Cichlid Egg Size Data

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Updated: May 24, 1998

Click on one of the following groups of cichlids to see the egg size data for that group.

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Notes

Since cichlid eggs are not spherical, diameter is the 3-dimensional average of length x width x width. In essence it is the diameter of a theoretical spherical egg with the same volume as the real egg.

All measurements are in mm.

For those interested in New World cichlids, I have recently revised the classification used by the Cichlid Egg Project to reflect the latest taxonomy (see Kullander 1996, Kullander & Hartl 1996, Roe et al. 1997)




Ptychochromines
Species length width Diameter Samples Notes
Ptychochomis oligacanthus 2.0 1.5 1.7 1 G
missing Ptychochromides


Paratilapia
Species length width Diameter Samples Notes
Paratilapia bleekeri 1.7 1.3 1.4 1 G
Paratilapia polleni 1.6 1.3 1.4 4 G



Etroplines
Species length width Diameter Samples Notes
Etroplus maculatus 1.8 1.3 1.5 3 G th
Paretroplus keineri 2.5 2.0 2.2 2 G
Paretroplus sp. Pinstripe Damba 2.3 1.7 1.9 1 G
missing Oxylapia


Heterochromis
Species length width Diameter Samples Notes
nothing, nada, zip...  
missing Heterochromis


Crenicichlines (Pike cichlids)
Species length width Diameter Samples Notes
Crenicichla cf. saxatilis 2.6 1.3 1.7 1 G th
Crenicichla lepidota 2.2 1.1 1.4 3 G th
Crenicichla regani 2.3 1.2 1.5 1 G th
missing Telocichla


Chaetobranchines
Species length width Diameter Samples Notes
Astronatus ocellatus oscar 2.0 1.9 2.0 2 G
missing Chaetobranchopsis, Chaetobranchus


Geophagines
Species length width Diameter Samples Notes  
Apistogramma agassizi 1.4 0.9 1.0 3 G  
Apistogramma bitaeniata 1.7 1.0 1.2 5 G  
Apistogramma cacutoides 1.4 0.9 1.1 3 G  
Apistogramma eunotus 1.5 1.0 1.2 2 G  
Apistogramma norberti 1.6 1.1 1.2 1 G th?  
Apistogramma smaragd 1.8 1.1 1.3 1 G  
Apistogramma sp. "Breitbinden" 1.7 1.1 1.3 1 G th  
Apistogramma sp. "Rotpunk" 1.6 1.1 1.2 1 G  
Apistogramma steindachneri 1.6 1.0 1.2 1 G  
Apistogramma trifasciata 1.4 1.0 1.1 1 G  
Apistogramma tucurui 1.6 1.0 1.2 1 G  
Apistogramma viejita 1.8 1.1 1.3 2 G  
Dicrossus filamentosus 1.4 1.0 1.1 1 G  
Dicrossus maculatus 1.5 1.0 1.1 1 G  
Geophagus altifrons 2.3 1.7 1.9 2 iM  
Geophagus steindachneri 2.6 2.1 2.3 1 iM  
'Geophagus' brasiliensis 1.9 1.4 1.6 7 G  
Guianacara 'geayi' 1.7 1.3 1.4 5 G  
Guianacara sp. aff. sphenozona 1.8 1.3 1.5 3 G  
Gymnogeophagus australis 1.8 1.4 1.5 1 G  
Gymnogeophagus balzani 1.6 1.3 1.4 2 biM
Microgeophagus altispinosa Bol. ram 1.5 1.2 1.3 7 G  
Microgeophagus ramirezi ram 1.2 0.9 1.0 5 G  
Satanoperca daemon demonfish 2.0 1.5 1.6 2 ?biM  
Satanoperca leucosticta jurupari 1.7 1.3 1.4 1 biM  
Taeniacara candida 1.5 0.9 1.0 1 G th  



Heroines = Small-scaled Cichlasomines (Group A)


