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💧 Freshwater Least Concern 🐠 Aquarium 🌡️ Tropical

Tanganyika Clown

Eretmodus cyanostictus Boulenger, 1898
Max Length
9 cm
Max Weight
-
Lifespan
-
Trophic Level
2.1
Depth
-
Climate
Tropical
Resilience
Low
Vulnerability
11.00/100
Typical Length
-
Depth Zone
-

📖 Overview

Occurs in rocky areas . Adults occur in the turbulent, highly oxygenated shallow waters of the surf zone; found in the shallows of a gradually sloping rocky coast where some sand is found between the rocks; solitary and to some extent, territorial; heavy body and small swim bladder result in negative buoyancy . Feeds on algae which are scraped from the rocks . Both parents brood their young in the mouth .

Scientific Name
Eretmodus cyanostictus
Authority
Boulenger, 1898
Habitat
Freshwater
Climate
Tropical
Body Shape
Short and / or deep
IUCN Status
LC
Max Length
9 cm
Trophic Level
2.1
Resilience
Low
Vulnerability
11.00/100
Water Temp
24–26 °C
Salinity
0–0.5 ppt

🔬 Taxonomy

Kingdom
Animalia
Phylum
Chordata
Class
Teleostei
Teleostei
Order
Cichliformes
Cichliformes
Family
Cichlidae
Cichlidae
Genus
Eretmodus
Eretmodus
Species
Tanganyika Clown
Eretmodus cyanostictus

🐟 Physical Description

Dorsal spines (total): 23 - 24; Dorsal soft rays (total): 4 - 5; Anal spines: 3; Anal soft rays: 6 - 7. Diagnosis: Eretmodus cyanostictus is characterized by a terminal mouth and a number of bright blue spots on the head and upper half of the body . About 5 light bars are present on the side of the body but evident only on the lower half of the body and none crossing the posterior en of the body or caudal peduncle .: short and / or deep.

🌀 Behaviour

Behavioural data for Tanganyika Clown is currently being reviewed.

🦐 Diet

algae
aquatic plants
detritus

🥚 Reproduction

🐣 Oviparous 👄 Mouth Brooder 🛡️ Egg Guarder
Spawning Season
spring
Spawn Location
Substrate
Fertilization
External

Eggs from the cleavage phase and larvae of up to 1.09 cm TL are mouthbrooded by male and female parents ranging from 4.7 to 6.2 cm SL .

🌍 Habitat & Distribution

Freshwater; benthopelagic; pH range: 8.0 - 9.0; dH range: 9 - 19. Tropical; 24°C - 26°C ; 3°S - 9°S endemic to Lake Tanganyika, occurs in the southern part of the Lake, from Kipili (Tanzania) to Moliro (Democratic Republic of the Congo) (Ref.

🌿 Ecology

Zone Preferences
💧 Freshwater
Trophic Level
2.1±0.1
🧍 Solitary
Food Items

algae which are scraped from the rocks (Ref

📐 Morphometrics

Length–Weight Relationship: W = 0.01862 × L3.02 (TL)
Max TL
9cm
Dorsal Spines
24
Dorsal Rays
5
Anal Spines
3
Anal Rays
7

🌡️ Water Parameters & Tolerance

Temperature Range
24–26°C
pH Range
8–9
Salinity Range
0–0.5ppt

🛡️ Conservation Assessment

IUCN Category
Least Concern
Assessment Date
2025

📊 Population Risk & Fisheries

Population Resilience
Low
Minimum doubling time
Fishing Vulnerability
11.00/100
Low vulnerability
Trophic Level
2.1
Omnivore / Planktivore
Body Shape
Short and / or deep
Climate Zone
Tropical
Described By
Boulenger, 1898

🌐 Names & Taxonomy

Language Common Names
🇬🇧English Tanganyika Clown · Tanganyika Clown Cichlid · Tanganyika Goby-cichlid
🇫🇮Finnish seepraturpa-ahven

🗺️ Global Occurrence Map

Occurrence records from the Global Biodiversity Information Facility (GBIF) - 101 records indexed .

Occurrence density from GBIF View GBIF records ↗

👥 Community & Contribute

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