the shoreline. Very rarely seen in the hobby, it suits a Tanganyikan community of species too large to be considered food and is somewhat territorial with conspecifics. It grows to 300 mm SL, and its stiffened dorsal rays call for care when handling it.

The big-eyed mouthbrooder, Callochromis macrops, is a sand-sifting cichlid endemic to Lake Tanganyika, found in the southern part of the lake. It lives over shallow sandy bottoms near rocks, taking in mouthfuls of sand and sifting out invertebrates through the gills. Several geographical colour forms exist and should not be kept together, as they hybridise freely. Males are particularly belligerent towards one another in captivity, so a small tank suits one male with several females.

The humphead cichlid, Cyphotilapia frontosa, is a large cichlid endemic to the northern portion of Lake Tanganyika. Known in the hobby as 'frontosa' or 'front', it grows to 255 mm SL and is gregarious, forming a dominance hierarchy in groups of at least five. Populations are usually labelled by locality to preserve pure bloodlines, and forms referred to as 'Blue Zaire' belong to its only congener, C. gibberosa.

The smallscale Cyprichromis, Cyprichromis microlepidotus, is an open-water cichlid endemic to Lake Tanganyika, mostly at the northern end of the lake. Quite a rarity in the hobby, it lives in huge mixed groups with other Cyprichromis species and the similar Paracyprichromis. Several geographical variants exist, each with a yellow and a blue-tailed form, and they should never be mixed in the aquarium because they will interbreed.

Gnathochromis permaxillaris is a deep-water cichlid endemic to Lake Tanganyika, recorded foraging at depths of up to 200 metres. The upper lip of adults is extended to extraordinary proportions, so the mouth faces downwards when opened, and the fish uses it to sift invertebrates from the sand. It is rare in the trade because it is difficult to collect in numbers, it is sensitive to deteriorating water quality, and the colour morphs should not be mixed as they may hybridise.

The African tiger fish, Hydrocynus vittatus, is a large predatory alestid found throughout Africa, from Egypt to South Africa. A voracious piscivore with dagger-shaped, interlocking teeth, it hunts in large shoals in the wild and is a popular game fish. Small specimens show up quite frequently in dealers' tanks, but even an aquarium of 300 by 90 cm is too small for an adult.

Regan's julie, Julidochromis regani, is the largest species of Julie, a cichlid endemic to Lake Tanganyika. It reaches 30 cm but rarely grows beyond 15 cm in aquaria, and is the least aggressive member of the genus. Less of a rock dweller than its congeners, it is more often found over sand with scattered rocks, though it still spawns in rocky caves. It may also be seen for sale as the striped or convict julie.

Lestradea perspicax is a cichlid endemic to the northern end of Lake Tanganyika, where it inhabits shallow water over sandy substrates. There is some confusion over the taxonomy of this species and its congener L. stappersi, which was originally regarded as a subspecies of perspicax and is now considered distinct. Very peaceful, and a maternal mouthbrooder in nature, it is not often seen in the hobby.

The African bullhead, Lophiobagrus cyclurus, is a small claroteid catfish endemic to Lake Tanganyika. It hides among rocks by day and forages after dark, and it lives in most communities of Tanganyikan catfish and cichlids, though very small fish will be eaten. It is rumoured to secrete a poisonous mucus when stressed that can kill other fish in the aquarium, which is one reason to house it in as large a tank as possible.

The Tanganyikan spiny eel, Mastacembelus ellipsifer, is a spiny eel endemic to Lake Tanganyika. It is found around the shores, most often where the rocks give way to sandier substrates, and spends much of its time burrowed in the substrate, so the aquarium needs a layer of sand. Nocturnal and predatory, it is best kept in a Tanganyikan community with species too large to be considered food.

Neolamprologus brichardi is a small cichlid endemic to Lake Tanganyika, found mainly over rocky shores in the northern half of the lake. Known in the hobby as the Princess of Burundi, it lives in large colonies where older young help their parents guard each new brood. It is very like N. pulcher and is told apart by the T-shaped pair of bars on its gill cover. The two hybridise, so they should not be kept together.

Neolamprologus callipterus is a shell-brooding cichlid endemic to Lake Tanganyika, in which males grow many times larger than females. Males must be large enough to carry snail shells and females small enough to fit inside them, and in nature the nests of large males can measure several metres across. Males are territorial and aggressive, and the species is not very popular in the hobby because of its relatively drab colouration and aggressive nature.

Neolamprologus kungweensis is a territorial cichlid endemic to Lake Tanganyika, where it lives over open mud flats at 10 to 50 m and digs tunnels in the firm mud. It can be recognised by the gold on top of the eye and a black spot towards the back of the dorsal fin. It uses snail shells only occasionally in the wild. In the aquarium it breeds in them, and it needs a deep soft substrate to dig in and more empty snail shells than there are fish. It is not often seen in the hobby.

