Lates angustifrons

Tanganyika Lates

Classification

Latidae

Distribution

Endemic to Lake Tanganyika.

Habitat

Young fish can be found around the shoreline of the lake, but adults are found throughout it, usually around the lake bed.

Maximum Standard Length

80″ (200cm).

Aquarium SizeTop ↑

A truly humongous tank (or pond) would be required by an adult specimen. Something in the region of 20′ x 6′ x 10′ would be considered a bare minimum. A tank like this would hold over 30,000 litres of water!

Maintenance

Speaking hypothetically, decor would not be critical. Obviously, an enormous filtration system would be needed to cope with the massive amounts of biological waste a fish like this produces.

Water Conditions

Temperature: 72-82°F (22-28°C)

pH: 7.5-9.5

Hardness: 20-40°H

Diet

Highly piscivorous in nature, feeding mainly on various cichlid species, juvenile captive specimens have been known to accept prawns, lancefish etc. An adult fish would need large amounts of fish such as whole trout. An expensive proposition!

Behaviour and CompatibilityTop ↑

Will not eat anything it can’t fit into its mouth, but this doesn’t leave many available species that can be housed with it long term. Young fish have been seen cohabiting with large tankmates such as Cichla, arowana and tankbusting catfish.

Sexual Dimorphism

Unknown.

Reproduction

Surely impossible in aquaria. Should not even be considered an option.

NotesTop ↑

We’ve included this species on the site purely because there have been an alarming number of juvenile fish showing up in some aquatic stores, and as a result, in hobbyists tanks. This species is simply not suited to captive life in any respect. If you see one for sale, and they are undeniably an attractive fish, please don’t be tempted to buy it. As responsible fishkeepers, we should consider the long term well-being of any fish that we buy, and housing a L. angustifrons for life is even beyond the reach of most public aquaria. Sadly, owning this species and others like it seems to be fashionable at the moment, with some aquarists even viewing them as a status symbol. We can only hope this situation can be rectified in the future, as surely all these aquarium specimens are doomed to a premature death.