Large-Mouth Albert (Haplochromis aeneocolor)

Large-Mouth Albert Haplochromis aeneocolor
Name	Large-Mouth Albert
Name Lat.	Haplochromis aeneocolor
Synonym	Astatotilapia aeneocolor
Family	Cichlids
Family lat.	Cichlidae
Order	Cichlids
Order lat.	Cichliformes
Origin	Africa
Habitat	Shore, tributaries
Diet	Omnivore
pH	7.5-8.5
Behavior	♂ territorial
Keeping	Harem
Care Level	Moderate
Reproduction	Mouthbrooder
Breeding	Difficult
Life Span	3-5 years
Protection	No
Metric Units
Size	7-8 cm
Temperature	24-26 °C
Hardness	10-20 °dH
Aquarium	200 l
US Units
Size	2.8"-3.1"
Temperature	75-79 °F
Hardness	178-356 ppm
Aquarium	50 gal

Distribution and habitat

Papyrus mouthbrooders are found in Lake George and Lake Edward in Uganda, as well as in the Kazinga Channel that connects the two lakes. They live on the muddy, densely papyrus-covered shores.

Maintenance

The aquarium should have a dense border planting with many hiding places from stones and roots and offer sufficient swimming space. A substrate of sand or fine gravel and slightly alkaline, medium-hard water is ideal.

No ammonia, ammonium and nitrite should be detectable, the nitrate value should not exceed 100 mg/l. To ensure the water quality and oxygen content, a filter and heater adapted to the aquarium size is required, as well as lighting for the species-appropriate day-night rhythm of the animals.

Diet

In the wild they feed mainly on insect larvae and small crustaceans. The food supply consists of live, frozen and dry food. For a balanced diet, feed once a day with a high-quality dry food for cichlids (flakes, granules, pellets) as well as daphnia, artemia, mosquito larvae or mysis (live or frozen). In addition, they need some vegetable food, such as algae leaves or dry food with vegetable ingredients (e.g. spirulina)

Only feed as much as will be eaten within a few minutes. A regular and varied diet promotes health and prevents deficiency symptoms.

Behaviour and compatibility

They should be kept in a harem, one male with several females. The territorial males behave very aggressive within the species. Keeping several harems is only possible in a much larger and richly structured tank. A socialization with other cichlids of similar size is well possible.

Basically, only compatible fish species with similar demands on water condition and water temperature may be socialized.

Sex dimorphism

The male is much more colorful than the female (sexual dichromatism) and carries egg spots on the anal fin. The female is usually smaller and inconspicuously colored

Reproduction and breeding

They are maternal mouth brooders. The female usually spawns on a flat, well-cleaned rock or similar. After the male fertilizes the eggs (20-40 of them), she immediately takes the female into her throat sac for mouthbrooding. She keeps the fry in her throat pouch even after they hatch. After about 2 weeks, the fry are released and brood care ends. During the entire brood care the female does not take any food.

Fry must be fed several times a day with special rearing food (Artemia nauplii). In community tanks breeding is hardly possible, because the fry are easy prey.

Important

The harem should consist of at least 4 females, so that the aggression of the male is better distributed.

The well-being of the fish should be checked regularly. The temperature should be checked daily, the pH, hardness and nitrate value at least every 14 days. Regular partial water changes are recommended, even if the contaminant level has not yet reached the upper limit. Sudden changes in water quality should be avoided. Newly introduced fish must be accustomed slowly to the water in the aquarium

Further literature can be found in your pet store.

References

Text: petdata; Image: petdata

Source: BMELV (1998): Tierschutzgutachten - Haltung von Zierfischen (Süßwasser); BAENSCH & RIEHL (1997): Aquarien Atlas Bd. 5, Mergus Verlag; ENGELMANN (2005): Zootierhaltung - Tiere in menschlicher Obhut: Fische, Verlag Harri Deutsch

• Gemäß § 21 Abs. 5 Tierschutzgesetz idgF