Masked julie
Julidochromis transcriptus is the smallest and one of the most popular julies, reaching only about 7 cm, found along the rocky northern shores of Lake Tanganyika around the Congolese coast. It sports a striking black-and-white ladder pattern with yellowish highlights, giving a masked appearance. It lives in close association with rock, foraging on aufwuchs invertebrates and darting into narrow cracks when threatened. Its modest size makes it ideal for smaller Tanganyikan setups from 80 litres, housed as a single monogamous pair with plenty of caves and vertical rockwork; pairs still defend their patch firmly. Keep hard alkaline water, pH 8-9, temperature 24-27 C. Offer small carnivorous foods such as cyclops, baby brine shrimp, crushed flake and frozen mysis. A prolific cave breeder, it deposits small clutches on cave walls and both parents tend the young.
Water parameters
| Temperature | 24 – 27 °C |
|---|---|
| pH | 8 – 9 |
| Carbonate hardness (KH) | 10 – 20 °dKH |
| General hardness (GH) | 8 – 20 °dGH |
Tank & stocking
| Minimum tank volume | 80 L |
|---|---|
| Volume budget per individual | 35 L — adds up with tank-mates |
“Minimum tank volume” is a reasonable floor, not an absolute limit. The per-individual budget is used by the Aqua app to estimate how heavily a tank is stocked.
Frequently asked questions
What size aquarium does Masked julie need?
Provide at least 80 litres to keep Masked julie in good conditions.
What water parameters does Masked julie need?
A temperature of 24–27 °C, pH 8–9.
Is Masked julie peaceful or aggressive?
Its temperament is semi-aggressive.
What does Masked julie eat?
Its diet: carnivore.
How big does Masked julie get?
Around 7 cm as an adult.
Is Masked julie suitable for beginners?
Care level: intermediate.
Planning a tank with Masked julie?
AquaTender turns these parameters into live advice: it checks whether your tank is big enough, how heavily it's stocked, and whether your fish are compatible — then tracks water tests, photos and maintenance for you.
Fish from the same biotope
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