{"product_id":"burton-s-mouthbrooder-astatotilapia-burtoni","title":"Burton's Mouthbrooder | Astatotilapia burtoni","description":"\u003ch2\u003eDescription\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eBurton's Mouthbrooder is a hardy, brightly egg-spotted African cichlid, famous in neuroscience laboratories for its dramatic, rapid shifts in colour and social status. Bulletproof, fascinating and endlessly watchable, it is a great cichlid for the curious keeper. Adults reach around 12–13cm.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eNatural Habitat\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eA widespread East African species centred on the Lake Tanganyika basin, extending into surrounding rivers, streams and satellite lakes. It occupies shallow, vegetated and rocky margins rather than open lake, and copes with a broad range of conditions — but its home waters are hard and alkaline.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eAppearance\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eMales are the show, flushing yellow, blue and greenish tones with a row of bright orange \"egg spots\" on the anal fin and a dark cheek bar; colour intensifies enormously when dominant and fades when subordinate. Females are a plainer silvery-brown. This ability to switch appearance with social rank is what made the species a laboratory favourite.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eTemperament and Compatibility\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eSemi-aggressive and territorial, particularly dominant males. Keep as a single male with a group of several females, or in a robust cichlid community with room and broken sight-lines. It is not a fish for a peaceful community tank.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eFeeding\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAn adaptable omnivore. A quality cichlid pellet or flake forms the staple, supplemented with frozen foods such as brine shrimp, and some vegetable\/spirulina content. Avoid overfeeding rich protein foods.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eCare Requirements\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eProvide hard, alkaline, stable water, good filtration and a tank furnished with rocks, caves and some hardy planting or open sand. A single male will dominate territory, so give visual barriers. Regular water changes keep it in good health.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eBreeding\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eA maternal mouthbrooder and one of the easiest cichlids to breed. The female picks up the eggs almost immediately, is fertilised by the male's egg-spot lure, then broods the eggs and fry in her mouth for around two to three weeks before releasing free-swimming young.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eSpecies Information\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003ctable\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eScientific Name\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eAstatotilapia burtoni\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eCommon Name\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eBurton's Mouthbrooder\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eOrigin\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eLake Tanganyika basin, East Africa\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eMaximum Size\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eAround 12–13cm\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eLifespan\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e5–8 years\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eTemperament\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eSemi-aggressive\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eDifficulty\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eBeginner–Intermediate\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eMinimum Tank Size\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e150 litres\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eRecommended Tank Size\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e200 litres or more\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eDiet\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eOmnivore\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eWater Temperature\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e24–27°C\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003epH Range\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e7.5–8.6\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eGH Range\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e10–20 dGH\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eSalinity\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eNot applicable (freshwater)\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eSuitable For\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eRift Lake \/ robust cichlid aquariums\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eReef Safe\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eNot applicable\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003ePlant Safe\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003ePartial (may dig; use hardy or potted plants)\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003c\/table\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eSuitable Tank Mates\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eOther robust, similarly sized African cichlids and hardy tankmates that tolerate hard alkaline water and can hold their own.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eAvoid Keeping With\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eSmall peaceful community fish, long-finned or timid species, and soft-water specialists.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Nick's Aquarium Oceanarium Terrarium","offers":[{"title":"Small (1-5cm)","offer_id":55232783941923,"sku":"AA1373-S","price":21.95,"currency_code":"AUD","in_stock":false},{"title":"Medium (5-10cm)","offer_id":55232783974691,"sku":"AA1373","price":26.95,"currency_code":"AUD","in_stock":false},{"title":"Large (10-15cm)","offer_id":55232784007459,"sku":"AA1373-L","price":31.95,"currency_code":"AUD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0972\/7236\/5347\/files\/burton-s-mouthbrooder-astato-43879875477795.webp?v=1790305826","url":"https:\/\/nicksaquariumoceanariumterrarium.com.au\/products\/burton-s-mouthbrooder-astatotilapia-burtoni","provider":"Nicks AOT","version":"1.0","type":"link"}