Marlier's julie

Julidochromis marlieri is one of the larger julies, reaching around 13 cm, and is widespread along the rocky coasts of Lake Tanganyika. It is recognised by a checkerboard pattern of dark blotches on a pale yellowish-white ground, unlike the clean stripes of its relatives. A cave-loving bottom dweller, it patrols vertical rock faces and feeds on aufwuchs invertebrates and small crustaceans. Pairs are strongly territorial and monogamous, so provide a single pair in a tank from 150 litres with extensive rockwork and secure caves; combine only with robust Tanganyikan tankmates in larger volumes. Keep hard alkaline water, pH 8-9, temperature 24-27 C, and stable, well-oxygenated conditions. Offer a varied carnivore diet of mysis, brine shrimp, cyclops and spirulina-enriched flakes. It is a substrate-spawning cave breeder; pairs may raise successive broods together.