FAQ
I do and did receive quite a number of questions by E-mail from persons who do or do intend to keep fish from Lake Tanganyika in aquaria (water tanks). The questions deal with water (quality), biotope, underwater conditions, species, pictures, etc. Although I would like to reply to all these questions, I am not familiar with and/or do not have all the answers to these questions. Therefore I suggest that, first of all, you check "aquarium"-sites in my links section or on the net by using "advanced search queries" through the available search engines (Lycos, Altavista, Yahoo, etc.).

In the mean time, questions can be asked in the guestbook. Interesting questions/answers are put below for other site viewers to react/reply/consult the views given. This FAQ section could therefore be be used as an information exhange point.
The FAQs deal with:

•   Stolothrissa tanganicae
•   Lates niloticus
•   Tropheus moorii moliro
•   Tanganyika cichlids
•   Shoreline characteristics of Lake Tanganyika
•   Use of photos from my Photo Album
•   Sodium Chloride
•   Angling in Kasaba Bay (Zambia)
  
Stolothrissa tanganicae
Q. ... and have chosen to do a research project on Stolothrissa tanganicae. I am finding it extremely difficult to find detailed information on its ecology, behaviour and physiology. I would be very grateful if you could give me some help in finding information, either on the web or otherwise (question from J.L.,UK).
A. Publications on Stolothrissa tanganicae you will have to try to obtain through your University Library services (ASFA search, etc.). One of the publications which I certainly would  recommend to obtain is "Lake Tanganyika and its Life" by Coulter G.W. (1991). It gives a nice overview of all aspects of the scientific knowledge of the Lake up to that date.
  
Lates niloticus
Q. I'm writing a book on nile perch and I'm trying to find a good source of scientific information. Do you know of any publications that cover the distribution of Lates niloticus in detail ? Any information would be very much appreciated (question from D.H.).
A. I do indeed know a FAO publication on Lates niloticus, not a recent one, but a good compilation. It is in french, but I am almost sure that also an english translation must exist. The reference is:
Moreau, J., 1982, Exposé synoptique des données biologiques sur la perche du Nil Lates niloticus (Linnaeus, 1762). FAO, Synop. Pêches, (132): 44 p.

Q. Do you have any information on the breeding of Lates niloticus in aquaculture systems (question from N.A.)?
A. In the same publication (Moreau, J.,  1982) I found the following info: breeding and reproduction was successful in Nigeria, Uganda and Ivory Coast.
More info on this topic must exist in more recent publications.
  
Tropheus moorii moliro
Q. Where can I find pictures of Tropheus moorii subspecies moliro ?
A. After a search on the web (Tropheus AND moorii AND moliro), I found the following webpage with pictures of several Tropheus moorii types: http://www.isomedia.com/homes/millerj/moorii.htm
Maybe there are other sites with pictures of the subspecies in question, but that is up to you to check all the sites after the above search. Watch out, the picture has copyright, but if it is for personal use only, there should not be any problem.
  
Tanganyika Cichlids
Q. Thank you for allowing a hobbyist like me to explore more about the beauty and mistique of Lake Tanganyka. I am very happy with your web-site. I mainly collect featherfins from the lake. I am not in the business part of it but
more into the scientific side of the cichlids. I sincerely think that their behaviour is out of this world and it keeps me and my family with day to day notes and videos of their behaviour. I would like to know more about your research, if possible. The only source of information I have is the Ad Koning's publication. A more direct approach might help me with proper water handling, breeding and health maintenance (J.A.R., USA)
A. During our research project we were mainly dealing with commercial pelagic valuable species and these were not cichlids but mainly clupeids and Lates spp. The littoral flocks of cichlids however and the study of their behaviour was never the scope of our researches. I do not have the info you need, but I have seen many aquarium sites on the net which, I am sure, contain the info you need. Just do an advanced search on the web (YAHOO, ALTAVISTA or other search engines) by typing in: Tanganyika AND Cichlids or other combinations of advanced searches and you will be directed to tens of sites presenting part of all the info you need. I have seen several of these sites when searching for sites dealing with Lake Tanganyika (a few of them I have put in my links list).
  