Graph
Species length width Diameter Samples Notes
Amphilophus citrinellum midas 2.0 1.4 1.6 37 G
Archocentrus centrarchus flier cichlid 1.7 1.4 1.5 5 G
Ar. nigrofasciatus convict 1.8 1.3 1.5 170 G
Ar. sajica 1.8 1.4 1.5 1 G
Ar. septemfasciatus 1.9 1.5 1.6 6 G
Ar. spilurus 2.0 1.4 1.6 10 G
Ar. spinosissimus 1.4 1.1 1.2 1 G
Astatheros alfari 2.2 1.7 1.9 2 G
As. longimanus rose-breasted 1.8 1.4 1.5 23 G
As. rostratum 2.2 1.7 1.9 6 G
Caquetaia kraussii 1.7 1.3 1.4 1 G
Caquetaia spectabile 2.0 1.5 1.7 3 G
Herichthys carpintus 1.8 1.4 1.5 3 G
Heri. cyanoguttatum texas 2.0 1.6 1.7 9 G
Heri. minckleyi 2.0 1.6 1.7 1 G
Heri. sp. "Ebano" 2.0 1.6 1.7 6 G
Heros appendiculatus 1.8 1.4 1.5 1 G
Heros severus 1.7 1.3 1.4 5 G
Herotilapia multispinosa rainbow 1.6 1.3 1.4 11 G
Hypselecara coryphaenoides chocolate 2.0 1.4 1.6 1 G
Hypsophrys nicaraguensis 2.2 1.7 1.9 13 G- non-ad
Mesonauta festivum 1.5 1.2 1.3 1 G
Mesonauta sp. "Guyana" 1.7 1.3 1.4 1 G
Neetroplus nematopus 2.6 1.9 2.1 3 G
Parachromis dovii 2.9 2.1 2.4 8 G
Pa. friedrichstahli 2.1 1.5 1.7 4 G
Pa. grammodes 2.3 1.7 1.9 1 G
Pa. managuensis jaguar 2.2 1.6 1.8 7 G
Pa. motaguensis 2.1 1.6 1.8 1 G
Petenia splendida 2.2 1.7 1.8 5 G
Pterophyllum scalare angel 1.5 1.2 1.3 14 G
Symphosodon aequifasciatus discus 1.5 1.1 1.2 10 G
Theraps bifasciatum 2.2 1.7 1.8 7 G
Ther. coeruleus 2.1 1.7 1.8 1 G
Ther. fenestratum 2.2 1.7 1.8 1 G
Ther. sp. Conkel 2.0 1.5 1.7 2 G
Ther. sp. Rio Guabo 2.4 1.9 2.1 1 G
Ther. heterospilum 2.1 1.6 1.8 2 G
Ther. intermedium 2.1 1.6 1.8 3 G
Ther. irregulare 2.6 2.0 2.2 1 G
Ther. panamense 1.9 1.4 1.5 3 G
Ther. synspillum ? 2.2 1.8 1.9 4 G
Thorichthys callolepis 1.7 1.4 1.5 1 G
Thor. ellioti 1.6 1.3 1.4 4 G
Thor. helleri 1.7 1.3 1.4 3 G
Thor. meeki firemouth 1.7 1.3 1.4 4 G
Thor. pasionis 1.7 1.2 1.4 1 G
Thor. sp. cf. aureum yellow aureum 1.6 1.2 1.3 1 G
Thor. sp. Rio Obisopo 1.6 1.2 1.3 1 G
Tomocichla sieboldi 2.2 1.7 1.8 4 G
To. tuba 3.1 2.4 2.6 24 G
Vieja argentea 2.2 1.7 1.8 1 G
V. maculicauda 2.2 1.7 1.9 2 G
V. microphthalmus 2.4 1.9 2.0 1 G
Other Heroines          
'Cichlasoma' atromaculatum 2.5 1.8 2.0 4 G
'C.' facetum chanchito 2.0 1.5 1.7 4 G
'C.' festae 2.5 1.8 2.0 2 G
'C.' octofasciatum Jack Dempsey 1.8 1.4 1.5 1 G
'C.' salvini tricolor 1.9 1.4 1.6 1 G
'C.' urophthalmus 2.1 1.6 1.7 8 G
missing Hoplarchus, Uaru, Archocentrus myrnae = "Topaz" cichlid


