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Masked Julie – Julidochromis Transcriptus

masked_julie

Common name: Masked Julie

Scientific name: Julidochromis Transcriptus

Average Adult Fish Size: 8cm / 3 Inches

Place of Origin: Lake Tanganyika

Typical Tank setup: Typical Tanganyika tank set up with plenty of caves for spawning

Recommended Minimum Aquarium Capacity: 160 Litres

Compatibility: Species only tank ideally

Temperature: 23-28 Deg C / 73-82 Deg F

Water chemistry:  pH 7.6-8.6

Feeding: Carnivorous – does well with flake food supplements with frozen foods such as krill or brine shrimp.

Sexing: Females are often larger than males and often plumped with eggs. In adults, venting may reveal the longer genital papillae of females, but the species is basically monomorphic.

Breeding: Cave spawners, the already reclusive julies may seem to disappear altogether when guarding a clutch of eggs. Relatively small groups of fry are coupled with fairly consistent spawns; the older fry often help raise and protect their younger siblings, creating a colony feel to the tank. As adolescents, however, they may be kicked out by their parents and must be removed if the tank is too small to contain the entire family.

Additional Information: Avowed fry-eaters when it comes to other species, Julies may not be the best addition to a breeding tank if the parents are likely to allow predation. However, they make a lovely pair for the small rock-filled tank, and a stunning group for the larger tank. The bold black and white of this fish rivals that of Zebra Plecos or even saltwater species, and with the added bonus of lovely blue and/or yellow in the fins.