For the first time ever we can offer German bred specimens of this beautiful and unusual large cichlid. The parents have been imported from the Congo. Keeping and breeding were successful under the following conditions: total hardness 14°, pH 7. The sexes show a clearly visible sexual dimorphism at an age of about 1.5 -2 years. Dominant males are fully developed after 3 years (at least I don´t believe that they will change anymore, I do own the fish only 3-4 years). At this age they are about 30 cm long. Females are only 20 cm long at this age. For additional differences between the sexes, please see the photos.

 

These beautiful fish do not only look a bit like Geophagus from South America, also the behavior is comparable. The feeding habit is similar to Geophagus: fine sand is sieved by the fish for food and the particular food particles the fish feed on are comparatively small. My fish get granulates, flakes, and frozen white and black mosquito larvae. Dominant males are territorial.

There are also parallels to Geophagus in respect of the breeding behavior. Tylochromis cf. lateralis are ovophilous, maternal mouthbrooders. At least my wild collected fish spawn only seasonally. However, it is too early to say anything about this in respect of bred specimens. Currently only a F1 has been bred.

 

For our customers: the fish have code 586353 on our stock list. Please note that we exclusively supply the wholesale trade. Available in limited numbers only!

 

Text: Christian von Holtum, photos: Christian von Holtum and Frank Schäfer

 

 

 

Tylochromis cf. lateralis pictures

 

 

 

Tylochromis sp. Kinsuka and lateralis inside the tank