Cichlasomines = Large-scaled Cichlasomines (Group B)
Species length width Diameter Samples Notes
Aequidens Group (True Acaras)          
Aequidens diadema 2.1 1.7 1.9 3 G
'Aequidens' Group (Blue Acaras)          
'Aequidens' coeruleopunctatus 1.4 1.1 1.2 3 G
'Aequidens' pulcher blue acara 1.5 1.2 1.3 15 G
'Aequidens' 'rivulus' green terror 1.7 1.3 1.4 2 G
Mouthbrooding Acaras          
Bujurquina vittata 1.8 1.4 1.5 3 dM
True Cichlasomas          
C. bimaculatum 1.7 1.3 1.4 1 G
C. dimerus 1.6 1.2 1.4 7 G
C. pusillum 1.7 1.3 1.4 7 G
Smiling Acaras          
Laetacara curviceps 1.1 0.9 0.9 1 G
Laetacara dorsigera 1.3 1.0 1.1 4 G
Laetacara sp. Bulgehead 1.2 1.0 1.0 1 G
Other large-scaled cichlasomines          
Cleithracara maronii keyhole 1.6 1.3 1.4 1 G
Nannacara anomala 1.5 1.2 1.3 2 G
missing Acaronia, Krobia, Tahuantinsuyoa


Tilapines
Species length width Diameter Samples Notes
Oreochromis mossambicus 3.0 2.1 2.4 2 fiM
Oreochromis niloticus 2.8 2.3 2.5 3 fiM
Steatocranius casuarius 3.5 2.5 2.8 1 G
Stomatepia pindu 3.5 2.8 3.0 1 ??
Tilapia brevimanus 1.8 1.4 1.5 2 G
missing Danakilia, Iranocichla, Konia, Myaka, Pungu, Tristamella


Hemichromines
Species length width Diameter Samples Notes
Anomalochromis thomasi 1.5 1.1 1.2 2 G
Hemichromis cristatus 1.4 1.1 1.2 1 G
Hemichromis guttatus 1.4 1.1 1.2 8 G
Hemichromis lifalili 1.4 1.1 1.2 1 G



Chromidotilapines
Species length width Diameter Samples Notes
Chromidotilapia guntheri 2.3 1.9 2.0 2 MiM
Nanochromis parilus 1.9 1.4 1.5 1 G
Pelvicachromis pulcher kribensis 1.8 1.3 1.4 8 G
Pelvicachromis taeniatus "Kienke" 1.8 1.3 1.4 1 G sticky
Thysiochromis ansorgii 1.7 1.1 1.2 2 G
missing Limbochromis, Parananochromis


Lamprologines
Species length width Diameter Samples Notes
Julidochromis marlieri 1.7 1.3 1.4 2 G
Lamprologus brichardi "daffodil" 1.7 1.2 1.3 2 G
Neolamprologus buescheri "Kachese" 1.8 1.4 1.5 1 G
Neolamprologus leleupi 1.8 1.4 1.6 3 G
Neolamprologus "kungweensis" 1.6 1.2 1.3 1 G
missing Chalinochromis, Lepidolamprologus, Teleogramma, Telmatochromis


Lake Victoria Basin
Species length width Diameter Samples Notes
Haplochromis (Lambrochromis) ishmaeli 3.0 2.4 2.6 1 ?
Haplochromis obliquidens 3.1 2.4 2.6 2 fM
Haplochromis (Pyxichromis) orthostoma 3.5 2.6 2.9 2 fM
Haplochromis "Blue Blaze" 3.0 2.3 2.5 2 fM
Haplochromis "Blue Glint" 2.9 2.2 2.4 1 fM
Haplochromis "Fine-Bar Scrapper" 3.0 2.4 2.6 1 fM
Haplochromis "Hippo Point Salmon" 3.8 3.0 3.2 1 fM
Haplochromis piebold 3.3 2.4 2.7 1 fM



