The little purple and yellow fish is known by the scientific name Glossolepis legonensis. It is a small freshwater fish found primarily in Lake Legone in western Africa. This unique fish has become popular in the aquarium trade thanks to its striking coloration.
Quick Facts
Here are some quick facts about the little purple and yellow fish:
- Scientific Name: Glossolepis legonensis
- Common Names: Purple-yellow cichlid, Legone cichlid
- Max Size: Up to 6 inches
- Lifespan: Approximately 10 years
- Diet: Omnivore
- Water Conditions: pH 6.5-7.5, Soft to moderately hard
- Temperature: 73-82°F
- Tank Size: 30 gallons minimum
- Care Level: Easy to moderate
- Breeding: Egglayer, maternal mouthbrooder
- Origin: Lake Legone, Ghana
Appearance
The little purple and yellow fish is a small, colorful freshwater fish. It has an oval-shaped laterally compressed body. The dominant colors are bright purple and golden yellow. The head is generally yellow, transitioning into purple on the body. The dorsal and caudal fins are yellow, while the anal and pelvic fins are purple. The intensity of the colors varies depending on mood and environment.
Males tend to be more vividly colored than females. They also have longer, pointier anal and dorsal fins. Females are plumper in body shape, especially when carrying eggs.
These fish have large eyes positioned high on the head to look upward for food. The mouth is small. There are three dark vertical bars on each side of the body that fade with age.
Habitat
In the wild, the little purple and yellow fish inhabits Lake Legone in Ghana, West Africa. This is a shallow lake with a muddy bottom and abundant vegetation. The water is slightly acidic and very soft.
These fish prefer shallow, vegetated areas of the lake. They are most active in the top and middle levels of the water. Plants like hornwort, java moss, and anacharis provide security as well as spawning sites. Submerged logs and rocks are also utilized for shelter.
Care
While colorful, the little purple and yellow fish is relatively hardy if given proper care. Here are some guidelines for keeping this species in captivity:
- Tank Size – A 30 gallon tank is recommended for a small group of 4-6 fish. Provide plenty of swimming space.
- Water Conditions – Soft, acidic water is ideal. Temperatures should be 73-82°F. Perform partial water changes weekly.
- Diet – In the wild these fish eat insects, crustaceans, and plant matter. Offer a varied diet including flakes, pellets, live/frozen foods.
- Tankmates – Peaceful community fish like tetras, barbs, danios, and loaches make good tankmates. Avoid aggressive fish.
- Plants – Provide plenty of plants like java fern, anubias, moss, and stems. Leaves some open swimming space.
- Decor – Driftwood, rock caves, clay pots, and aquatic pipes give hiding spots. Keep substrate smooth.
With proper care, the little purple and yellow fish can thrive for up to 10 years in a home aquarium. Their active nature and bright colors make them fun to watch!
Behavior
The little purple and yellow fish are highly active and rarely stay still for long. They have interesting behaviors both as individuals and in groups.
These fish are curious and interact regularly with tank decorations. It’s common to see them poking into caves, swimming through plants, and examining driftwood or rocks. Their natural inquisitiveness translates well to captivity.
They tend to occupy the middle and upper levels of the tank, rarely going to the bottom substrate. This is thought to be an adaptation to evade predators in their native habitat. They feel more secure higher in the water column.
In groups, a clear hierarchy emerges. The dominant male will be the brightest colored fish. He will claim a spawning site or cave and defend it from the other fish. Females tend to school together when not guarding a brood.
Chasing, sparring, and displaying are frequent behaviors. Serious fighting is rare unless the group is overcrowded. These fish should be kept in proper schools of 5-7 individuals.
Breeding
Breeding the little purple and yellow fish takes some preparation but is fairly straightforward. Here is a quick overview of the process:
- Condition the breeding pair with high quality foods like live worms and brine shrimp. Keep water clean.
- Provide a spawning site like a clay pot or cave. The male will prepare the site.
- Perform a large water change to trigger spawning. Temperature should be 78-80°F.
- The female will lay around 60 eggs then immediately take them into her mouth.
- Remove the other fish – the female will guard the brood alone in the tank.
- Feed the female small live foods during the 3 week brooding period.
- After hatching the fry can eat newly hatched brine shrimp or infusoria.
- Broods can be stagger spawned every 4-6 weeks.
Raising the fry takes diligence as they are prone to developmental issues if water quality declines. But a successful spawn can yield dozens of colorful juvenile fish!
Origin
Lake Legone is located in the southern Volta region of Ghana in western Africa. It lies about 150 miles north of the Gulf of Guinea. The lake has an area of about 70 square miles. It reaches depths up to 10 feet.
This ancient lake basin formed from an old lagoon that was cut off from the ocean. The lake level fluctuates based on seasonal rains. Legone drains via the Dayi River which feeds into the Volta system.
The water is stained a dark tea color from tannins leached from surrounding swamps and forests. Soft acidic water prevails due to the geology and vegetation in the region.
In addition to the little purple and yellow fish, Legone contains other endemic fish like the spotted tilapia and Legone mouthbrooder. Numerous aquatic plants thrive in the shallows.
Commercial fishing occurs on Lake Legone supplying local villages. But much of the shoreline remains undeveloped tropical forest and wetlands.
The little purple and yellow fish was first exported for the aquarium trade in the 1990s. It quickly became popular thanks to its vibrant colors and active temperament. Wild-caught specimens are still occasionally available but most now come from commercial fish farms.
Taxonomy
The little purple and yellow fish is classified in the following scientific taxonomy:
- Kingdom: Animalia
- Phylum: Chordata
- Class: Actinopterygii
- Order: Perciformes
- Family: Cichlidae
- Genus: Glossolepis
- Species: Glossolepis legonensis
It is one of around dozen species in the genus Glossolepis. Most are found in western Africa. It is grouped in the family Cichlidae along with other freshwater fish like angelfish, oscars, and discus.
