Convict julie
Encyclopedia
The Convict Julie, Julidochromis regani, is a cichlid
species
in the subfamily Pseudocrenilabrinae
family endemic to Lake Tanganyika
. Hence it is found in Burundi
, the Democratic Republic of the Congo
, Tanzania
, and Zambia
. The fish is named after Charles Tate Regan.
This species is closely related to Julidochromis marlieri
. Possibly, a male common ancestor of these two hybridised with some female Telmatochromis
ancestor in their evolution
ary past.
the stripes are vertical. The outer edge of the caudal, dorsal
and anal fins is white, while the pectoral fins are yellow.
Sexing is difficult, but males do have a small genital papilla and females are generally plumper than the male.
, with the female taking more than one mate, have been recorded in both the wild and the aquarium. It is a secretive biparental substrate spawner, retreating to caves or rock crevices for protection and breeding.
Julidochromis regani are small-growing dwarf cichlid
s and easy to spawn and care for if their basic needs are fulfilled. Like all Lake Tanganyika
cichlids, Julidochromis regani are best maintained in hard alkaline water, with a pH of 8.5 - 9.0 and a hardness of 12-14 kH, and in aquaria no smaller than 60 - 80 litres. Only one species of Julidochromis
should be kept in any single aquarium, as the species within this genus tend to hybridise easily. Hybridisation with Chalinochromis
(which might belong in Julidochromis) and Telmatochromis
is suspected, and it is common enough in Lamprologini
to better avoid keeping more than one species of this tribe
per aquarium. The tank should be decorated with rocks to form caves and passageways as shelter; like many other Rift Valley cichlids they tend to be territorial and somewhat aggressive. It is therefore best to keep them with other cichlids to defuse their rowdy behavior.
Fry can stay with the parents and should be fed protein-rich foods such as baby brine shrimp. Parents can sometimes be found leading their fry around the aquarium. Breeding is, as usual in these social and intelligent fishes, easiest achieved by acquiring a stock of juveniles, and letting them grow up together until pair-bonds are established.
Cichlid
Cichlids are fishes from the family Cichlidae in the order Perciformes. Cichlids are members of a group known as the Labroidei along with the wrasses , damselfish , and surfperches . This family is both large and diverse. At least 1,300 species have been scientifically described, making it one of...
species
Species
In biology, a species is one of the basic units of biological classification and a taxonomic rank. A species is often defined as a group of organisms capable of interbreeding and producing fertile offspring. While in many cases this definition is adequate, more precise or differing measures are...
in the subfamily Pseudocrenilabrinae
Pseudocrenilabrinae
The Pseudocrenilabrinae is a subfamily in the cichlid family of fishes to which, according to a study from 2004, includes all the Middle Eastern and African cichlids with the exception of the unusual Heterochromis multidens and the Malagasy species. Previous authors recognized additional African...
family endemic to Lake Tanganyika
Lake Tanganyika
Lake Tanganyika is an African Great Lake. It is estimated to be the second largest freshwater lake in the world by volume, and the second deepest, after Lake Baikal in Siberia; it is also the world's longest freshwater lake...
. Hence it is found in Burundi
Burundi
Burundi , officially the Republic of Burundi , is a landlocked country in the Great Lakes region of Eastern Africa bordered by Rwanda to the north, Tanzania to the east and south, and the Democratic Republic of the Congo to the west. Its capital is Bujumbura...
, the Democratic Republic of the Congo
Democratic Republic of the Congo
The Democratic Republic of the Congo is a state located in Central Africa. It is the second largest country in Africa by area and the eleventh largest in the world...
, Tanzania
Tanzania
The United Republic of Tanzania is a country in East Africa bordered by Kenya and Uganda to the north, Rwanda, Burundi, and the Democratic Republic of the Congo to the west, and Zambia, Malawi, and Mozambique to the south. The country's eastern borders lie on the Indian Ocean.Tanzania is a state...
, and Zambia
Zambia
Zambia , officially the Republic of Zambia, is a landlocked country in Southern Africa. The neighbouring countries are the Democratic Republic of the Congo to the north, Tanzania to the north-east, Malawi to the east, Mozambique, Zimbabwe, Botswana and Namibia to the south, and Angola to the west....
. The fish is named after Charles Tate Regan.
This species is closely related to Julidochromis marlieri
Julidochromis marlieri
Julidochromis marlieri is a species of fish in the Cichlidae family. It is endemic to Lake Tanganyika in Africa where it is found in Burundi, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Tanzania, and Zambia. In the aquarium trade, it is commonly known as Marlier's Julie or Spotted Julie.-References:*...
. Possibly, a male common ancestor of these two hybridised with some female Telmatochromis
Telmatochromis
Telmatochromis is a small cichlid genus of the subfamily Pseudocrenilabrinae. These ray-finned fishes are endemic to Lake Tanganyika in East Africa.-Systematics:7 species are included here...
ancestor in their evolution
Evolution
Evolution is any change across successive generations in the heritable characteristics of biological populations. Evolutionary processes give rise to diversity at every level of biological organisation, including species, individual organisms and molecules such as DNA and proteins.Life on Earth...
ary past.
