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Encyclopedia / African Cichlids / Eretmodus cyanostictus
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Eretmodus cyanostictus

Eretmodus cyanostictus · Eretmodus, Goby cichlid, Tanganyika goby cichlid

Territorial; keep in a rocky tank with calm tank-mates and strong current.

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9 cmAdult size ✓
24–28 °CTemperature ✓
8–9pH ✓
81 LSmallest tank ✓
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Tank mates
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Not recommended
  • White cloud mountain minnow needs cool water and makes a lot of waste, while Eretmodus cyanostictus is tropical.
  • Rift lake cichlids like eretmodus cyanostictus need hard, alkaline water and a busy, cichlid-only tank.
Not recommended
  • Giant gourami eats animals up to about 10 cm. Eretmodus cyanostictus only grows to 9 cm.
  • Rift lake cichlids like eretmodus cyanostictus need hard, alkaline water and a busy, cichlid-only tank.
Not recommended
  • They need different temperatures (24–28 °C vs 10–22 °C). No setting suits both.
  • Rift lake cichlids like eretmodus cyanostictus need hard, alkaline water and a busy, cichlid-only tank.
With conditions
  • Rift lake cichlids like eretmodus cyanostictus need hard, alkaline water and a busy, cichlid-only tank.
  • Only a narrow temperature range suits both: 24–25 °C.
With conditions
  • Rift lake cichlids like eretmodus cyanostictus need hard, alkaline water and a busy, cichlid-only tank.
  • Their pH needs don't quite meet (8–9 vs 4.5–7). Aim between the two and keep it steady.
Compatible
Compatible
Compatible
Compatible
Compatible

68 species in our list are a good match.

Facts checked against sources on 16 Oct 2026. ✓ means a source backs it; ? means no reliable source yet. See sources

Care and water

Hardness ✓10–25 dGH
Group size ✓Can live alone
Temperament ✓Semi-aggressive
Swims at ✓Bottom
Care level ?Hard
Diet Omnivore
Lifespan ?Unknown
Size in shops 3–5 cm
Growth Medium

Behavior

Territorial; keep in a rocky tank with calm tank-mates and strong current.

  • current
  • cave

Food

Spirulina flake, frozen brine shrimp and algae.

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Male or female

Difficult to sex. Adult males tend to be larger, with slightly longer pelvic fins.

Health

Common problems. Tap one to see the signs. This is a guide, not a diagnosis.

Breeding

Biparental mouthbrooder · Moderate

Biparental mouthbrooder: the female broods the eggs first, then passes the young to the male, who carries the fry for another 7-14 days.

Pairing

Keep a group of 6 and let pairs form; each pair claims rocky territory.

Setup

100-150 L rocky tank with strong flow and hard alkaline water (pH 8-9); algae-grown rocks are a bonus.

What starts it

Stable pair, good conditioning and strong water movement.

Eggs

10-30 eggs. The female carries the brood for over 2 weeks, then the male incubates the fry for a further 7-14 days.

Raising the fry

Fry are released after 3 weeks and need powdered flake and newly hatched brine shrimp.

Common mistakes
  • Weak current and poor oxygen
  • Too small a group
  • Mixing with boisterous mbuna
Full breeding guide, day-by-day plan and simulator →

Where it lives in the wild

RegionLake Tanganyika
Rivers and lakesLake Tanganyika (shallow rocky shores)
HabitatWave-washed shallow rocks
Native rangeAbout 400 km across
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The story of the eretmodus cyanostictus

A goby-like cichlid from the wave-washed rocky shallows of Lake Tanganyika, where it scrapes algae from the rocks. Described by Boulenger in 1898; both parents mouthbrood, the female first and then the male.

Boulenger described this 'goby cichlid' in 1898. It lives in the surf zone, hopping over rocks near the surface. Both parents share the job of mouthbrooding.

First described by George A. Boulenger in 1898.

  • Its swim bladder is reduced, so it sits on the bottom like a goby.
  • Female and male take turns carrying the brood.
  • It scrapes algae from rocks in turbulent water.

Sources

15 facts checked with sources