Golden Julie

Geographic Origin and Biotope: Lake Tanganyika (Endemic). Reported mainly in the extreme north of the lake (Burundi, Uvira, Kigoma). Inhabits very shallow waters (1-5 meters / 3-16 feet) on mixed bottoms of rock and coastal sand.

Taxonomy and Morphology: Golden Julie (Julidochromis ornatus). The first Julidochromis to be imported for the hobby (1958). Typical tapered body, but stockier than the transcriptus. Small, downward-facing mouth.

Social Behavior: Territorial but cautious. Hardly moves more than a few centimeters from its rocky crevice. Vigorously drives away conspecifics but tolerates fish swimming in mid-water.

Coloration and Sexual Dimorphism: Intense and bright golden yellow background, longitudinally crossed by three thick and parallel blackish stripes, without any checkerboard pattern. Dark spot on the base of the caudal fin. No obvious dimorphism except size (larger female).

Aquarium Setup: Tank of at least 80 cm (32 inches). Build dense rocky barriers, stacked to the surface to create countless bottlenecks and blind caves. Fine sand at the base is essential for their consolidation excavations.

Diet and Feeding: Crevice micro-predator (Aufwuchs). Hunts small crustaceans and larvae in the algal film of the rocks. In the aquarium provide brine shrimp nauplii, mysis, cyclops and vegetable flakes (Spirulina). Never tubifex.

Water Quality: Demands the alchemy of Tanganyika: hard water (GH 10-25) and decidedly alkaline (pH 8.0-9.0). A drop in pH or an accumulation of nitrates (over 20ppm) leads to loss of appetite and dull colors.

Compatibility and Tankmates: Excellent in a small Tanganyika community. Coexists peacefully with Neolamprologus (shell-dwellers) and Cyprichromis, as long as each has its own habitat. Avoid other Julidochromis to ward off deadly fights.

Aquarium Reproduction: Monogamous cave spawners. They glue up to 50 green eggs on the "ceiling" of a very narrow cave (where predators cannot pass). Parents tolerate previous broods which help defend the newborns.

Risks and Diseases: Induced divorce. Like all Julies, if the rockery is moved by the aquarist, the couple no longer recognizes the territory and often the partner, engaging in a fight to the death.