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Encyclopedia / African Cichlids / Marlier's julie
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Variations

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Marlier's julie

Julidochromis marlieri · Marlieri, Marlieri julie, Julidochromis marlieri, Marlier's julidochromis

Pairs form strong bonds; keep a single pair in a tank with rock piles and avoid aggressive tank-mates.

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13 cmAdult size ✓
24–27 °CTemperature ✓
8–9pH ✓
110 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 Marlier's julie is tropical.
  • Rift lake cichlids like marlier's julie need hard, alkaline water and a busy, cichlid-only tank.
Not recommended
  • They need different temperatures (24–27 °C vs 10–22 °C). No setting suits both.
  • Rift lake cichlids like marlier's julie need hard, alkaline water and a busy, cichlid-only tank.
Not recommended
  • They need very different water (pH 8–9 vs 5–6).
  • Rift lake cichlids like marlier's julie need hard, alkaline water and a busy, cichlid-only tank.
With conditions
  • Rift lake cichlids like marlier's julie 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 marlier's julie 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 ✓2 or more
Temperament ✓Semi-aggressive
Swims at ?All levels
Care level ✓Moderate
Diet Omnivore
Lifespan ?Unknown
Size in shops 4–7 cm
Growth Medium

Behavior

Pairs form strong bonds; keep a single pair in a tank with rock piles and avoid aggressive tank-mates.

  • cave

Food

Cichlid pellets, frozen brine shrimp, daphnia and small flakes.

Tap a food to see what it is.

Male or female

Males have a longer, more pointed genital papilla than females; adult females are larger than males.

Health

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

Breeding

Cave spawner (pair bond) · Moderate

Monogamous cave spawner: the female lays eggs on the wall or roof of a cave or crevice; fry may still have yolk when released. Breed at pH 8.2-9.0, 25-26.5 °C.

Pairing

Buy a group of 6 and let a pair form, or buy a proven pair; keep a pair per tank to avoid fights.

Setup

100-150 L tank with rock piles creating narrow caves and slits, hard alkaline water (pH 8-9) and strong filtration.

What starts it

Stable pair bond, good conditioning and a cave that fits the female.

Eggs

Up to 100 eggs, usually fewer, on the cave wall or roof. No hatch time given.

Raising the fry

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.

Common mistakes
  • Mixing several pairs in a small tank
  • Giving caves that are too big
  • Using soft water
Full breeding guide, day-by-day plan and simulator →

Where it lives in the wild

RegionLake Tanganyika – northern part
Rivers and lakesLake Tanganyika (northern basin)
HabitatRocky slopes with crevices
Native rangeAbout 150 km across
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The story of the marlier's julie

A large, checkered Julidochromis from rocky shores of Lake Tanganyika that lives in monogamous pairs and spawns in caves and crevices. Named after Belgian zoologist Georges Marlier; described by Poll in 1956.

Max Poll described this julie in 1956, honouring Georges Marlier, who studied the lake's fishes. It is the largest of the julies. It lives in pairs among rocky crevices.

First described by Max Poll in 1956. Named for Named after Belgian biologist Georges Marlier.

  • It is the largest Julidochromis, reaching around 15 cm.
  • Its pattern is a bold checkerboard of black and pale patches.
  • In this species, females are often larger than males.

Sources

16 facts checked with sources