Masked Julie
Julidochromis transcriptus
Cichlidae
About
The masked julie is the smallest member of the Julidochromis genus, a slender, rock-dwelling dwarf cichlid endemic to the rocky northern shores of Lake Tanganyika. Its pale body is broken by a bold ladder of dark bars and blotches that resemble a mask, and it spends its days weaving through crevices and hovering close to stone. It forms tight, long-lasting monogamous pairs that grow strongly territorial around their chosen cave, especially when breeding, but stay peaceful toward unrelated tankmates that keep to open water.
Care
Keep as a single bonded pair in a rock-and-cave aquarium of 75 L or more with hard, alkaline water at pH 8.2-8.8. Once a pair forms, remove all other conspecifics, which the pair will attack; peaceful toward non-cichlid tankmates in the upper zone.
Diet
Omnivorous micropredator that grazes rocky biofilm for tiny invertebrates and algae. Offer quality granules and frozen cyclops, mysis and daphnia; avoid fatty tubifex and excess bloodworm.
Tankmate compatibility
Gets along with (5)
Possible with care (105)
Avoid (161)
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.
Also in these lists
Frequently asked questions
- What tank size does a Masked Julie need?
- A Masked Julie needs an aquarium of at least 75 litres (19.8 US gallons) with a footprint at least 60 cm (23.6 in) long — for this species, swimming length matters as much as raw volume.
- What water parameters does a Masked Julie need?
- Masked Julie does best at 23–27 °C (73.4–80.6 °F), pH 7.8–9.2 and a general hardness of 7–20 °dGH.
- Is the Masked Julie suitable for beginners?
- Masked Julie 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.