Julidochromis Marlieri Cichlid

The cross-hatched pattern of the marlieri cichlid looks more like spots from afar, hence this cichlid is also called the Spotted Juli. AquariumFish.com receives these fish four times a year from our favorite Tanganyikan cichlid breeder. The Juli marlieri, or marlieri cichlid, grows to five inches in the wild, most likely 4 inches in the aquarium. These ornate cichlids live a decade.

Quick Facts

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: Julies are rock dwellers that swim upside down and sideways along rock faces. Give them stacked rocks with lots of crevices.