Category:Habitat Lake Tanganyika - Fish

These are aquatic species found in Lake Tanganyika, which is an exceptionally large lake in Central Africa.

It is estimated to be the second largest freshwater lake in the world by volume, and the second deepest, after Lake Baikal in Siberia. The lake is divided between four countries – Burundi, Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), Tanzania and Zambia, with the DRC (45%) and Tanzania (41%) possessing the majority of the lake. The water flows into the Congo River system and ultimately into the Atlantic Ocean.

The lake holds at least 250 species of cichlid fish and 150 non-cichlid species, most of which live along the shoreline down to a depth of approximately 180 metres (590 ft). The largest biomass of fish, is in the pelagic zone (open waters) and is dominated by six species: two species of "Tanganyika sardine" and four species of predatory lates (related to, but not the same as, the Nile perch that has devastated Lake Victoria cichlids). Almost all (98%) of the Tanganyikan cichlid species are endemic (exclusively native) to the lake and many, such as fish from the brightly coloured Tropheus genus, are prized within the aquarium trade. This kind of elevated endemism also occurs among the numerous invertebrates in the lake, most especially the molluscs (which possess similar forms to that of many marine molluscs), crabs, shrimps, copepods, jellyfishes, leeches, etc.

In most cases, a Tanganyika cichlid will fall into one of two biotopes.

1. A great deal of the fish inhabit the rocky shore areas of the lake. These fish should be kept in a tank with a rocky set-up. Smooth rocks can be used to construct caves, overhangs, tunnels, and crevices. These structures serve as spawning sites and, more importantly are essential for fish, as hiding places. Dominant fish will quickly establish territories among the caves, thus it is important to provide a shelter for each fish.
2. For cichlids that inhabit sandy regions; a sand substrate with a scattering of snail shells, should be used. These sand-dwelling cichlids will seek shelter in these shells and also use them as spawning sites. Regardless of the biotope, all Lake Tanganyika cichlids must be provided with a large open swimming areas. Use a filter that provides little current as Lake Tanganyika has very little.

With both groups a coral sand substrate should be used to buffer the water at an alkaline pH.

For more details of the Lake see Wikipedia

• Lake Tanganyika Cichlids

<googlemap lat="-4.817312" lon="29.696045" zoom="6"> -5.202073, 29.696268, Lake Tanganyika, Tanzania </googlemap>

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