Burton's Mouthbrooder

Astatotilapia burtoni is a haplochromine cichlid living along the shallow, vegetated shores of Lake Tanganyika and at the mouths of the rivers flowing into the lake. Dominant males carry a black line running through the eye on a yellow or blue background, a red shoulder spot behind the gill cover and yellow-orange egg spots on the anal fin; females are a plain gray-brown. The way males change color and behavior according to their place in the social hierarchy has made this species a favorite model for neuroscience and behavioral research. It adapts to a wide range of water parameters and is very hardy.

• At least 150 liters and a length of 100–120 cm for one male and 3–4 females.
• Rock groups and decor that breaks lines of sight; a sandy area.
• Hard, alkaline water (pH 7.5–8.8); a 25–30% water change every week.
• Males dig pits in the sand; rooted plants may be uprooted.

Omnivorous. A quality cichlid granule and flake food containing spirulina should be the staple; vary them with frozen brine shrimp, mysis and cyclops.

Males are very aggressive toward each other; the dominant male colors up while the others fade. Females brood the eggs in their mouths for about two weeks.

Good companions: robust cichlids of similar size that like hard water, and Synodontis catfish.

Avoid: small fish and shrimp (it hunts them), other haplochromine cichlids (they may hybridize), calm and delicate Tanganyika species.