Sam Borstein's Cichlid Page


Astatotilapia sp. "44"

44's
Synonyms: Haplochromis sp. "44", Haplochromis sp. "thick skin"

44 Male
Above: A male Astatotilapia sp. "44". Photo by Rick Borstein.

Meaning of Name:

Genus- Astuto= cunning (Latin), tilapia= fish (Native African).

Intro:

Astatotilapia sp. "44" is one of the more known Victorian cichlids. This fish, which is rather new, is getting very popular, even with non-Victorian cichlid keepers. This fish is the Vic with the most demand in the hobby right now.

Distribution:

Astatotilapia sp. "44" is found through the rocky areas of East and North Lake Victoria.

Size, Maturity, and Sexual Dimorphism:

Size: Males- 3 inches, Females- 2.5 inches
Maturity: .5 inches
Sexual Dimorphism: Males are larger and have color compared to the brown/silver females.

44 Female
Above: a female Astatotilapiasp. "44". Photo by Sam Borstein.

Care:

This fish is easy to care for. I've heard many horror stories from people that this fish is an absolute terror. Honestly, this fish could be deemed responsible for getting many people from keeping Victorian cichlids. I found them to be non-aggressive. I had the group in a 10 gallon at first with no issues. As they grew they were placed in larger tanks with various Malawians. I saw no aggression towards any fish, other than females when they were about ready to spawn, and even then it was minimal.

*Note*- Be cautious when mixing Victorians to prevent hybridization.

Diet:

Astatotilapia sp. "44" is carnivorous, but will eat a bit of everything. In the wild, they are insectivores, eating adult insects as well as larvae.

Breeding:

Astatotilapia sp. "44" is very easy to breed. Their breeding behavior is like all other Haplochromis from Lake Victoria. The females are excellent holders, and will chew for about 3 weeks. The fry are small, but easy to raise, especially with brine shrimp. The fry grow rapidly if given a large tank to grow up in, and color up quick, in about 1 month. They will spawn at the end of two months.

I was amazed at how small the fish bred. I had my female first hold when she was pushing 1/2 an inch! The male was full color also!

Conclusion:

Astatotilapia sp. "44" is a very nice fish to keep. It is easily obtainable and the males get some color. They are very popular right now among hobbyists, but like most Vics, you won't see them at a pet shop.

References: