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 (2)
Possible with care (67)
Avoid (52)
Computed by the AquaSage engine for a spacious reference tank — always check the full verdict for your exact setup in the calculator.