3 kinds · tap one for a closer look
Predatory toward small fish and fry; peaceful toward larger tank-mates.
65 species in our list are a good match.
Predatory toward small fish and fry; peaceful toward larger tank-mates.
Frozen mysis, krill and small pellets; live foods where possible.
Tap a food to see what it is.
Males grow larger and have longer fins than females.
Common problems. Tap one to see the signs. This is a guide, not a diagnosis.
Cave spawner (pair bond) · Moderate
Cave spawner; the female guards the eggs, which number about 200.
Buy a group of 6 and let a pair form, or buy a proven pair; keep a pair per tank to avoid fights.
100-150 L tank with rock piles creating narrow caves and slits, hard alkaline water (pH 8-9) and strong filtration.
Stable pair bond, good conditioning and a cave that fits the female.
Up to about 200 eggs; they hatch in about 2 days and the fry are free-swimming 8-10 days later.
Fry hide in the cave and become free swimming after a week. Feed microworms and newly hatched brine shrimp; parents tolerate and often protect them.
A deep, very flat-bodied Lake Tanganyika cichlid that slips into narrow cracks and small caves to hunt, feeding mainly on shrimps and other crustaceans. Described by Poll in 1978.
Max Poll described this fish in 1978, originally in Lamprologus. Its very thin body lets it slip into crevices to hunt young fish and eggs. Black and spotted forms are especially sought after.
First described by Max Poll in 1978.
15 facts checked with sources
Valid per FishBase; originally Lamprologus calvus Poll, 1978. Its only congener A. compressiceps looks similar; Seriously Fish separates them mainly by mouth profile. Catalog of Fishes not checked (fetch budget).
FishBase: Altolamprologus calvus summary · Seriously Fish: Altolamprologus calvusLegacy had no family.
FishBase: Altolamprologus calvus summaryFishBase 13.5 cm TL; Seriously Fish 138 mm SL. Legacy 14 cm is within rounding. Males are the larger sex.
FishBase: Altolamprologus calvus summary · Seriously Fish: Altolamprologus calvusMatches Seriously Fish exactly. FishBase gives 23-25 °C.
Seriously Fish: Altolamprologus calvusInside Seriously Fish 7.5-9.0; FishBase gives pH 8.0-9.0.
Seriously Fish: Altolamprologus calvusLegacy had no hardness. FishBase gives dH 9-19.
Seriously Fish: Altolamprologus calvus91 x 46 x 41 cm = 171.6 L, for a single pair or one male with several females. The Seriously Fish text also says 'about 150 litres' for the same dimensions; the arithmetic gives ~172 L. Legacy 200 L is a little more generous.
Seriously Fish: Altolamprologus calvusLegacy 4; source's minimum is a pair (or one male with several females).
Seriously Fish: Altolamprologus calvusTerritorial, eats fish small enough to swallow, shy; avoid mbuna and other boisterous tankmates.
Seriously Fish: Altolamprologus calvusSeriously Fish: Moderate (6 of 8 measures).
Seriously Fish: Altolamprologus calvusLegacy had no range field. FishBase: southwestern part of the lake. IUCN: Near Threatened (22 Feb 2025, per FishBase).
Seriously Fish: Altolamprologus calvusLegacy female size of 10-12 cm and the vent tip were not found in the sources.
Seriously Fish: Altolamprologus calvusLegacy said the pair guards eggs and fry; FishBase says the female guards the eggs.
FishBase: Altolamprologus calvus summaryLegacy 20-40 eggs, hatching in about 3 days.
Seriously Fish: Altolamprologus calvusLegacy 'hunter that lurks in rocky crevices' supported (FishBase: compressed body lets it enter narrow cracks and shallow caves). Origin of the 'black pearl' name not checked.
FishBase: Altolamprologus calvus summary · Seriously Fish: Altolamprologus calvus