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No federal permit to keep

Yellow sand cichlid

Xenotilapia flavipinnis

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The yellow sand cichlid (Xenotilapia flavipinnis) is a species of cichlid endemic to Lake Tanganyika where it is found in schools in areas with sandy substrates.

Aquarium hobby

Experience: Intermediate

FamilyCichlids

Adult lengthup to 3.6 in

WaterFreshwater

HabitatLives in freshwater

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 3.6 in / 9.2 cm).
Water: Freshwater.
Temperature: 75–81°F (range recorded for this species).
pH: 8–9.
Hardness: 9–19 dGH.
Layout: Lives on or near the bottom: floor space and hiding places matter more than height.
Diet: FishBase classes it as a carnivore.

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 30 × 12 in (roughly 18 US gallons); space needed is rated “modest tank”.
Water: hard, alkaline water, 73–81 °F, pH 8–9.5, 8–25 dGH.
Behaviour: a shoaling fish best kept in a group of six or more.
Difficulty: Moderate (Seriously Fish rating).

Short excerpts from the species profile:

Setup: “The tank should have plenty of open floor space, with a substrate of sand to allow the fish to exhibit their natural behaviour.”
Diet: “In nature it is a micropredator, feeding chiefly on small invertebrates it finds by "sifting" mouthfuls of sand.”
Tankmates: “A gentle and peace-loving species that will not compete well with more boisterous or vigorous fish.”

From the Seriously Fish profile for this species, which has the full habitat, maintenance, diet, behaviour and breeding write-up 167

Group care guide

Lake Tanganyika cichlids

Applies to most species in this group. Habitat: Rocky reefs, shell beds and sand of Lake Tanganyika. Individual species can differ, so compare with the species numbers above and the linked sources.

Housing & setup

Use species-specific alkaline-water parameters and stable, well-oxygenated conditions. For N. multifasciatus, Seriously Fish gives pH 7.5–9.0 and general hardness 8–25 dGH.
Shell-dwellers need beds of empty snail shells; rock-dwellers like Julidochromis need stacked rockwork; Tropheus need large groups and spacious tanks.

Sources 117 119 164 118 256 273

Climate & lighting

Water

76–81°F

Sources 117 119 164 118 256 273

Diet

Tropheus moorii needs a vegetable-based staple with small suitable live/frozen supplements. Other Tanganyikans need their own feeding plan; shell-dweller and predator diets differ.

Sources 117 119 164 118 256 273

Social life

Often pair- or colony-forming and territorial; research each genus.

Sources 117 119 164 118 256 273

Health watch

Tropheus are prone to bloat on rich foods; sudden water changes stress Tanganyikans.

Sources 117 119 164 118 256 273

Understanding the animal

About this animal

This species can reach a length of 9.2 centimetres (3.6 in) TL. It can also be found in the aquarium trade.

Quoted from the Wikipedia article “Yellow sand cichlid” (CC BY-SA 4.0) 174

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, in lakes. Stays near the bottom. Occurs over sandy bottoms. Forms schools.
Water it lives in	Freshwater, 75–81 °F (24–27 °C), pH 8–9, hardness 9–19 dH.
Climate	Tropical climate.

What this means for care

Keep water within its wild range, 75–81 °F.

FishBase species summary: Xenotilapia flavipinnis

Native climate (measured)

Warm-season highs	about 85°F (up to 91°F in the hottest sampled areas)
Cool-season lows	about 61°F (down to 56°F in the coldest sampled areas)
Average temperature	70–79°F across sampled records
Relative humidity	57–72% on average (driest month about 58%)
Rainfall	about 1095 mm a year

Measured at 16 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

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.

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
Biology	Occurs over sandy bottoms. — FishBase

Data and studies

The numbers

Each bar is what one source reports. Where several sources weigh in, the dashed gold band marks their average.

Adult length

Average of sources3.5in

FishBase 1643.6

Seriously Fish species profiles 1673.5

Maximum recorded length. Measured as total length. Fish in home aquariums often stay smaller than wild records.

Water temperature

Average of sources74–81°F

FishBase 16475–81

Seriously Fish species profiles 16773–81

Range the species tolerates in nature; aim for the middle.

pH

Average of sources8–9.2

FishBase 1648–9

Seriously Fish species profiles 1678–9.5

Water hardness

Average of sources8.5–22dGH

FishBase 1649–19

Seriously Fish species profiles 1678–25

Minimum tank footprint

Reported30in

Seriously Fish species profiles 16730

Seriously Fish recommends a tank base of at least 30 × 12 in (about 18 US gallons).

Federal legal snapshot

No federal permit to keep

No federal law singles out this species for private keepers. State and local rules still apply.

State law decides most of it. Each state sets its own permits and bans for exotic, native, venomous and dangerous animals, and cities and counties can be stricter. Find your state agency →

Not covered by the Animal Welfare Act

The Act only covers warm-blooded animals. Reptiles, amphibians, fish and invertebrates have no federal care standards, even at licensed facilities; state and local rules may still apply.

Kept in captivity?

Every species on this site needs evidence that people actually keep it. For this one:

Has a Seriously Fish aquarium species profile
FishBase records it in the aquarium trade (Aquarium=commercial; AquariumFishII=based mainly on capture)

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.
Merck Veterinary Manual: Nutritional diseases of fish Zoo, university or veterinaryThe Merck Veterinary Manual: a standard veterinary reference written and reviewed by veterinary specialists.
Seriously Fish — Neolamprologus multifasciatus Zoo, university or veterinaryAdded in the 2026 source-checked care-guide review.
Seriously Fish — Tropheus moorii Zoo, university or veterinaryAdded in the 2026 source-checked care-guide review.
Wikipedia (species article) Community referenceFree encyclopedia; useful overviews with their own citations. Intro text is quoted under CC BY-SA 4.0.