Animal-World > Freshwater Fish > Cichlids > Cichlids - Tanganyika Types > Gold Nasuta

Gold Nasuta ~ Tiger Nasuta

Long-Nosed Gold-Tip Cichlid Family: Cichlidae

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Ophthalmotilapia nasuta Photo © Animal-World: Courtesy Frank Schneidewind

   The handsome Gold Nasuta is a large cichlid, but it is only slightly aggressive!

   A mature Gold Nasuta is quite the eye catcher. They can reach a length of almost 8” (20 cm). They are part of a group of cichlids called featherfins and their most distinguishing feature is their pelvic fins. These fins grow quite long, they can stretch beyond the body of the fish. With their attractive coloration and unique look they are a great show specimen to add variety to a Lake Tanganyika aquarium.

   The Gold Nasuta is not as aggressive as others in this genus, making for a nice addition to a more peaceful tank. They do well in a species specific tank and are generally tolerant toward those of their same species, but there does need to be more females than males. They can also be kept with cave spawning cichlids, but will not do well with aggressive mouthbrooders from Lake Malawi or Lake Tanganyika. They are moderately easy to care for as long as regular water changes are done. They need a sandy substrate for building nests along with lots of rock formations. This fish will breed in captivity. To avoid cross breeding don't house them with other color varieties of Nasuta.

   Gold Nasuta, Tiger Nasuta, and Long-Nosed Gold-Tip Cichlid are the common names these fish are known by. Other names are implemented as add-ons ('tagged on' to the end the scientific name), and refer to varieties of this fish based on the region where found or a color variation. These include names such as Chimba, Halembe, Kachese, Kala Island, Kalambo, Kambwimba, Katete, Kekese, Kipili Gold, (which is the specific color of the fish named in this paper), Mabilibili, Milima, Moliro, Mzwema, and Ulwile to name most areas.

For more Information on keeping this fish see:
Guide to a Happy, Healthy Freshwater Aquarium

Distribution:
   The Gold Nasuta or Tiger Nasuta was described by Poll and Matthes in 1962. These fish are endemic to Lake Tanganyika, Africa. They inhabit depths from 6.5 to 32 feet, (2-10 m) drifting over a mix of rocks and sand. Their diet includes insects and plankton, they will also eat phytoplankton (unicellular algae), detritus and some very small benthic crustaceans.

Status:
   This species is listed on the IUCN Red List with the status of 'LC', meaning 'Least Concern'.

Description:
   The Gold Nasuta or Tiger Nasuta is part of a group of cichlids called featherfins. They have a big nose that looks like an “overbite”, with the top part of the mouth being thicker than the bottom. Their most distinguishing feature is their pelvic fins. These fins extend past the anal fin and they are tipped in white or a very light color. The dorsal and anal fin are pointed as well and the tail fin is forked. The pectoral fins are longer and come to a point also. Their bodies are slightly deeper than the average “elongated” cichlid, but not excessively. Females are a bland silver with some highlights in the fins in some localities.

Based on the region where found, some varieties of this fish are:

• Kipili: This variety has is known as the Gold Nasuta and is just that, gold. The forehead is a lighter silver-grey color.
• Chimba and Moliro: These varieties are known as the Tiger Nasuta. Both have dark brown spots all over the body and tail fin. The difference is the Chimba variety has a silvery base with other fins being a light yellow. The Moliro variety has a light yellow base with the other fins being a drab grayish yellow color.
• Halembe: This variety is a rich chocolate color throughout the body and fins.
• Kachese: This is a muddied brown gold variety, with the anal and pelvic fins being gold.
• Kala Island: This variety is a black to dark brown with yellow tips at the end of the pelvic fins.
• Kalambo and Milima: These varieties are a very drab black, except the Milima has blue in the fins and the tail fin has a thick pale blue band.
• Kekese: This variety has a silvery white to gray body with the dorsal, pelvic, pectoral and anal fins being gold. The tail fin is brown and the head is a light blue to light purple. That color stretches across the back and down the body about half way.
• Mabilibili: This variety is a golden brown color with dark blue fins. The head is a berry brown color on top with a light whitish blue on the chin.
• Mzwema: This variety is a lighter gold all over, with the forehead being a light silver white. The back has brown speckles on the top half of the fish and there are some faint vertical brown bars down the body.
• Ulwile: This variety is very interesting, a combination of colors. It has green for the base color with a blue forehead and yellow to yellow-green fins.

   All cichlids share a common feature that some saltwater fish such as wrasses and parrotfish have and that is a well-developed pharyngeal set of teeth that are in the throat, along with their regular teeth. Cichlids have spiny rays in the back parts of the anal, dorsal, pectoral, and pelvic fins to help discourage predators. The front part of these fins are soft and perfect for precise positions and effortless movements in the water as opposed to fast swimming.
   Cichlids have one nostril on each side while other fish have 2 sets. To sense “smells” in the water, they suck water in and expel the water right back out after being “sampled” for a short or longer time, depending on how much the cichlid needs to “smell” the water. This feature is shared by saltwater damselfish and cichlids are thought to be closely related.

