Xenotilapia leptura is a biparental mouthbrooder and in the Lake a pair separate from the school and stake out a small territory before spawning begins (Konings, 1998). In the aquarium the pairs are territorial too, but not to such a degree as seen in other biparental mouthbrooders, like members of the X. papilio-group. Xenotilapia leptura with fry in the aquarium of Marc Senaffe, France.