Background Information:
A Lake Tanganyika cichlid, Telmatochromis vittatus are an open water species, usually found at depths of 16-65 feet, in the vicinity of rocky areas. Although shy, they can be a territorial species, but they can be kept successfully with other small to medium-sized Tanganyikan cichlids as long as the tank is large enough. Ideally, they should be kept in a Lake Tanganikan biotope setup, with a sandy substrate and piles of rocks arranged to form caves. An alternative to this could be flower pots or snail shells which would provide shelter for breeding purposes.