All fish / Cichlidae

Calvus cichlid

Altolamprologus calvus

Also known as calvus, black calvus, white calvus, yellow calvus, calvus black pearl, altolamprologus calvus white, calvus inca, pearly lamprologus, カルヴス, アルトランプロローグス・カルヴス, 卡尔文, 黑珍珠卡尔文

A deep but very narrow-bodied cichlid from Lake Tanganyika, usually dark brown to black or pale cream with rows of small white pearly spots and a pointed head. Its flat body lets it slip into rock crevices to hunt fry and small shrimp. Keepers value it for its unusual shape, striking spotting and calm, deliberate behaviour.

Care at a glance

Care level

Moderate

Temperament

Semi

Adult size

13 cm

Temperature

23 to 27 °C

pH

7.8 to 9

Smallest tank

150 litres

Keep as

Single fish, a pair or a small harem in a large tank

Diet

Carnivore: small crustaceans such as mysis, brine shrimp and krill, plus good quality sinking pellets

Swims

Middle of the tank

Lifespan

8 to 12 years

Water

Freshwater

Wild range

Lake Tanganyika (Zambia, DR Congo, Tanzania), mainly the southwestern shores

Breeding

A cave spawner: the female lays eggs in a narrow crevice or shell that the larger male cannot enter, and she guards the brood. Breeding in captivity is quite achievable, but growth is slow and fish may take two years or more to mature, with small broods.

Good to know

Males grow much larger than females, about 15 cm against 10 cm. It will eat any fish small enough to swallow, including shell dweller fry, and needs hard, alkaline water with plenty of rockwork.