Scientific name: Altolamprologus calvus

Common name: Black calvus

Region: Lake Tanganyika

Size: max 6 inches (15 centimetres). Males are larger.

Color: brown, with dark brown or black stripes, white spots

Water Chemistry: pH: 8.6 - 9.1, very hard water

Temperature: 77-79

Aggression: mildly aggressive

Compatibility: Despite their large mouth size (and large bit potential), they should not be a threat to other adult fish in the aquarium, including adult shelldwellers.

Diet: Carnivorous. A. calvus dines on insect larvae, small crustaceans and small fry that they suck out of the crevices in the rocks. They are laterally compressed, the specialization that allows them access to these foods where other cichlids cannot. They thrive on mysis shrimp, krill, salad shrimp, flakes, pellet and brine shrimp in the aquarium.

How to breed: In the wild, Black Calvus' will spawn using shells or tight openings in rock. The female will stay away from the male at bredding time to avoid injury, so allow for this in your tank. If you use PVC elbows capped on one end, this allows the female, but is too small for the male to enter.

Shells work great for breeding setups, just as in the wild. Altolamprologus' can be bred in pairs or in harems, which tends to be more successful. Extract the fry before they become free swimmers (usually between 10 and 14 days), or they'll most likely be eaten. It is best to wait until the yolk sack is gone before removing them.

It may take up to 6 months to get them to a 1 inch size. This is the reason that adults are so expensive.

General: This is definitely one of the most interesting looking fish I've ever kept. I had them in a large Tanganyikan tank, but they stood out as very distinguished.