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No federal permit to keepHaplochromis latifasciatus
Haplochromis latifasciatus
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Astatotilapia latifasciata, formerly Haplochromis latifasciatus, is a species of cichlid that is endemic to Uganda where restricted to the Lake Kyoga system, including Lake Bisina (a medium-sized lake to the east of Lake Kyoga itself) and Lake…
Care at a glance
Species-specific aquarium care
- Tank: At least 24 in long and 12 in front to back for one adult (adults commonly reach about 4.3 in / 11 cm).
- Water: Freshwater.
- Layout: Uses both the bottom and open water: give open swimming space plus cover near the substrate.
- Availability: Rarely or never seen in the aquarium trade; expect to source it from specialists or not at all.
Calculated from this species' own FishBase record: tank size from its typical adult length and swimming zone, water values from its recorded ranges. The group guide below fills in general care.
Care guide
Species care notes
- Tank: a base of at least 47 × 12 in (roughly 29 US gallons); space needed is rated “large tank”.
- Water: a fairly wide range, from slightly acidic to slightly alkaline, 73–82 °F, pH 7.2–8.2, 8–15 dGH.
- Difficulty: Moderate (Seriously Fish rating).
Short excerpts from the species profile:
- Setup: “Much of the aquarium should contain piles of rocks arranged to form caves with areas of open water between.”
- Tankmates: “Quite aggressive but it is not as pronounced in this species as with many Victorian cichlids.”
From the Seriously Fish profile for this species, which has the full habitat, maintenance, diet, behaviour and breeding write-up 167
Lake Victoria and East African haplochromines
Applies to most species in this group. Habitat: Lakes and rivers of East Africa. Individual species can differ, so compare with the species numbers above and the linked sources.
Housing & setup
- Moderately hard, slightly alkaline water (pH 7.5–8.5); rockwork and open swimming space.
- Many Lake Victoria species are endangered or extinct in the wild and survive mainly in hobby and zoo conservation programs; keep lines pure and never hybridize.
Climate & lighting
| Water | 75–80°F |
Diet
- Omnivorous pellets plus frozen foods; adjust to herbivores or predators by genus.
Health watch
- Aggression between males; bloat on overly rich diets.
Understanding the animal
About this animal
About this animal
It is also seen in the aquarium trade and it is easily bred in captivity.
Quoted from the Wikipedia article “Haplochromis latifasciatus” (CC BY-SA 4.0) 174
In the wild
In the wild
From this species’ own FishBase record (habitat, bottom type, water and breeding data), not its family. Good care copies these conditions.1
| Where it lives | Lives in freshwater. Uses both the bottom and open water. |
| Water it lives in | Freshwater. |
| Climate | Tropical climate. |
| Behavior to plan for | Breeding: external brooders. |
Native climate (measured)
Native climate (measured)
| Warm-season highs | about 89°F (up to 89°F in the hottest sampled areas) |
| Cool-season lows | about 63°F (down to 62°F in the coldest sampled areas) |
| Average temperature | 74–75°F across sampled records |
| Relative humidity | 70–70% on average (driest month about 58%) |
| Rainfall | about 1232 mm a year |
Measured at 6 wild occurrence records sampled against WorldClim 2.1 climate data (1970–2000 averages). Air conditions in the range are ecological context, not enclosure settings: microhabitats such as burrows, leaf litter or basking rocks can be cooler, warmer or more humid.
From the sources
From the sources
Quoted from the matching sections of reputable sources for this exact species. Specialist databases are used first; Wikipedia (community-edited, CC BY-SA 4.0) only fills gaps. Other sources are short credited quotes.
| Overview | Astatotilapia latifasciata, formerly Haplochromis latifasciatus, is a species of cichlid that is endemic to Uganda where restricted to the Lake Kyoga system, including Lake Bisina (a medium-sized lake to the east of Lake Kyoga itself) and Lake Nawampasa (a small lake southeast of Lake Kyoga itself and only separated by a thin swamp). This fish can reach a total length of 11 cm. It is also seen in the aquarium trade and it is easily bred in captivity. — Wikipedia (community-edited) |
| Where it lives | Home ranges Population dynamics Growth parameters Max. ages / sizes Length-weight rel. Length-frequencies Mass conversion Recruitment Abundance Life cycle Reproduction Maturity Maturity/Gills rel. — FishBase |
Data and studies
The numbers
The numbers
Each bar is what one source reports. Where several sources weigh in, the dashed gold band marks their average.
Adult length
Maximum recorded length. Measured as total length. Fish in home aquariums often stay smaller than wild records.
Water temperature
Range the species tolerates; aim for the middle.
pH
Water hardness
Minimum tank footprint
Seriously Fish recommends a tank base of at least 47 × 12 in (about 29 US gallons).
Sources for this sheet
- FishBase (Froese & Pauly, eds.), version 24.07 Peer-reviewed researchThe global scientific database on fishes, maintained by a consortium of research institutions; every value is referenced.
- Seriously Fish species profiles Experienced keeper or breederLong-running aquarium reference written and peer-checked by experienced fishkeepers and ichthyologists; each profile covers habitat, tank size, water, diet, behaviour and breeding.
- Merck Veterinary Manual: Management of aquarium fish Zoo, university or veterinaryThe Merck Veterinary Manual: a standard veterinary reference written and reviewed by veterinary specialists.
- Merck Veterinary Manual: Types and features of aquatic systems Zoo, university or veterinaryThe Merck Veterinary Manual: a standard veterinary reference written and reviewed by veterinary specialists.
- Wikipedia (species article) Community referenceFree encyclopedia; useful overviews with their own citations. Intro text is quoted under CC BY-SA 4.0.
- iNaturalist (captive observations) Community referenceCommunity observation platform run by the California Academy of Sciences and National Geographic; observations marked captive show animals living in homes, zoos and aquariums.
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