Lemaire's lamprologus, Neolamprologus lemairii, is a piscivorous cichlid endemic to Lake Tanganyika, growing to around 25 cm. An ambush predator, it lies motionless on the substrate so that its mottled pattern makes it appear dead to the smaller fish that come to investigate. It is unsuited to the general aquarium and should be kept alone, with tankmates too large to be considered food. In nature it spawns in caves.

Known in the hobby as the brichardi, Neolamprologus pulcher is a cichlid endemic to Lake Tanganyika, where it lives over rocky shoreline. It is sold as the fairy cichlid, lyretail cichlid and princess of Burundi, and is easy to keep and breed. It is aggressively territorial, especially when guarding fry, and in nature occurs in shoals of many thousands. Species in the 'Brichardi complex' hybridise freely and should not be mixed.

Ophthalmotilapia nasuta is a mouthbrooding cichlid endemic to Lake Tanganyika, found on its northwestern, southwestern and southern coasts. A fleshy, proboscis-like growth extending beyond the upper lip, more prominent in males, separates it from the rest of the genus. Several geographical morphs exist, including 'Kachese', 'Mpimbwe', 'Cape Tembwe' and 'Chamba', and these should not be mixed as they hybridise freely.

The Tanganyikan tilapia, Oreochromis tanganicae, is a large cichlid endemic to Lake Tanganyika, where it inhabits river mouths and shorelines. It is often seen in shoals in nature and appears to feed primarily on phytoplankton. Reaching 42 cm, it is not seen very often in the hobby.

Paracyprichromis brieni is a deep-water cichlid endemic to Lake Tanganyika, where it is quite widespread. Males hold territories under rocky overhangs and are often seen hanging upside down beneath them, while females stay in open water above the rocks. It is easily confused with P. nigripinnis, its only congener, but has smaller eyes and a slimmer, more elongate body, and it quickly loses its best colouration under bright lighting or with boisterous tankmates.

A deep-water cichlid endemic to Lake Tanganyika, Paracyprichromis nigripinnis is easily confused with P. brieni, its only congener. It has larger eyes and a slightly rounder, stockier body than that species. Males hold territories under rocky overhangs and can often be seen hanging upside down beneath them. Several colour morphs exist that hybridise if mixed, and the fish loses its best colouration under bright lighting or with boisterous tankmates.

Petrochromis famula is a cichlid endemic to Lake Tanganyika, found in both the north and the south of the lake in shallow water over rocky bottoms. Its highly specialised mouthparts form a rasping 'plate' for scraping algae from rock, so the diet in captivity should be high in fibre and low in protein. Like others in the genus it has a nasty reputation, though aggression is directed primarily towards conspecifics.

Reganochromis calliurus is a cichlid endemic to Lake Tanganyika, where it usually swims at 60 metres depth or more over sand or mud. Its deep-water lifestyle makes it difficult to collect, and it is rarely seen in the hobby. A peaceful biparental mouthbrooder, it should be kept in pairs and not with boisterous species such as mbuna.

Synodontis granulosa is a large Synodontis catfish endemic to the northern end of Lake Tanganyika, in Burundi and Tanzania. Its deep-water habitat, limited range and solitary lifestyle make collection difficult, so it is rarely seen for sale. It is territorial with its own kind and can be very aggressive in smaller aquaria, though settled fish often become tame enough to feed from the hand. Captive-bred fish from Eastern Europe have been reported to be hybrids.

The cuckoo Synodontis, Synodontis multipunctata, is a Synodontis catfish endemic to Lake Tanganyika, where it swims in large shoals. One of the only fish known to practise brood parasitism, it lays its eggs among those of a mouthbrooding cichlid, and the young catfish devour the host's eggs. It is bred quite often in aquaria, with cichlids from Lake Malawi or Victoria as hosts, and should be kept in a group of four or more.

The dwarf lake Synodontis, Synodontis petricola, is a small, peaceful Synodontis catfish endemic to Lake Tanganyika. Unlike most of the genus it is bred quite often in aquaria, usually as an open-spawning egg scatterer, though it is also one of the few fish known to practise brood parasitism. It should be kept in a group of four or more, and a dwarf form adapts to a wider range of water chemistry.

Poll's Synodontis, Synodontis polli, is a Synodontis catfish endemic to Lake Tanganyika, where it lives in large schools at 30 to 125 metres. It inhabits muddy bottoms and is not comfortable in well-lit conditions without hiding places. Superficially similar to S. petricola, it has larger body spots and a longer head, and it is occasionally mis-identified in the trade as S. angelicus, S. petricola or Synodontis sp.

Tanganicodus irsacae is a goby cichlid endemic to the northern part of Lake Tanganyika, living among pebbles and rocks in water under 1 metre deep. In this surge zone it scrapes algae from the rocks. Quite delicate in aquaria, it needs the highest water quality, a higher pH than many Tanganyikans and a relatively specialised diet, and it is aggressive towards its own kind. A bi-parental mouthbrooder, it is difficult to breed.

