Remarks: The Pitch Black Fulu (Yssicchromis piceatus, syn. Astatotilapia piceata, Haplochromis piceatus) are so named for their deep-black coloration during intense breeding sessions and in preserved specimens. Males turn solid black with red edges on their unpaired fins and golden egg spots on the anal fin. Outside of spawning, the fish are metallic-green with a gray undertone as seen in our photo - still a very pretty species! 

These fish are considered by many experts to be extinct in Lake Victoria. Sadly, a variety of factors have contributed to mass extinctions of species in the lake, and these fish are only kept in the US by Dr. Les Kaufman and a team of dedicated biologists at Mote Aquarium. There, they breed this species, along with several others, as part of their Species Survival Plan. We are very excited to be able to offer this fish to the general public, as it may be the only way we can keep this species from total extinction. We believe it is important to breed no only the common Eureka Peacocks or Green Severums, but also rare fish such as the Pitch Black Fulu. We currently only have some extra males available, which will make for unique show-pieces in all-male tanks, but we hope to have some fry available soon.  

Scientific Name: Yssichromis piceatus

Common Name: Pitch Black Fulu

Max Size: 4"

pH: 7.5-8.5

Hardness: Hard

Temperature: 72-78°

Aggressiveness: Aggressive

Region of Origin: Lake Victoria, Africa

Captive Bred or Wild: Captive Bred

Diet: Flake or pellet, frozen and live food

Compatibility: Victorian Haps, Malawi Haps, Malawi Peacocks, Synodontis

Tank Mate Options:

• Pundamilia nyererei
• Yellow Belly Hap
• Haplochromis sp. 44 "Thickskin Obliquidens"

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