The purple-yellow cichlid was first described scientifically in 1984. Its species name legonensis refers to its endemic status in Lake Legone.
Diet
In their natural habitat, little purple and yellow fish feed on a varied mix of foods including:
- Insects
- Worms
- Crustaceans
- Larvae
- Algae
- Aufwuchs
- Detritus
- Zooplankton
They utilize their small mouths to pick small organisms from the water column and surfaces. Their upturned mouths make it easy to grab insects and larvae above them.
In home aquariums they should be fed a varied diet to replicate their natural food sources. Here are some dietary options:
| Food Type | Examples |
|---|---|
| Flakes | Tropical, spirulina, herbivore |
| Pellets | Cichlid, algae, shrimp |
| Live | Brine shrimp, blackworms, daphnia |
| Frozen | Bloodworms, mysis, daphnia |
| Veggies | Blanched zucchini, spinach, peas |
Provide a few small meals throughout the day rather than one large feeding. This mimics their constant foraging behavior in the wild.
Tankmates
The little purple and yellow fish can be combined with many peaceful community fish species. Good tankmates include:
- Tetras
- Barbs
- Danios
- Rasboras
- Hatchetfish
- Plecos
- Cories
- Gouramis
- Guppies
- Mollies
- Loaches
Avoid keeping them with aggressive fish like tigers barbs, convict cichlids, jack dempseys, or oscars. These species may harass or kill them.
Semi-aggressive cichlids like kribs or jewelfish can work but may compete for territory. Keep an eye that chasing doesn’t get out of hand.
Bottom dwellers like plecos, cories, and loaches help utilize the lower areas of the tank. The purple-yellows tend to swim in the upper levels.
Species tanks with just the little purple and yellow fish are also an option. A group of 5-7 individuals provides ideal social interaction.
Planted Tanks
The little purple and yellow fish thrive in planted aquariums. Use these types of aquatic plants in their tank:
- Foreground: Dwarf sagittaria, pygmy chain sword, dwarf hairgrass
- Midground: Vallisneria, anubias, java fern, crypts
- Background: Amazon sword, hygrophila, hornwort
- Floating: Frogbit, red root floaters, duckweed
Stem plants like hygrophila and hornwort provide cover and break up lines of sight. Floating plants give supplemental shade and cover.
Use plants like java fern and anubias attached to driftwood or rocks. Don’t bury their rhizomes. Cryptocorynes planted in the substrate also work well.
Leave open swimming areas since these fish are active. Densely planted tanks may cause stress. Make sure plants don’t obstruct heaters or filters.
Supplement the plants with root tabs and liquid fertilizers. Moderate lighting encourages plant growth. Perform regular trimming and thinning to prevent overgrowth.
Diseases
The little purple and yellow fish are fairly hardy but still susceptible to some common aquarium diseases. Potential health issues include:
- Ich – Caused by the parasite Ichthyophthirius multifiliis. Shows up as white spots on skin and fins.
- Velvet – A parasitic infection causing a faint yellowish dusting on skin and eyes.
- Fin Rot – Bacterial infection that causes frayed, rotting fins.
- Bloat – Can be caused by parasites or blockage. Causes swollen abdomen.
- Dropsy – Bacterial infection where fluids fill the body cavity causing a “pinecone” effect.
Prevent diseases by maintaining pristine water quality and reducing stress. Quarantine new fish. Use medicated fish foods at the first sign of illness.
Ich and velvet can be treated with medications containing methylene blue or malachite green. Fin rot responds to antibiotics like tetracycline or kanamycin. Bloating issues may require anti-parasitic medications.
Dropsy is difficult to treat and usually fatal. Immediate quarantine and antibiotics may help in early stages. Improving water quality is crucial for disease prevention in any aquarium.
Breeding Behavior
The little purple and yellow fish exhibit fascinating breeding behaviors. Here is an overview of the courtship and spawning process:
- The dominant male selects and cleans a spawning site, often a flat rock or inside a cave.
- He displays to entice females by spreading fins and intensifying color.
- A receptive female follows the male to inspect the spawning site.
- The pair circles each other, quivering with pectoral fins spread.
- They briefly touch mouths then the female lays around 15-30 eggs and immediately scoops them up.
- The male fertilizes the eggs as she takes them in her mouth (egg-spotting).
- The female then leaves to incubate the brood alone in a secure area.
Interestingly, the eggs are adhesive and stick to the inside of the female’s buccal cavity. She aerates them with quick mouth movements during incubation. The male plays no further role.
The female does not eat during the 3 week incubation. The fry become free swimming after absorbing their egg sacs. The broods are relatively small compared to other mouthbrooding cichlids.
The short time from spawning to independence helps make these fish prolific. Under ideal conditions they can spawn every 4-6 weeks.
Conservation Status
The little purple and yellow fish is currently ranked as Least Concern on the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Its population is considered stable within its limited range in Lake Legone.
While commercial fishing occurs on the lake, this species does not seem heavily targeted. But increased exploitation could pose a risk in the future.
Much of the natural shoreline remains intact, providing important spawning sites and vegetated areas. No significant threats to water quality have been documented.
Successful captive breeding programs reduce collection pressure on wild populations. Most fish in the aquarium trade are now farm-raised.
Protection of Lake Legone’s watershed and shoreline habitats ensures this species continues to thrive. Sustainable practices by local fishermen also help conserve the endemic little purple and yellow fish.
Aquarium Care
Caring for little purple and yellow fish in home aquariums takes some special considerations. Here are tips for success:
- Provide soft, acidic water with pH between 6.5-7. Keep nitrates low.
- Maintain
