CARES Species Profile:  Astatotilapia latifasciata

Description

Cichlid native to Uganda's Lake Kyoga. Female mouthbrooder. Apparently extinct in Lake Victoria, this beautiful haplochromine is quite rare in the Kyoga lakes region north of the main lake. An easy fish to keep and breed, but requires some density since they are scale eaters in nature. In a tank they adapt to a variety of foods and can grow to 6 inches. Males have multiple color forms including a very attactive form featuring yellow bodies, black stripes and a deep red abdomen. They are often mistakenly referred to as 'obliquidens, which is an entirely different species.

CARES Family:   Cichlidae - East Africa

Global Region:   Africa

Distribution:   Uganda: Lake Kyoga

 

Conservation Status

CARES Classification:  Critically Endangered CARES Assessment Date:  March 14, 2026
IUCN Red List:  Critically Endangered IUCN Assessment Date:  Aug. 1, 1996