Julidochromis ornatus “Golden Julie” – Juvenile

J. ornatus, called the Golden Julie commonly,has a torpedo shaped body, common to all Julidochromis. The distinguishing feature is the bold black horizontal striping. Ornatus have at least 3, if not 4, thick black stripes that obscure the cream to orange coloration underneath. They are aggressive and should not be kept with timid fish. Breeding is easy. Just provide a sheltered cave and a proven pair of fish and they will do the rest. A flower pot laying face down on a piece of slate so there is a narrow opening at the bottom and top works best. Feeding brine shrimp on a regular basis will condition the adults to spawn. They are not especially fast growing and it will take a long time before the fry are large enough to be separated. However, they will raise several generations in the same tank. Feed the adults brine shrimp, flake, and small pellet foods as well.

Julidochromis ornatus “Golden Julie” – Adult

This torpedo shaped cichlid features broken black and white stripes with yellow and blue highlights in the fins. Julies require a deep, soft substrate and lots of rocks. They will stay toward the bottom of the aquarium, ususally hovering over their “territory”. Any fish that stays toward the top should be a good tankmate, as well as other Tanganyikans of similar aggression. Julies require a predominantly meaty diet of frozen brine, mysis, or other small items, though a staple flake should be acceptable as a daily diet, as well. Julies are substrate spawners. They form pairs and both will guard the eggs and fry. These pairs are very fragile and often “divorce” quite abruptly and with much quarreling.