Diseases and Parasites
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Fish tuberculosis (FishMB). Bacterial diseases
Life Cycle
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Females incubate eggs in buccal cavity. Early hatching embryos commence feeding on inhaled particles by the female when still in possession of large yolk (Ref. 7471). In one study, larvae of up to 1.66 cm TL are mouthbrooded by a female parent 14.0 SL long (Ref. 86760).
Trophic Strategy
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Feeds on algae/detritus (Ref. 40115).
Biology
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Rock-dwellers, often in aggregation (Ref. 86760). Omnivorous, feed on shellfish (snails and mussels) and fish (Ref. 6770). Food intake of mouth brooding females is for nourishment of both themselves and the young (Ref. 33980). Aquarium keeping: several females for one male; minimum aquarium size >200 cm (Ref. 51539).
Importance
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fisheries: commercial; aquarium: commercial