Chalinochromis brichardi

Chalinochromis brichardi is a Tanganyika cichlid that resembles Julidochromis with its long, cylindrical body but has plainer coloring. Its body is in light beige or gray tones; the dark lines on its head resemble a horse's bridle, and the genus name comes from this. It reaches about 12 cm. It is calm, hardy and breeds easily; like Julidochromis, it swims with its belly turned toward the rocks.

• 120 liters for a pair; 200 liters or more with other species.
• Sturdy rock piles with narrow crevices and multiple entrances.
• pH 8–9, hard and stable water; a 25% water change every week.
• Fine sand substrate.

Mainly carnivorous. A quality cichlid granule should be the staple; vary it with frozen mysis, cyclops and brine shrimp. Give small amounts 1–2 times a day; it also picks up food that falls between the rocks.

Calm toward fish outside its territory; when there are fry, it chases off those approaching its nest. The pair spawns in a cave and the fry stay in the territory for a long time; for a while, several generations of different sizes can be seen together. To form a pair, 5–6 juveniles are grown up together.

Good companions: Cyprichromis, Paracyprichromis, Altolamprologus, Synodontis catfish, Julidochromis in a large aquarium.

Avoid: Neolamprologus and Julidochromis species competing for caves in a small aquarium, shrimp, aggressive mbuna.