All fish / Cichlidae

Masked Julie

Julidochromis transcriptus

Also known as masked julidochromis, black and white julie, julie cichlid, transcriptus julie, gombi julie, bemba julie, julidochromis transcriptus kissi, ジュリドクロミス・トランスクリプタス, 面罩六间, 黑白六间

This is the smallest of the julies, a slender cichlid with a long dorsal fin and a bold black and white pattern that looks mottled or checked, often edged with blue or yellow on the fins. It lives among rocks and caves, and people keep it for its striking markings, its interesting pair behaviour and the fact that it suits fairly small rocky Tanganyika setups.

Care at a glance

Care level

Moderate

Temperament

Semi

Adult size

7 cm

Temperature

23 to 27 °C

pH

7.8 to 9

Smallest tank

60 litres

Keep as

One pair per tank, or a pair with other Tanganyikan species in a larger tank

Diet

Carnivore: small crustaceans and insect larvae, eaten as brine shrimp, mysis, daphnia and good-quality cichlid pellets

Swims

Bottom of the tank

Lifespan

6 to 10 years

Water

Freshwater

Wild range

Lake Tanganyika (northwestern shores, DR Congo and Burundi)

Breeding

Pairs spawn hidden in caves or rock crevices and both parents guard the eggs and fry, with several generations often living together in the same territory. Breeding is fairly easy once a compatible pair has formed, and the best way to get one is to raise a small group of juveniles together.

Good to know

Pairs become very territorial around their caves when breeding, so give plenty of rockwork and avoid timid or similar-looking cave spawners. It can hybridise with other Julidochromis species, so do not mix them.