Emperor Cichlid / Giant Cichlid

Geographic Origin and Biotope: Endemic to Lake Tanganyika, Africa. Patrols the entire lake, from sandy coastal areas to open pelagic waters and reefs.

Taxonomy and Morphology: Giant Cichlid / Emperor Cichlid (Boulengerochromis microlepis). It is the largest cichlid in the world (excluding some Cichlas), reaching between 70 and 90 cm (27-35 inches). Elongated, massive and hydrodynamic body of a true super-predator.

Social Behavior: Active predator, hunts by chasing schools of Tanganyika sardines. Forms stable monogamous pairs that defend enormous reproductive territories, chasing away any intruder with impressive ferocity.

Coloration and Sexual Dimorphism: Yellow-green or silvery background crossed by two conspicuous spotted black horizontal bands. Adult males develop a slightly brighter coloration and larger size. As juveniles they present vertical lines.

Aquarium Setup: INADEQUATE for almost all domestic aquariums. Requires public or customized tanks no less than 3000 liters (800 gallons, 3-4 meters in length). The setup must include wide areas of open swimming and large rocks.

Diet and Feeding: Ravenous piscivore. In captivity it accepts white fish fillets, large crustaceans, squid and XXL pelleted feeds of the highest quality.

Water Quality: Needs the hard alkaline chemistry typical of Tanganyika: pH 7.8-9.0, high carbonate hardness. Filters must be gigantic and pumps powerful to dispose of the huge organic load produced.

Compatibility and Tankmates: Can only coexist with equally colossal or overly armored species (large Synodontis or adult Frontosas), but a breeding pair could kill any fish confined within the same perimeter of the aquarium.

Aquarium Reproduction: Builders of enormous craters in the sand (up to 2 meters in diameter). Can lay over 10,000 eggs at a single time. Parents guard clouds of fry, attacking even boats in the natural lake.

Risks and Diseases: Primary risk: insertion in tanks that are too small causes severe vertebral deformities, lethal stress and damage when the fish hurl themselves against the glass in a panic.