Julidochromis transcriptus, commonly known as the masked Julie cichlid, is a species of fish in the family Cichlidae1. Here’s a brief profile of this species:
Origin: This species is native to Lake Tanganyika and the nearby coastal areas of Burundi, Tanzania, and Zambia1. It’s also found in rivers, lakes, and streams in Tanzania, Uganda, and Kenya1.
Size: When fully grown, the masked Julie reaches about 3 inches long1. Adult females are larger than adult males2.
Behavior: This species spends most of its time at the surface of the water feeding on a variety of small invertebrates and fish eggs1. It’s a peaceful, non-aggressive cichlid that gets along well with others of its own kind1. However, it can be slightly territorial3.
Habitat: In the wild, Julidochromis transcriptus spends most of its time swimming close to rocks, where it feeds on algae and other vegetation1. In an aquarium setting, care should be taken to ensure that there are plenty of hiding places for when Julies are threatened by larger fish1.
Aquarium Requirements: If you’re thinking about adding some masked Julie cichlids to your setup, you’ll want to take into account their rather unique requirements. In addition to the usual assortment of water conditioners needed for African cichlids, adult Julies must have well-oxygenated water at all times1.