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Freshwater fishCalvus Cichlid
Calvus Cichlid
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The calvus cichlid is the most popular Lake Tanganyikan cichlid in the aquarium trade. These fish are bred in a few color variations; AquariumFish.com generally offers the RARE "INK FIN" variety. The black ink-fin calvus cichlid has a very unusual look, with a black and pearly body, curved snout, and black-tipped fins. These beautiful pet fish are slow growers and pricey, but worth it!
Quick Facts
| Scientific Name | Altolamprologus calvus (ink fin) |
| Origin | Lake Tanganyika, Africa |
| Care Level | Easy to moderate |
| Temperament | Territorial |
| Adult Size | Up to 5" |
| Lifespan | 8–10 years |
| Diet | Omnivore |
| Water Temperature | 75–82°F |
| pH | 7.8–9.0 |
| Shipping Size | Approx. 1¼" |
Care Guide
Tank setup: Use a sand bottom with rockwork, caves and crevices for spawning sites. Lake Malawi and Lake Tanganyika cichlids need hard, alkaline water; crushed coral or aragonite sand helps hold the pH up.
Feeding: Feed a quality cichlid pellet or flake once or twice a day. They also enjoy frozen foods like brine shrimp.
Tankmates: Tanganyikan cichlids do best with other Tanganyikans of similar size, such as julidochromis, neolamprologus and synodontis catfish. Give each pair its own territory.
Good to know: Calvus are slow growers that hunt fry and small fish in rock crevices. Keep them with fish too big to swallow.
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