Burton's mouthbrooder - Astatotilapia burtoni - DNZ single specimen

The Astatotilapia burtoni from Lake Tanganyika, also known as Burton's mouthbrooder or black-throated mouthbrooder, is a great companion in a beautifully designed Tanganyika tank and enjoys great popularity among Africa fans. These peaceful cichlids can be kept as a pair and also in a harem, i.e. with one male and several females, and can also be socialized.

You will receive our Burton's Mouthbrooders in pairs, furthermore they are German offspring.

The pretty mouthbrooders show a silvery-yellow ground color on the typical perch body, which has several beautiful turquoise speckles, which partly suggest a blue shimmer. The males also form so-called egg spots on the anal fin and the extended pelvic fins, as well as a very strong forehead. Brown-black bands run across the face, which also has a terminal mouth with distinct lip bulges. At about 15 cm in size, the male grows slightly larger than the females, which are only 12 cm in size and tend to be paler.

Burton's mouthbrooders are, as the name implies, maternal mouthbrooders. The female lays eggs, which she collects with her mouth. Once she automatically snaps at the egg spots on the male's fin, he simultaneously releases his sperm so that the eggs are fertilized. After about 14 days, about 50-55 young hatch and she takes care of them for a while. These can be fed with freshly hatched Artemia nauplii.

Burton's mouthbrooders can be kept well in aquariums from 100 cm edge length. The substrate should consist of fine sand or gravel with a medium grain size, planting plays a rather subordinate role, but can be introduced, since the perches do not bother them. With stone structures, which are secured against falling over, good territorial markings, caves, but also visual contact prevention can be created, as well as hiding places. Especially during spawning season the animals can be more territorial and should be able to avoid each other. Planting can be done with sturdy and well rooted plants such as vallisnerias or cryptos to green up the background and also the marginal areas. Your aquarium water should be well maintained with a total hardness between 7-15 °dGH and pH values between 7.5-8.5. The animals feel most comfortable at a temperature of 24 and 26 °C. Since the animals feed in their habitat mainly on growth and deposits, as well as the microfauna living in it, their aquarium may be illuminated accordingly stronger, so that these algae carpets also form.

Burton's Mouthbrooder can be socialized in and for itself with other representatives from the Tanganyika Lake. A socialization with shrimps or crayfish should rather be refrained from, because the one could increase the menu and the other could possibly pinch the fins of the perch.

As growth and carnivores, which feed in their habitat on algae coverings as well as the microfauna contained therein, they can be accustomed also in the aquarium without problems to commercial dry food such as feed flakes or granulate food. In addition, their menu can also be well fed with small live and frozen food Frozen food like Daphnia, Gammarus and nauplii can be added. Scalded vegetables like Pumpkin or Peppersbut also Algae leaves are plucked with pleasure by them.

Our food recommendation: NatureHolic Cichfeed is a great staple food for all carnivorous cichlids in the aquarium, perfectly meeting their dietary requirements. The tasty pearls are also very well eaten by larger cichlids. Thanks to their soft texture, NatureHolic Cichfeed food pearls are gentle on the mouth and can be eaten very well by the fish.

Our plant recommendation: Use for planting NatureHolic InVitros. These are free of snails, planaria and other unwanted co-inhabitants. Also free of algae spores, bacteria and fungi.

Expert Tip: We recommend when keeping fish the NatureHolic 3 Phase Liquid. The care set offers the best all-round protection for your animals. It ensures optimal conditions for successful breeding and keeping.