Shoreline characteristics of Lake Tanganyika
Q. I am a student in Vienna and I work on cooperative and reproductive behavior of Neolamprologus brichardi and N. pulcher. I was told me that you published a color slide about the structural diversity of the shoreline of Lake Tanganyika (sandy and rocky areas and areas covered with stones) and I found the following reference on your web-site: Coenen E., Hanek G & P. Kotilainen, 1993, Shoreline classification
of Lake Tanganyika based on the results of an aerial Frame Survey (29.09.92 - 03.10.92). GCP/RAF/271/FIN-TD/10 (En): 11p. I would really appreciate it if you could tell me where to get (or how to order) this publication (E.S, Austria)
A.  We did indeed try to map the different types of shoreline (above the water beach part) during an aerial frame survey. The report you mention includes indeed some B/W maps with rough indications of the type of shoreline observed (no colour slide however). Please click below for the scanned maps of north, middle and south part of the Lake and for the main text part of the report:
•   TD10 Shoreline classification, text
•   Map of shoreline classification, northern part of Lake Tanganyika
•   Map of shoreline classification, middle part of Lake Tanganyika
•   Map of shoreline classification, southern part of Lake Tanganyika
  
Use of photos from my Photo Album
Q. I am a college professor assisting in the creation of some online curriculum materials that will be used to supplement textbooks in geography, geology, limnology, etc.  One of the materials is a Virtual Tour of the East African Rift Region, including Lake Tanganyika. We would like permission to point to your project page and specifically we would like permission to use on that link page, the photo you have of the Ruzizi River flowing into Lake Tanganyika. This is purely for educational purposes and we will gladly point you to our beta site so you can give us suggestions. Please let us know how you would like the credit line to read (R.E.F., USA).
A. There is no problem for you to use the photo in question or to make a link to my homepage. There is no mention of copyright on my homepage and certainly for educational purposes it should all be free to use... If you want to include a credit line you can mention my name and/or the URL of my "Lake Tanganyika Fisheries Research" site.
  
Sodium Chloride
Q. Is it true that Lake Tanganyika is void of sodum chloride (NaCl)? If not, what kind of trace elements are present in the waters of the Lake?
A. No, it has a "normal salt content" for a freshwater east african rift lake. For your information, I am presenting below the results of the measurements (in mg/l) for Lake Tanganyika and as a comparison, the measurements for Lake Albert, both by Talling & Talling, 1965 as quoted by Vanden Bossche & Bernacsek, 1990, Source  book for the inland fishery resources of Africa: 1. CIFA Techn. Paper. No. 18.1. Rome, FAO: 240 p.

L. Tanganyika
L. Albert
Na
57.0
 110.0
Cl
26.5
36.0
K   
35.0
9.0
Ca
 9.8
12.4
Mg
43.3
47.3
SO4
5.0
31.0
SiO2
0.38
6.5
  
Angling in Kasaba Bay (Zambia)     
Q. I would appreciate any information possible on the angling species avaliable at Kasaba Bay, Zambia, i.e. species, habitat, size, depth, methods, etc. (G.W)
A. One of the most appreciated fish for sport angling in Kasaba Bay is the 'Kupi' or Kuhe (Tanzania) or Boulengerochromis microlepis (scientific name). Species characteristics: game fish, caught with hooks and lines, also with gillnets. Max. length: 65 cm TL. Max Weight: 4.5 kg. Inhabits nearshore surface waters. Max. depth: 85 m. Firm flesh is highly valued.  Largest African cichlid. East Central Africa: endemic to and widely distributed in Lake Tanganyika.
Other favorite species are the tigerfish (Hydrocynus vittatus),  the Lates (perch) species, some catfish and a variety of smaller cichlids. And one has to watch out for the crocodiles and Lake snakes.
The tigerfish (common name in Zambia: nsanga) has the following distribution in Africa:
•   rivers Niger/Bénoué, Ouémé, Sénégal, Nile, Omo, Zaire, Lufira, Lualaba, Luapula, Zambeze, Limpopo, Rovuma, Shore, Rufiji , Ruaha, Wami, and Ruvu
•   lakes Bangwéolo, Moéro, Tanganyika, Upemba, Rukwa and Malagarazi. Also Okavango and lowveld reaches of coastal systems south to Pongolo. Very abundant in Lake Rukwa but absent from Nyasa basin.
Environment: prefers warm, well-oxygenated water, mainly larger rivers and lakes. Carnivore predator: feeds on whatever prey is most abundant but Brycinus, Micralestes, Barbus and Limnothrissa (kapenta)  are favoured. Useful food fish in some areas. Max. length: 75 cm TL, max. weight: 15 kg. Fished with hooks/lines and gillnets.

There is a yearly angling competition in Kasaba Bay around February-March:
•   one day fishing: 2 kg line  (ultra-light class)
•   3 days fishing: 2 kg and 6 kg classes competition
Gears permitted: rods, reels, lines and lures. Fishes allowed: Nile perch, Golden Nile perch (rare), nkupi, tiger fish (rare) and lake salmon (Labeo sp.)