Julido Dickfeldi | Julidichromis dickfeldi

Julie Julidochromis  Dickfeld is the most recently discovered of the three pygmy Julies, described by Staeck in 1975. This dwarf Julie only grows to a length of 4 1/3 inches (11 cm). However it is not the smallest, its relative Masked Julie Julidochromis transcriptus is a dwarf cichlid with a length difference of about 3 inches (7.62 cm). The Golden Julie Julidochromis ornatus is also smaller, reaching over 3 inches (8 cm), and has the distinction of being the first Julie to be bred in captivity. Like the others, this cichlid’s small size makes it easy to fit in tight spaces and the 20 gallon tank is perfect for keeping a pair.

This dwarf Julie was first introduced in America in 1974 under the catchy title “Blue Julie”. It differs in its coloration from other Julies in that the body can be silver, light brownish gold, or have a blue sheen. So Brown Julie is another common name for that too. The mark on his head is another difference. Three dark horizontal stripes on each side extend to the head with the bottom line completely enveloping the entire face. In addition to different colors, body shape is also slightly different. It has a larger dorsal fin towards the front end and a more pointed snout. This fish is also commonly named after color or locality such as Julidochromis dickfeldi “Ndole”, Julidochromis dickfeldi “Moliro”, Julidochromis dickfeldi “Midnight”,

They are moderate to easy to care for as long as small weekly water changes are made to keep the water at optimal levels. With their small size and strong nature, they make great fish for beginner cichlid keepers. Provide them with a sandy or fine gravel substrate along with plenty of rock formations. It’s a bit of a shame. It will stay on the rocks further towards the back of the tank, darting out to get food. Plants can also be included as it will not disturb them. These fish will breed in captivity and the plants will provide protection for the newly hatched fry.

In a community cichlid tank, the Julie Dickfeld can be kept alone or in pairs, but will not tolerate another Julie. They can be kept with other Tanganyika cichlids of the same size. They will define a region by selecting a rock crack or fissure as its center, and will then stay very close to the rock structure of the region they define. These fish will breed in captivity, and it is important to separate the different strains to help prevent hybrids.

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