Yellowbelly Albert

About

Found hugging the papyrus-lined margins of Lake George and the Kazinga Channel in Uganda, Haplochromis aeneocolor is a compact cichlid that rarely ventures away from the shallows. It appears to be strictly a nearshore species. Open water simply isn't its habitat. The Kazinga Channel connects Lakes George and Edward in western Uganda, and populations have also been reported from the Aruwimi and Ituri river systems in the middle Congo basin, though those records may reflect introductions rather than native range. In the wild this fish feeds close to the substrate, picking through detritus for plant material and insect larvae, which puts it squarely in the omnivore camp despite its cichlid pedigree. In the aquarium it will accept a varied diet without much fuss. At a mature size somewhere between two and three inches it fits comfortably in a moderately sized tank, though like most cichlids it appreciates structure and territory. The harder, alkaline water of its rift-adjacent home should be replicated to keep it at its best. This is not a species you'll find on every shelf, and hobbyists who do track it down will want some experience with cichlid behavior before diving in.