Gnathochromis permaxillaris "Zambia"

Remarks: Gnathochromis permaxillaris is a very rare species in the hobby. They are tough to spawn in captivity and occur very deep in Lake Tanganyika, making wild caught individuals very expensive. Based on the shape of their head and snout, you may compare them to the South American genus Geophagus - and the comparisons wouldn't stop there! They feed by sifting sand through their gills, much like the eartheaters in the Amazon.

They are reportedly a cave-spawning mouth-brooder that exhibit biparental custody of the eggs. We recommend setting up a large tank (at least 55 gallon for a species-only tank) with several piles of rocks and caves and a large sandy area for swimming and feeding.

Scientific Name: Gnathochromis permaxillaris "Zambia"

Common Name:

Max Size: 6"

pH: 7.5-8.6

Hardness: Hard

Temperature: 70-82°

Aggressiveness: Semi-Aggressive

Region of Origin: Lake Tanganyika, Africa

Captive Bred or Wild: Captive Bred

Diet: Flake or pellet, frozen and live food

Compatibility: Lake Tanganyikan cichlids

Tank Mate Options:

• Neolamprologus leleupi
• Julidochromis marlieri
• Synodontis multipunctatus