Lake Tanganyika is one of the African Great Lakes (the others being Lake Malawi, Lake Victoria, and Lake Turkana), a series of lakes constituting the part of the Rift Valley lakes in and around the East African Rift. It is the world’s second- largest freshwater lake by volume and depth.
Known for its great biodiversity which holds over 350 species of Fishes, Lake Tanganyika boasts of about 250 Cichlid species mostly endemic to the lake.
This amazing array of endemic Cichlids has a huge fanbase in the Philippines, perhaps even worldwide. People have been fascinated by the Frontosa, Tropheus, Neolamprologus, Altolamprologus, and Lamprologus, among others, for many years since Lake Tanganyika’s Fishes made it to other countries in the 1970s.
One of the less popular genera of Tanganyikan Cichlids that has fascinated me over the years is the Julidochromis. Cichlidophiles worldwide fondly refer to these little cuties as “Julies.”
JULIES 101
The Julidochromis is a small genus. There are currently six formally described species in this genus.
Julies have torpedo-shaped bodies and are small to mid-sized (about 7-15 centimeters or 2.8-5.9 inches.) Like all Tanganyikan Cichlids, they prefer hard and alkaline water. They live in the rocky shores of the lake, thus inhabiting the caves or rock crevices.
Julies are secretive biparental substrate spawners, and pairs are largely monogamous.
SMALLEST JULIE
The smallest among the Julies, Julidochromis transcriptus, reaches a maximum length of only 7 centimeters or 2.8 inches.
Like many of the Tanganyikan Cichlids, this species has several variants based on their collection points. These variants have physical traits that are specific to their collection points as compared to the same species collected elsewhere.
For this issue, we focus on those collected from Gombe Island in the eastern shores of Lake Tanganyika, assigned the scientific name Julidochromis transcriptus Gombe.
STRIPED AND STREAMLINED
The Julidochromis transcriptus Gombe is known for their distinctive horizontal stripes and elongated body that make them a standout. The color pattern consists of alternating white and dark bands that extend along the body, enhancing their streamlined shape.
They have a brilliant blue margin on the tail, dorsal, ventral, and anal fins. Also quite noticeable is the black band around the eye area, which is common to the species in general — after all, they are called the Masked Julie.
One key distinct feature I observed was their brilliant blue “eye shadow”. Females reach their maximum size of about three inches and males significantly less. I also noticed that females have a more yellowish body color and the males whiter.
IDEAL HOME
Julidochromis transcriptus Gombe is quite easy to care for under Philippine conditions. They require moderate water conditions, more in the alkaline spectrum.
A pH range between 7.8 and 9.0 suits them best. They prefer hard water: mineral-rich
water with hardness measuring between the dH range of 8.0-14.0. These are general water conditions true to all Cichlids from Lake Tanganyika. Cichlidophiles simply use coral sand and limestone-based rocks in their tanks to make their water hard and alkaline.
The Philippines being a tropical country provides the best temperature for them. Literature states they do best in temperatures ranging from 24°-28°C, but local experiences can attest to as high as 32°C under a controlled environment.
The Julidochromis transcriptus Gombe thrives in rock-dwelling environments, just like the rocky shores of their natural habitat. They will need plenty of caves and crevices to promote natural behaviors, such as hiding and territorial defense. This environment is beneficial to minimize their semi-aggressive nature, as others can swim to caves and crevices among the rockwork to escape.
The Julidochromis transcriptus Gombe is known for their distinctive horizontal stripes and elongated body that make them a standout.
TANK TIP
A tank that is heavy with rockwork can be a challenge in terms of maintenance. Heavy rockwork will create a lot of spaces where food can lodge and eventually rot. It is a must to have strong filtration to contain the ammonia levels created by the decaying organic matter. A weekly water change of 30-40% keeps water quality at optimum levels.
They are known for their monogamous pairing and diligent parental care, and are often seen guarding their offspring with great vigilance.
KEEPING JULIES SATISFIED
Masked Julies are also very easy to feed. A staple diet of high- quality Cichlid pellets or flakes given twice a day should be adequate.
Occasionally, supplemental feeding of live food (Daphnia, Mosquito larvae, or newly hatched brine Shrimp) and frozen food (frozen Blood Worms) is a good practice to keep them healthy and vibrant.
When fed well, adults will feel comfortable enough to spawn. They prefer breeding in the privacy of their chosen cave. It is a common experience to find different batches of juveniles in their mature tanks.
They are known for their monogamous pairing and diligent parental care, and are often seen guarding their offspring with great vigilance. Once they pair up, it is not unusual to one day find schools of newborn fry in the tank, even if the pair mate isn’t visible.
