Species

Xenotilapia bathyphilus

Xenotilapia bathyphilus

advancedpeacefulbottom swimmerCichlidae
Add 6 to my tank
Xenotilapia bathyphilus
Adult size
9 cm4 in
Start with
6
Tank length
36 cm14 in
Lifespan
6–10 yrs
Temperature
24–27 °C75–81 °F
pH
7.6–8.6
Hardness
5–20 dGH
Diet
carnivore

A delicate sand-sifting mouthbrooder; keep a group on fine open sand with calm tankmates only.A delicate sand-sifting mouthbrooder; keep a group on fine open sand with calm tankmates only.

Tank sizes

Good tankmates

Avoid with

Sources
temperature24–27AqAdvisor (aqadvisor.com), retrieved 2026-10-04 · medium
ph7.6–8.6AqAdvisor (aqadvisor.com), retrieved 2026-10-04 · medium
gh5–20AqAdvisor (aqadvisor.com), retrieved 2026-10-04 · medium
originDeep sandy zones of Lake Tanganyikacurated-v0 (needs expert review) · low
notesA delicate sand-sifting mouthbrooder; keep a group on fine open sand with calm tcurated-v0 (needs expert review) · medium
beginner friendlyfalsecurated-v0 (needs expert review) · medium
care leveladvancedcurated-v0 (needs expert review) · medium
color palette#E0D8C0, #E8C060curated-v0 (needs expert review) · low
activitymoderatecurated-v0 (needs expert review) · medium
swim zonebottomcurated-v0 (needs expert review) · medium
temperamentpeacefulcurated-v0 (needs expert review) · medium
fin nipperfalsecurated-v0 (needs expert review) · medium
long finnedfalsecurated-v0 (needs expert review) · medium
territorialfalsecurated-v0 (needs expert review) · medium
schoolingfalsecurated-v0 (needs expert review) · medium
social min6curated-v0 (needs expert review) · medium
schooling min1curated-v0 (needs expert review) · medium
dietcarnivorecurated-v0 (needs expert review) · medium
lifespan years6–10curated-v0 (needs expert review) · low
growth to adult months14curated-v0 (needs expert review) · low
length weight{"a":0.014,"b":3}curated-v0 (needs expert review) · low
planted safetruecurated-v0 (needs expert review) · medium
body shapecichlidcurated-v0 (needs expert review) · medium