Size - Weight:
   The Gold Nasuta grows to a length of almost 8” in males (20 cm).

Care and feeding:
   The Gold Nasuta is an omnivore. In the wild their diet includes insects and plankton, they will also eat phytoplankton (unicellular algae), detritus and some very small benthic crustaceans. In the aquarium they can be fed Cyclops, water fleas, shrimps, Artema, spirulina or other special food for Lake Tanganyika cichlids. They will also eat freeze-dried and flake foods, as well as fish. Feed 2 to 5 small portions of food a several times a day instead of a large quantity once a day. Try to vary their diet and be certain that they receive enough, these are large fish. All fish benefit from vitamins and supplements added to their foods.
   Though they are fairly peaceful these fish need a lot of swimming area, a tank that is 100 gallons or 5' (150 cm) in length is recommended. Rocks in the background that provide caves and crevices, along with a sandy or fine gravel substrate will make them feel comfortable. Plants are not necessary but can be provided. They should be low growing species, and because this fish will dig, those that attach to rocks such as Java Fern are especially good.
   They do fine in either freshwater or brackish freshwater but need good water movement along with very strong and efficient filtration. For freshwater an optional practice is to add 1 heaping teaspoon of salt per 11 gallons of water. This is considered to be a simple and natural remedy for wounds, minor fungal infections and film over the eyes of fish in transit. Using a marine salt (used for salt water fish) will add some trace elements. Do normal water changes of 10% to 15% a week, depending on stocking numbers.The Lake Tanganyika cichlids cannot handle large water changes very well unless the new water chemistry closely matches the water they are in. If a large water change is needed, changing 15% every couple of days should bring water back to normal. This inability to tolerate large water changes is due to Lake Tanganyika being very deep and the water tends to stay stable.
   These fish are susceptible to typical fish ailments, especially if water is stale and of poor quality and oxygenation. An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure. Water changes, not overfeeding or overcrowding, and observation along with feeding your fish the proper foods (thawing frozen food and adding vitamins) will keep them in optimum health.
   One common problem is Ich. It can be treated with the elevation of the tank temperature to 86° F (30° C) for 3 days. If that does not cure the Ich, then the fish needs to be treated with copper (remove any water conditioners). Several copper based fish medications are available for Ich. Copper use must be kept within the proper levels, so be sure to follow the manufacturers suggestions. You can also combine increasing the temperature with an Ich medication treatment. A copper test also can be used to keep the proper levels.      

Water Region: Top, Middle, Bottom:
   These fish will swim in the top and middle areas of the aquarium.

Acceptable Water Conditions:
   Hardness: 10 - 13 dH
   Ph: 7.8 - 9.5
   Temp: 75 - 80 ° F (24 - 27° C)

Lake Tanganyika is the second to largest lake in the world, thus contributing to a low fluctuation in Ph and temperature. Several things all Lake Tanganyika cichlids need are:

1. Stable temperatures kept within acceptable limits.
2. Lots of oxygen to survive. Lake Tanganyika is a very oxygen rich lake. Bubblers need to be going day and night, even if there are plants.
3. Avoid overfeeding and overstocking.
4. Do a 10-15% water change weekly.
5. Regularly check nitrates (no more than 25 ppm), Ph (less than 7 is not tolerated), total hardness and carbonate hardness.

Social Behaviors:
   The Gold Nasuta is relatively peaceful, only territorial during spawning. They are generally tolerant toward those of their same species. They do well in a species specific tank but there does need to be more females than males. Do not house with other color variations of Gold Nasutas to avoid cross breeding and losing pure strains. They also can be kept with other cave spawning cichlids. They do not do well with other aggressive mouthbrooders from Lake Malawi or Lake Tanganyika.

Sexual Differences:
   Males are much more colorful but develop their color very late in their growth period. Females are a bland silver, with some highlights in the fins in some localities. Males that are stressed or ill will take on the color of females and juveniles.

Breeding/Reproduction:
   The Gold Nasuta has been bred in captivity. It is a mouth brooder with the female caring for the young. The male will not have any interest in protecting his offspring. In the wild, males will gather in a group to breed. They build burrows of sand on the rocks and these are spaced about 6 feet apart. Around 20 males will display at passing females trying to catch their attention. The females will carry their fertilized eggs for around 21 days and then release them at the top of the water column, near the surface. They will then school together with other cichlid fry and juveniles. It is suggested to place brooding females in a separate tank so they can release their young in a stress-free environment. See the information on breeding cichlids in Breeding Freshwater Fish: Cichlids.

Availability:
   The Gold Nasuta or Tiger Nasuta is sometimes available both online and in fish stores, ranging between $14.00 and $30.00 USD. Purchase from a reputable dealer, due to hybridization it takes a trained eye to choose the correct color strain that has not been crossed. You may special order, but you must be willing to wait.

Authors: Carrie McBirney and Clarice Brough, CFS

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