Enantiopus melanogenys
BOULENGER, 1898

	Photo © Michael Persson
Enantiopus melanogenys

Trade names and synonyms
Ectodus melanogenys Xenotilapia melanogenys.

Size
This is a large grown sand dwelling cichlid which could attain a length of approximately 15 cm (6 in.), females are considerably smaller.

Food
Shrimp mix and new-hatched brine shrimps.

Aquarium
The aquarium should not be smaller than 400 litres (90 gal.), especially the bottom area has to be wide.

Habitat
Enantiopus melanogenys a shoal living cichlid which is found above sandy floors in shallow water.

Breeding
It is a mouth brooder that needs a peace and quiet aquarium to be enjoyed and spawn. The male digs a spawning-pit in the sand and entice a female to the hole by swimming in circles and stretching the brightly breeding-coloured fins and gills. The female emits between 1 and 8 eggs at a time and after the male has fertilized them she picks them up in her mouth, and so they goes on until all eggs are fertilized. The size of a brood could vary up to 60 fry's at the most.

General
It's a rather shy cichlid, which should be maintained with other calm and peaceful cichlids in the aquarium, otherwise it will easily be stressed.

Distribution
Lakewide distribution.