3-striped Haplotaxodon Cichlid Haplotaxodon trifasciatus

The 3-striped Haplotaxodon Cichlid is native to deep water areas of Lake Tanganyika near Zambia and DR Congo in East Africa. Discovered around the turn of this century, it is one of 2 species in its genus, the other, H. microlepis is native to the Burundi region of the lake and is plainer (although the 3 stripes are not always clear on the former; some have 3 dark vertical bars on the flank).

Its large eyes allow it to receive more light in the depths. It eats plankton and small larvae and both parents mouth-brood their young.