Dickfeld's julie

Julidochromis dickfeldi is a slender, rock-dwelling cichlid endemic to the southern shores of Lake Tanganyika, notably around Kalemie and Cape Chaitika. It grows to about 9 cm and shows a bluish body crossed by three dark horizontal stripes, with blue-edged fins. In nature it hugs the rocky littoral, hunting small invertebrates and zooplankton in caves and crevices. It forms monogamous pairs that fiercely defend a small territory, so a single pair suits a tank from 100 litres built with stacked rock providing many caves; it can be kept with other Tanganyikan rock species given space. Provide hard, alkaline water at pH 8-9, temperature 24-27 C, and high mineral content. Feed a carnivorous diet of frozen brine shrimp, mysis, cyclops and quality flakes; avoid mammalian meats. Cave spawner producing small clutches.