Burton's Mouthbrooder
Astatotilapia burtoni
Origin: Lake Tanganyika watershed, East Africa
Water Parameters
Quick Stats
- Max Size
- 12 cm
- Min Tank
- 120 L
- Lifespan
- 5–8
- Swimming Level
- middle
- Schooling
- No
- Diet
- omnivore
- Temperament
- Moderately aggressive; manageable in harem
About
Astatotilapia burtoni, Burton's Mouthbrooder, has a wide range across East and Central African lakes and rivers. Males display colourful orange and blue-green flecks with prominent egg spots; females are cryptic mouthbrooders. Scientifically one of the most studied cichlids in the world — it is a key model organism in neurobiological research on social hierarchy and colour change. Adaptable and easy to breed in captivity. A good entry-level rift cichlid.
Care Guide
Hard alkaline water (pH 7.5–8.5). Temperature 24–27 °C. Feed quality cichlid pellets and spirulina flakes. Harem setup (1 male, 3+ females). 120 L minimum. Males may be aggressive to each other.
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