Calvus Cichlid
Altolamprologus calvus
Cichlidae
About
The calvus is a slow, deliberate predatory cichlid endemic to the rocky shorelines of Lake Tanganyika, where its deep, strongly laterally compressed body lets it slip sideways into narrow cracks to hunt. Available in pearly white and darker black forms, it hovers patiently near rockwork and ambushes shrimp, crustaceans and the fry of other fish. Males grow markedly larger than females. Calm toward tankmates too big to eat but quietly relentless with anything smaller, it is a hardy, long-lived showpiece for a hard, alkaline Tanganyikan setup with plenty of caves.
Care
Keep as a single bonded pair in a rocky, cave-rich tank of 200 L or more with hard, alkaline water at pH 8.2-8.8. A slow ambush predator: never mix with shrimp, fry or fish small enough to swallow. Males are intolerant of each other, so keep only one male per tank.
Diet
Carnivorous ambush hunter of shrimp, crustaceans and small fry. Offer frozen and live meaty foods; some accept sinking carnivore pellets over time. Feed modestly and skip fatty foods to avoid bloat.
Tankmate compatibility
Gets along with (4)
Possible with care (110)
Avoid (157)
Computed by the AquaSage engine for a spacious reference tank — always check the full verdict for your exact setup in the calculator.
Telling males from females
What works for this species, most reliable first.
- Extended finsStrong · from about 8 months, and later in a suppressed male
On many cichlids and killifish the male's dorsal and anal fins draw out into trailing points as he matures, while the female's stay rounded.
- VentingA hint only · only on a mature fish, easiest when she is in breeding condition
The method breeders use when the answer has to be right. Hold the fish upside down in a wet hand or soft net and look at the two openings ahead of the anal fin. The forward one is the anus; the one behind it is what you are reading.
- Adult sizeA hint only · only across animals of the same age
In many cichlids, catfish and loaches one sex simply grows larger — usually the male, though there are well-known reversals.
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Frequently asked questions
- What tank size does a Calvus Cichlid need?
- A Calvus Cichlid needs an aquarium of at least 200 litres (52.8 US gallons) with a footprint at least 100 cm (39.4 in) long — for this species, swimming length matters as much as raw volume.
- What water parameters does a Calvus Cichlid need?
- Calvus Cichlid does best at 23–27 °C (73.4–80.6 °F), pH 7.8–9 and a general hardness of 8–20 °dGH.
- Is the Calvus Cichlid suitable for beginners?
- Calvus Cichlid sits in the middle of the difficulty scale — manageable for a careful beginner who has done the reading, but it has specific needs worth researching first.