Fishician®Diet
Carnivore – small frozen foods (mysis, brine, cyclops), small pellets; cave spawner
Aquarium species profile
Altolamprologus Calvus
Altolamprologus calvus · Africa (Lake Tanganyika — southern rocky shores)
Minimum tank40 gal
Adult size5"
Care levelModerate
TemperamentSemi-Aggressive
Temperature75–82°F
pH range7.8–9.0
Compatible tank mates
Julidochromis, shell dwellers, other Tanganyika species; best with larger fish
Tank mates to avoid
Very small fish (will eat), fry of other species
Care notes
Laterally compressed body — so flat it can enter tiny crevices to hunt. White or black forms with intricate spotted pattern. Very slow-growing (years to reach adult size). Shell-spawner — female enters narrow shells to deposit eggs. Males cannot fit in shells and guard from outside. Highly specialized and fascinating.
Check the whole aquarium. Tank size alone does not establish compatibility. Confirm adult size, water overlap, social grouping, territory, diet, and the individual animals before stocking.