Lake Tanganyika cichlids — species, locations & maps

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Tribe / Genus:	Lamprologini/Lamprologus
Type locality:	Moba, Lake Tanganyika, Zaire (Congo).
Biotope:	Occurs exclusively on muddy substrates of Lake Tanganyika at depths ranging from approximately 10 to 50 m. Snail shells of Neothauma may be present but are usually occupied by other shell-dwelling cichlids. This species is not a typical shell-dweller and naturally reproduces in burrows excavated in the muddy bottom.
Geographic distribution:	Distributed from Moba in the Democratic Republic of Congo southwards to Cape Kapembwa in Zambia. In the eastern part of the Zambian coast it is replaced by Lamprologus laparogramma.
Typical adult size:	Males usually reach about 5 cm in total length, while females are smaller, reaching approximately 3 cm.
Sexual dimorphism:	Males are larger than females. This species shows marked sexual dichromatism. Females are yellow-beige with an orange to coppery belly and a distinct black-and-white marking in the dorsal fin. Males are similarly beige but display darker longitudinal stripes across the body and fins, a feature that distinguishes them from Lamprologus kungweensis and separates them from Lamprologus laparogramma, in which male striping is less pronounced.
Recommended aquarium size:	60 L (for a pair)
Aquarium setup:	Provide a fine sand substrate. Snail shells may be offered and are sometimes used, but this species primarily relies on burrows dug into the substrate for shelter and spawning. PVC tubes may also be used to mimic natural burrows. Due to their small size, they should not be kept with larger cichlids. Aggressive shell-dwellers, such as species from the Lamprologus ocellatus group, are unsuitable tankmates as they monopolize shells and displace L. signatus. Best kept either in a species-only aquarium or with small, peaceful Tanganyikan cichlids that occupy different areas of the tank, such as Paracyprichromis species.
Diet:	Carnivorous. Feeds mainly on zooplankton and small invertebrates such as copepods. In the aquarium it readily accepts Artemia, bloodworms, and Daphnia.
Breeding:	Breeding takes place inside burrows excavated in muddy substrate. These burrows typically have a funnel-shaped entrance followed by an oblique tunnel up to about 12 cm long 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 gastropod shells may also be used. Spawning occurs in the female’s burrow. The eggs are non-adhesive, which is unusual among substrate-spawning lamprologines. After egg 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 signatus, together with L. kungweensis and L. laparogramma, forms a group of closely related, mud-dwelling dwarf lamprologines. These species were once proposed to be conspecific, but are now generally regarded as distinct based on consistent differences in coloration and morphology. Lamprologus signatus is the most strongly sexually dichromatic member of this group, with males showing pronounced body striping reminiscent of a miniature Lamprologus ornatipinnis. It occupies the south-western part of the lake, while L. kungweensis occurs in the north and L. laparogramma along the south-eastern Zambian coast.