Description
Julidochromis regani is a small (10–13 cm; 4-5 in) ray-finned fish. Its pale to golden yellow body is slender and elongated. A varying black stripe patterns, depending on which part of the lake the fish originates from, is present. However, Julidochromis regani all have four slender lateral black stripes that run the length of the body, although some variations have the fourth stripe exclusively on the head. On the dorsal finDorsal fin
A dorsal fin is a fin located on the backs of various unrelated marine and freshwater vertebrates, including most fishes, marine mammals , and the ichthyosaurs...
the stripes are vertical. The outer edge of the caudal, dorsal
Dorsal fin
A dorsal fin is a fin located on the backs of various unrelated marine and freshwater vertebrates, including most fishes, marine mammals , and the ichthyosaurs...
and anal fins is white, while the pectoral fins are yellow.
Sexing is difficult, but males do have a small genital papilla and females are generally plumper than the male.
Ecology
It is omnivorous. Pairs are largely monogamous, though instances of polyandryPolyandry
Polyandry refers to a form of marriage in which a woman has two or more husbands at the same time. The form of polyandry in which a woman is married to two or more brothers is known as "fraternal polyandry", and it is believed by many anthropologists to be the most frequently encountered...
, with the female taking more than one mate, have been recorded in both the wild and the aquarium. It is a secretive biparental substrate spawner, retreating to caves or rock crevices for protection and breeding.
In the aquarium
Dwarf cichlid
Dwarf cichlid is a term used by fishkeeping hobbyists to describe an arbitrary assemblage of small-sized fish from the family Cichlidae. Although the grouping is widely used in the aquarium industry and hobby, the grouping has no taxonomic or ecological basis and is poorly defined...
s and easy to spawn and care for if their basic needs are fulfilled. Like all Lake Tanganyika
Lake Tanganyika
Lake Tanganyika is an African Great Lake. It is estimated to be the second largest freshwater lake in the world by volume, and the second deepest, after Lake Baikal in Siberia; it is also the world's longest freshwater lake...
cichlids, Julidochromis regani are best maintained in hard alkaline water, with a pH of 8.5 - 9.0 and a hardness of 12-14 kH, and in aquaria no smaller than 60 - 80 litres. Only one species of Julidochromis
Julidochromis
Julidochromis is a genus of cichlids in the subfamily Pseudocrenilabrinae. They are commonly called julies and are endemic to Lake Tanganyika in eastern Africa. This genus includes at least 5 species, each with a number of subspecies and local variants of uncertain taxonomic status...
should be kept in any single aquarium, as the species within this genus tend to hybridise easily. Hybridisation with Chalinochromis
Chalinochromis
Chalinochromis is a small and disputed cichlid genus from the subfamily Pseudocrenilabrinae; it contains just two species. These ray-finned fishes are endemic to Lake Tanganyika in Eastern Africa's Great Rift Valley. The scientific name refers to the bridle-like markings across the heads of members...
(which might belong in Julidochromis) and Telmatochromis
Telmatochromis
Telmatochromis is a small cichlid genus of the subfamily Pseudocrenilabrinae. These ray-finned fishes are endemic to Lake Tanganyika in East Africa.-Systematics:7 species are included here...
is suspected, and it is common enough in Lamprologini
Lamprologini
Lamprologini is a tribe of African cichlid fishes. It contains seven genera and nearly 100 species. Over half of the species in this tribe are in the large genus Neolamprologus. Most genera in the tribe are endemic to Lake Tanganyika, but one species of Neolamprologus Lamprologini is a tribe of...
to better avoid keeping more than one species of this tribe
Tribe (biology)
In biology, a tribe is a taxonomic rank between family and genus. It is sometimes subdivided into subtribes.Some examples include the tribes: Canini, Acalypheae, Hominini, Bombini, and Antidesmeae.-See also:* Biological classification* Rank...
per aquarium. The tank should be decorated with rocks to form caves and passageways as shelter; like many other Rift Valley cichlids they tend to be territorial and somewhat aggressive. It is therefore best to keep them with other cichlids to defuse their rowdy behavior.
Fry can stay with the parents and should be fed protein-rich foods such as baby brine shrimp. Parents can sometimes be found leading their fry around the aquarium. Breeding is, as usual in these social and intelligent fishes, easiest achieved by acquiring a stock of juveniles, and letting them grow up together until pair-bonds are established.
Further reading
(2002): The Cichlid Fishes - Nature's grand experiment in evolution. Basic Books. (1998): Tanganyikan cichlids in their natural habitat. Cichlid Press. (1998): Lake Tanganyikan Cichlids - a complete pet owners manual. Barron's Educational.External links
- Care information for the home aquarium at the Aquarium Wiki