| Description of life cycle and mating behavior |
In aquaria, the species is a monogamous, pair bonding, cave spawner. Eggs are guarded by both sexes, but more intensively by the female. Hatching occurs after three days post-spawn.
Larvae are normally deposited on the bottom of the cave, rarely in other caves nearby the original cave. Juveniles are free swimming 8 or 9 days post-hatching, and are guarded by both parents for about 5 to 6 weeks. Breeding and guarding individuals of both sexes regularly exhibit more aggressive and intensive coloration. The dark, longitudinal stripe that is typical for breeding and guarding specimens of both sexes in
many other cave breeders of the chromidotilapiine lineage (e.g., Pelvicachromis, Congochromis, and Parananochromis) is prominently visible in males, but is more rarely and weakly visible in females. In this
character, females of Enigmatochromis differ from females of Pelvicachromis, Congochromis and Parananochromis, where a prominent dark, longitudinal stripe is typical for females (and only rarely for males) during the first 2 to 4 weeks when guarding fry (Ref. 81928).
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