General information –  The calvus is one of the

most astonishing cichlids that lives in Lake

Tanganica. The calvus is a very slow-growing

species. A number of color variants of

Altolamprologus Calvus are available in the hobby,

the most common is the black calvus. Other

Varieties include white, orange and even yellow.

Common Name - Pearly Calvus, Calvus. 

Scientific Name - Altolamprologus calvus. 

Origin- Africa, Lake Tanganica.                                                                                                              

Size - Males up to 15cm (6 Inches) females up

to 10cm (4 inches).                                                                                                       

First discovered - Poll, 1978. 

Photo by: Eran Sitron

                                                              

feeding on eggs fry and small fish. Its body shape help It to pull out fry from the rocky in the lake,

In home tank Its diet based on bloodworms, Frozen food, meaty flakes and pellet.   

Behavior – calm, can be aggressive towards other calvus. 

Maintenance and care– This great cichlid will appreciate water change at least once a week,

Can be kept in 30 gallon tank with rocks and caves as hiding places. 

Water Parameters - PH- 8-8.5, GH-12-20, temperature- 24-27c (75-81F)  

Breeding - Altolamprologus calvus isn't hard to breed, but you do need to make

sure your fish are sexually mature, the calvus grow very slowly and he reach is maturity in Age of 2 to 2.5,

the males are much bigger than females and this is the best way to sex between them.

Look for a small fish and large fish that like to stay together and you Will know that you have a couple,

they will prefer to laid eggs in big shells or in a Ceramic cones, the female will enter the shell in order

to laid eggs then the mail will enter the shell or just standing above it in order to fertilize the eggs.

The female laid 60-200 hundred eggs in one time. They known to be good parents,

while the female Guard the eggs inside the shell the male patrols around it.

After the fry hatch they will stay inside the shell to a period of a month enjoying parent protection.

In this time you have to pay attention to water parameters the fry are very sensitive,

you can also feed the fry with Cyclops and fry food.