Teleostei (teleosts) >
Cichliformes (Cichlids, convict blennies) >
Cichlidae (Cichlids) > Pseudocrenilabrinae
Etymology: Telmatochromis: Greek, telma -atos = swamp + Greek, chromis = a fish, perhaps a perch (Ref. 45335).
More on author: Myers.
Environment: milieu / climate zone / depth range / distribution range
Ecology
Freshwater; demersal; pH range: 8.5 - 9.5; dH range: 10 - 15; depth range 5 - 10 m. Tropical; 24°C - 26°C (Ref. 13371); 3°S - 9°S
Africa: Endemic to Lake Tanganyika.
Size / Weight / Age
Maturity: Lm ?  range ? - ? cm
Max length : 9.0 cm TL male/unsexed; (Ref. 5704)
Is an ideal beginner's fish. Sometimes found as deep as 20 m depth. Always solitary in very clear water. Often seen wandering close to rocks or over coarse sand between rock patches. Omnivorous (Ref. 54948), feeds on microorganisms (Ref. 6770). Forms temporary pair bonds; the male defends the territory while the female takes care of her offspring (Ref. 7343).
Life cycle and mating behavior
Maturities | Reproduction | Spawnings | Egg(s) | Fecundities | Larvae
Lays up to 80 eggs. A cave-brooder.
Maréchal, C. and M. Poll, 1991. Telmatochromis. p. 474-478. In J. Daget, J.-P. Gosse, G.G. Teugels and D.F.E. Thys van den Audenaerde (eds.) Checklist of the freshwater fishes of Africa (CLOFFA). ISNB, Brussels; MRAC, Tervuren; and ORSTOM, Paris. Vol. 4. (Ref. 5704)
IUCN Red List Status (Ref. 130435)
Threat to humans
Harmless
Human uses
Fisheries: commercial; aquarium: commercial
Tools
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Internet sources
Estimates based on models
Phylogenetic diversity index (Ref.
82804): PD
50 = 0.5156 [Uniqueness, from 0.5 = low to 2.0 = high].
Bayesian length-weight: a=0.00389 (0.00180 - 0.00842), b=3.12 (2.94 - 3.30), in cm total length, based on all LWR estimates for this body shape (Ref.
93245).
Trophic level (Ref.
69278): 2.0 ±0.0 se; based on diet studies.
Resilience (Ref.
120179): High, minimum population doubling time less than 15 months (Preliminary K or Fecundity.).
Fishing Vulnerability (Ref.
59153): Low vulnerability (10 of 100).