Zebra Obliquidens (Astatotilapia latifasciata)

Scientific Name(s): Astatotilapia latifasciata

 

Common Name(s): Zebra Obliquidens

 

Family: Cichlidae

 

Species Type: African Cichlids, Other

 

Maximum Size: 5 inches

 

Life Span: 10 years

 

Natural Habitat: Lake Kyoga and Lake Nawampasa

 

Minimum Tank Size: 75 gallons

 

Tank Region: All over

 

Possible Tank Mates: Other african cichlids.

 

Description: A beautiful species which is "critically endangered" in the wild. Males develop a "red" colored belly. This species is best kept in small groups. With a ratio of 1 male to 2 females (at least 6 fish in the group). They are not overly aggressive and can be easily housed with many of the smaller mbuna and Auloncara from Lake Malawi. In the wild, it is primarily insectivore but the diet occasionally includes the fins and scales of other cichlids (but has not been observed in the aquarium). Supplement their diet with mosquito larvae, brine shrimp, cyclops, and or daphnia. Astatotilapiia is a subgenus of Haplochromis and A. latifasciata has been assigned to this subgenus pending further investigation by scientists.

 

Temperature Range 76°F - 82°F

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pH Range 7.2 - 8.6

pH 5.0

pH 6.0

pH 7.0

pH 8.0

pH 9.0

 

Hardness 10° - 25°

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Breeding Information: Prolific maternal mouthbrooders. Breeding is relatively easy with the correct water parameters and around a 1 to 4 male/female ratio.

 

Sexing Information: The belly of the males turn red and portions of the body turn yellow. Females remain greenish-brown with black or dark brown vertical stripes.

 

Diet: While carnivorous in the wild, this species will do well with a cichlid flake or pellet designed for african cichlids.

 

Temperment: Mildly aggressive for an african cichlid.

 

Common Diseases: None other than those common to all tropical species.

 

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Zebra Obliquidens (Astatotilapia latifasciata)