Yellow Belly Albert (Astatotilapia aeneocolor)

Scientific Name(s): Astatotilapia aeneocolor

 

Common Name(s): Yellow Belly Albert, Yellow Belly Cichlid

 

Family: Cichlidae

 

Species Type: African Cichlids, Lake Victoria

 

Maximum Size: 5 inches

 

Life Span: 9 years

 

Natural Habitat: Lake Edward, Lake Albert, and Kazinga Channel

 

Minimum Tank Size: 29 gallons

 

Tank Region: All over the tank

 

Possible Tank Mates: I have had mine in with Julidochromis dickfeldi, Julidochromis marlieri, Psuedotropheus greberi, Sciaenochromis fryeri, and Labidochromis sp. Hongi and have seen them kept with Neolamprologus leleupi, Neolamprologus brichardi, and Tropheus sp. Bemba Orange Flames before.

 

Description: A stunning fish, the Yellow Belly Albert is actually not collected directly from Lake Victoria, but from surrounding waterways such as Lake Edward, Lake Albert, and Kazinga Channel. This fish is less aggressive than most african cichlids and spends much of it's time out in the open. One of the interesting things about the Yellow Belly Albert is that it is not nearly as active as other african cichlids. If you like the constant movement of a malawi cichlid tank, then perhaps this is not the best species of african cichlid for you.

 

Temperature Range 75°F - 85°F

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pH Range 7.6 - 8.4

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Hardness 10° - 25°

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Breeding Information: Mouthbrooder. My males get very aggressive around spawning time. I could only keep 1 male per tank successfully. It is best to keep this fish in a tank with 1 male and 3 or more females and a lot of rocks. Females brood for 15 - 20 days with brood sizes ranging from 25 - 37 fry for an adult female.
Care of the Fry: Newly released fry can easily eat crushed flake food, and baby brine shrimp. They do well with 2 small feedings a day and are not picky about their water conditions. They seem to be smaller than the average fry size of my other Victorians. Spawns can be kept in a 10 gallon tank up to an inch in size.

 

Sexing Information: Males are larger and much more colorful.

 

Diet: Omnivorous - feed a good staple diet should be offered as primary food with supplements of brine or mysis shrimp, krill and sparsly feeding spirulina flake once in a while.

 

Temperment: Seem to be less aggressive than many of the african cichlid species, but will defend it's eggs and young ferociously.

 

Common Diseases: None specific to species.

 

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Yellow Belly Albert (Astatotilapia aeneocolor)