Gold Head Compressicep Cichlid

General information

Altolamprologus compressicep has a laterally compressed body, 8 to 12 bold stripes, white to blue spots on its flanks and can reach 6 inches. It is a predator, and its compressed body allows it to hide and avoid detection. To keep these fish in an aquarium, water temperature should be around 75.2ºF to 82.4ºF and pH should be between 8.0 and 9.0. The tank should have a sandy substrate, rocks, caves and open swimming areas. This species can be kept with many of Tanganyikan, Malawi or Victoria fishes. However, it shouldn’t be placed with Mbunas nor small fishes and juveniles since it will eat them. If it is attacked, it will bend its body to expose its thick scales to the attacker, harming it. It is best maintained as a single pair.

This species is carnivorous. In the wild, it feeds mostly on invertebrates and smaller fish. In captivity, they can be fed with dried, live or frozen foods like bloodworm and Artemia.

Males are larger than females and have extended fins.

The female will choose a small cave to lay her eggs in, the male will stay by the entrance and release his sperm through it, fertilizing the eggs. The female will guard the eggs and the male will guard the territory, as soon as the fry are free swimming, parental care stops and they can be fed with Artemia.

This species can be found in the rocky coastal water of Lake Tanganyika, Africa.

This species can’t handle water changes very well so water changes should occur in small portions and over a few days.

When these fish are introduced to an aquarium they will spend several weeks hiding and won’t eat much.