Telmatochromis vittatus is a lamprologine cichlid endemic to Lake Tanganyika, found in open water near rocky areas at 5 to 20 metres. Similar in lifestyle to Julidochromis species, it suits the smaller Tanganyikan community. It is told from T. brichardi and T. bifrenatus by its larger size, smaller eyes and more rounded nose, and should be kept as a pair because it is aggressive towards conspecifics.

The yellow sand cichlid, Xenotilapia flavipinnis, is a bi-parental mouthbrooder endemic to Lake Tanganyika, where groups swim over sandy substrates. In nature the pair bond lasts only for the breeding season. In aquaria it can last much longer, with the pair remaining in their territory and defending it even when not spawning. A gentle substrate-sifter, it needs sand, a group of 6-10 and peaceful Tanganyikan tankmates, and it is very sensitive to deteriorating water conditions.

The black-chinned xenotilapia, Xenotilapia melanogenys, is a cichlid endemic to Lake Tanganyika, where it lives in huge shoals over sandy substrates. Much of the literature still places it in the genus Enatiopus. The shoals in nature appear to be fixed, with an individual remaining in the same group for life. A skittish fish, it may react very nervously to rapid movements outside the tank and should not be kept with boisterous fish such as mbuna.

The big-eyed xenotilapia, Xenotilapia sima, is a cichlid endemic to Lake Tanganyika, where it is found in large groups over sandy substrates. Rarely seen in the hobby, it feeds like the South American Geophagus species, sifting sand through its gills for invertebrates, so a sand substrate is essential. A peaceful and skittish maternal mouthbrooder, it should be kept in a group of 6-10 with peaceful Tanganyikan species and never with mbuna.

The emperor cichlid, Boulengerochromis microlepis, is the only member of its genus and the largest African cichlid, endemic to Lake Tanganyika. A prized food fish around the lake, it grows to 450 to 550 mm and adults are almost entirely piscivorous. Young farm-raised specimens have been readily available in the trade since the mid-2000s, but it is suitable only for public installations or the very largest private aquaria.

Marlier's julie, Julidochromis marlieri, is a rock-dwelling cichlid endemic to Lake Tanganyika, also sold as the chequered julie. It swims hugging the rock surfaces at any angle, and is found in fairly deep water along rocky shorelines. Adults are very belligerent towards one another, so unless the tank is huge it should be kept as a pair. Several geographical morphs are available, and no two species or morphs of Julidochromis should be kept together as they may hybridise.

The Tanganyika lates, Lates angustifrons, is a giant predatory fish endemic to Lake Tanganyika, growing to 200 cm. Juveniles have turned up in some aquatic stores, but the species is not suited to captive life in any respect, and housing an adult is beyond the reach of most public aquaria. Highly piscivorous, it feeds mainly on cichlids in nature, and adults live throughout the lake, usually around the lake bed.

Neolamprologus brevis is a shell-dwelling cichlid found widely throughout Lake Tanganyika, and one of the commoner shell dwellers in the hobby. Where few snail shells collect, pairs share the same shell. Its territories are usually no more than 6" across but are defended vigorously. It is told apart from the similar Neolamprologus ocellatus by the vertical barring on its flanks.

The ocellated shell-dweller, Neolamprologus ocellatus, is a small shell-brooding cichlid endemic to Lake Tanganyika. It buries its shell until only the entrance shows and defends it vigorously, sometimes burying neighbouring shells as well to keep other fish out. Males grow much larger than females, and a gold morph has become popular in the hobby. The lack of vertical barring on the flanks separates it from the similar N. brevis.

The striped brichardi, Neolamprologus savoryi, is a rock-dwelling cichlid endemic to Lake Tanganyika. A member of the so-called 'Brichardi complex', it hybridises freely with the others and should not be mixed with them in aquaria. Its pattern of vertical bars distinguishes it within the complex. An aggressive, territorial species, it is best kept in a species tank.

Tropheus brichardi is a cichlid endemic to the northern end of Lake Tanganyika, found in shallow water around rocky shorelines. Not a good species for the beginner, it is very susceptible to 'bloat', so water quality is of the utmost importance. It exists in numerous colour morphs that hybridise freely and should not be mixed, and some may eventually be described as distinct species.

The white-spotted cichlid, Tropheus duboisi, is endemic to Lake Tanganyika, found in rocky areas in deeper water than its congeners. Young fish have white or light blue spots on a jet black body, which fade to blue-black with a yellow or white vertical bar as they mature. Like others in the genus it is very susceptible to 'bloat' and not a good species for the beginner.

The masked julie, Julidochromis transcriptus, is a small cichlid endemic to the rocky coastal zones of northwestern Lake Tanganyika. It is known from between Luhanga and Makabola in the Democratic Republic of the Congo and grows to around 65 mm SL.