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Lake Tanganyika cichlids — species, locations & maps

Lake Tanganyika cichlids — species, locations & maps
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Lamprologus laparogramma 'Isanga Bay'.jpg Lamprologus laparogramma 'Mupapa'.jpg Lamprologus laparogramma 'Namansi'.jpg
Previous pageNext pageLamprologus laparogramma 'Mupapa'
Tribe / Genus: Lamprologini/Lamprologus
Type locality: Mpulungu, Lake Tanganyika, Zambia.
Biotope: Lamprologus laparogramma inhabits exclusively muddy substrates of Lake Tanganyika. It is found at depths ranging from approximately 10 to 50 meters. Shells of the gastropod Neothauma may be present but are usually occupied by other shell-dwelling cichlids. This species is not a typical shell-dweller and naturally reproduces by digging burrows into muddy substrate.
Geographic distribution: Occurs along the southeastern coast of Zambia. Its distribution lies south of Lamprologus kungweensis and north of the range of Lamprologus signatus.
Typical adult size: Males usually reach around 5 cm in total length, while females remain smaller, growing to approximately 3 cm.
Sexual dimorphism: Males are larger than females. This species shows marked sexual dichromatism, with females being more vividly colored than males. Females are yellow-beige with an orange to coppery belly and a black-and-white marking on the dorsal fin. Males are similar beige in ground color but show darker longitudinal stripes across the body, comparable to Lamprologus signatus but less pronounced. These male striations distinguish both species from Lamprologus kungweensis.
Recommended aquarium size: 60 L (for a pair)
Aquarium setup: The aquarium should have a fine sand substrate. Snail shells may be provided on the sand and are sometimes used for spawning, although this species naturally breeds in self-dug burrows in muddy substrate. PVC tubes may also be used to mimic these burrows. Due to their small size, they should not be kept with larger or aggressive cichlids, especially aggressive shell-dwellers such as species from the Lamprologus ocellatus group, which tend to monopolize all available shells. They are best maintained either in a species-only aquarium or together with small, peaceful Tanganyikan cichlids occupying different areas of the tank, such as Paracyprichromis species.
Diet: Carnivorous. They primarily feed on zooplankton and small invertebrates such as copepods. In the aquarium they readily accept foods such as Artemia, bloodworms, and Daphnia.
Breeding: Breeding occurs in burrows excavated in muddy substrate. These burrows typically have a funnel-shaped entrance, followed by an oblique tunnel up to about 12 cm deep and approximately 1.5 cm in diameter. The species is monogamous, but males and females each maintain their own burrow, with entrances spaced on average about 50 cm apart. If available and not occupied by other shell-dwellers, empty snail shells may also be used. Spawning takes place in the female’s burrow. The eggs are non-adhesive, which is unusual among cave-breeding lamprologines. After deposition, the eggs are often transferred to the male’s burrow, which is typically larger. Development from eggs to free-swimming fry takes approximately 7 days. Brood size is usually small, up to about 15 fry.
Aggression: Males can be quite aggressive toward conspecifics when defending their territory.
Special notes: Lamprologus laparogramma, together with L. signatus and L. kungweensis, forms a group of very closely related species that differ mainly in coloration. In the past, these taxa were proposed to be conspecific, but are now generally regarded as distinct species due to consistent diagnostic differences, especially in coloration. Lamprologus laparogramma is intermediate in appearance between the other two species but is considered closer to L. signatus. This species is highly valued in aquaristics for its small size and interesting behavior, but is easily outcompeted by larger or more aggressive cichlids.

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Photo: © Heinz H. Buscher
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Lake Tanganyika cichlids — species, locations & maps.
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