Convict julie facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Convict julie |
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| Adult | |
| Conservation status | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Genus: |
Julidochromis
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| Species: |
regani
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The convict julie (Julidochromis regani) is a type of cichlid fish. It lives only in Lake Tanganyika in Africa. You can find this fish in countries like Burundi, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Tanzania, and Zambia. The fish is named after a person called Charles Tate Regan.
This fish is related to another species called Julidochromis marlieri.
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What Does the Convict Julie Look Like?
The convict julie is a small ray-finned fish. It grows up to about 13 centimeters (5 inches) long. Its body is thin and long, with a pale to golden yellow color.
It has black stripes that can look different depending on where the fish comes from in the lake. All convict julies have four thin black stripes along their body. Sometimes, the fourth stripe is only on its head. On its top fin (dorsal fin), the stripes go up and down. The edges of its tail fin, top fin, and bottom fin are white. Its side fins (pectoral fins) are yellow.
It can be tricky to tell male and female convict julies apart. Females are usually a bit rounder than males.
Where Do Convict Julies Live and What Do They Eat?
Convict julies eat many different things, so they are called omnivorous. In the wild, they often live in pairs. These pairs usually stay together, like a married couple. However, sometimes a female might have more than one mate. This has been seen both in the wild and in aquariums.
This fish likes to hide. It lays its eggs in caves or cracks in rocks for safety. Both parents help take care of the eggs and young fish.
Keeping Convict Julies as Pets
Convict julies are small dwarf cichlids. They are quite easy to care for and breed if you meet their basic needs. Like all cichlids from Lake Tanganyika, they need hard, alkaline water. The water should have a pH of 8.5 to 9.0 and a hardness of 12-14 kH.
It's best to keep them in an aquarium that is at least 60 to 80 liters (15 to 20 US gallons). You should only keep one type of Julidochromis fish in an aquarium. This is because different Julidochromis species can easily breed together and create mixed-breed fish. It's also a good idea to avoid keeping them with other similar fish like Chalinochromis or Telmatochromis for the same reason.
Your tank should have lots of rocks. These rocks will form caves and hiding spots. Convict julies can be territorial and a bit aggressive. Keeping them with other cichlids can help spread out their energy and prevent too much fighting.
Baby convict julies (fry) can stay with their parents. You should feed them foods rich in protein, like baby brine shrimp. Sometimes, you might see the parent fish swimming around the aquarium with their babies following them. To get these fish to breed, it's often easiest to buy several young fish and let them grow up together. They will then form their own pairs.