Lake Tanganyika Basin
Species length width Diameter Samples Notes
Astatotilapia burtoni 3.1 2.5 2.7 1 fM
Cunningtonia longeventralis 5.6 3.8 4.3 1 fM
Cyathopharynx furcifer 3.8 2.9 3.2 1 fM
Cyphotilapia frontosa 6-stripe 5.8 4.5 4.9 1 fM
Cyphotilapia frontosa 7-stripe 5.8 4.4 4.8 7 fM
Cyprichromis leptosoma "blue flash" 4.0 3.3 3.6 3 fM
Cyprichromis leptosoma "Karilani Is." 4.7 3.8 4.1 1 fM
Cyprichromis leptosoma "Zambia Yellow" 5.9 4.6 5.0 1 fM
Cyprichromis leptosoma "Jumbo Zebra-stripe" 5.1 4.0 4.4 2 fM
Ectodus descampsi 3.5 2.6 2.9 1 fM
Enantiopus melanogenys 3.0 2.2 2.5 2 fM
Ophthalmotilapia boops 4.9 3.7 4.1 3 fM
Ophthalmotilapia heterodonta 4.9 3.6 4.0 2 fM
Ophthalmotilapia nasutus "yellow tiger" 5.2 3.6 4.0 1 fM
Ophthalmotilapia nasutus "Lapili Silverside" 5.4 4.0 4.4 1 fM
Ophthalmotilapia ventralis"orange" 5.1 3.8 4.2 3 fM
Paracyprichromis sp. Blue Neon 3.6 3.1 3.2 1 fM
Simichromis diagramma 5.0 3.7 4.1 1 fM
Tropheus brichardi 6.3 3.9 4.6 1 fM
Tropheus duboisi 4.3 3.5 3.7 4 fM
Tropheus moori 5.4 4.0 4.4 1 fM
Xenotilapia ornatipinus 3.2 2.3 2.6 2 fM
Xenotilapia spilopterus 3.0 2.4 2.6 2 fM



Lake Malawi
Species length width Diameter Samples Notes
Astatotilapia calliptera 3.0 2.3 2.5 11 fM
Aulonacara sp. "swallowtail" caroli Peacock 3.4 2.7 2.9 1 fM
Aulonacara chipohea 3.2 2.5 2.7 2 fM
Aulonacara maleri 3.5 2.7 3.0 1 fM
Aulonacara sp. German Red (domestic maleri) 3.1 2.4 2.6 1 fM
Aulonacara hansbaenschi Nyassa, Yellow Peacock 3.8 2.9 3.2 1 fM
Aulonacara korneliae roberti 3.7 2.8 3.0 1 fM
Aulonacara stuartgranti 3.7 2.8 3.1 1 fM
Aulonacara sp. "Red Flash" 3.6 2.6 2.9 1 fM
Champsochromis caeruleus 3.7 3.2 3.4 1 fM
Copadichromis azureus Electric Blue II 3.9 2.9 3.2 5 fM
Copadichromis chrysonotus 3.2 2.5 2.7 1 fM
Cynotilapia afra 3.6 2.6 2.9 3 fM
Cynotilapiasp. "Jalo" 3.7 2.8 3.1 1 fM
Iodotropheus sprengerae Rusty cichlids 3.4 2.6 2.8 1 fM
Labeotropheus textilius 4.1 3.0 3.3 1 fM
Labeotropheus trewavasae 4.9 3.8 4.1 3 fM
Labidochromis caeruleus 4.2 3.5 3.7 1 fM
Labidochromis sp. "kimpuma" 3.5 2.7 2.9 1 fM
Lethrinops lethrinus 2.8 2.2 2.4 5 fM
Melanochromis auratus 3.4 2.7 2.9 1 fM
Melanochromis exasperatus 4.2 3.2 3.5 1 fM
Melanochromis vermivorus 3.7 2.7 3.0 1 fM
Otopharynx argyrosoma 3.1 2.1 2.4 2 fM
Otopharynx lithobates 3.2 2.3 2.6 2 fM
Protomelas fenustratus 2.9 2.3 2.5 1 fM
Protomelas ornatus 5.1 3.8 4.2 1 fM
Protomelas taeniatus"Red Empress" 3.4 2.8 3.0 2 fM
Pseudotropheus sp. "acei" 2.6 2.1 2.2 1 fM
Pseudotropheus crabro 3.8 2.9 3.2 1 fM
Pseudotropheus demasoni "Pombo Rocks" 3.2 2.4 2.6 1 fM
Pseudotropheus sp. "elongatus Chewere" 4.2 3.1 3.4 1 fM
Pseudotropheus lombardoi 3.7 2.9 3.1 1 fM
Pseudotropheus sp. "msobo" Magungo Reef 4.6 3.5 3.8 1 fM
Pseudotropheus saulosi 3.6 2.8 3.1 1 fM
Pseudotropheus socolofi 3.5 2.8 3.0 3 fM
Pseudotropheus tropheops 3.6 2.8 3.1 1 fM
Pseudotropheus zebra 3.8 3.0 3.3 3 fM
Ramphochromis macrophthalmus 3.5 3.0 3.1 1 fM



Other
Species length width Diameter Samples Notes
Thoracochromis braushi (Fwa River) 2.9 2.3 2.5 1 ?

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