Small Saltwater Fish With Shining Scales: How To Care Haplochromis sp. Tomato

Haplochromis sp. Tomato

Common name: Tomato
Location and Lake collected from: Kome Island, Lake Victoria
Approximate size: 4.5 inches is the size of my Largest male.
Food: Will eat flake, brine shrimp, daphnia, and mosquito larvae. Their favorite has been the live foods. I have not tried pellet food with them.
pH: 7.5 – 8.3
Temperature: 76 – 82 degrees F.
Breeding behavior: Mouthbrooder. Males chase the females around spawning time. In my experience, multiple males can be housed in the same aquarium with a lot of rocks with no problems. The only time my males defend territory is around spawning time. One of my 2.5″ females held for about 14 days and dropped 27 fry, another 2.5″ female held for 16 days and dropped 14 fry.
Care of the Fry: Newly released fry can eat crushed flake food, baby brine shrimp, and other small foods. They should be given several small feedings per day. Spawns can be kept in a 20 – 30 gallon tank up to an inch in size. They are not picky about their water conditions. Males start to develop adult coloration at around 1.5 inches.
Tankmates: I have 1 male in with my Haplochromis sp. Palisa Black Slick.
Tank size: I keep 2 males and 4 females in a 30-gallon long aquarium.

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