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Lake Tanganyika cichlids — species, locations & maps

Lake Tanganyika cichlids — species, locations & maps
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Neolamprologus crassus.jpg Neolamprologus crassus 'Katete'.jpg
Previous pageNeolamprologus crassus 'Katete'
Tribe / Genus: Lamprologini / Neolamprologus
Type locality: Bay of Luhanga [Masanza near Cape Kapampa, written in the holotype label], westcoast of Lake Tanganyika, Zaire [Democratic Republic of Congo].
Biotope: Rocky habitat, recorded from depths of about 4–20 m, with the highest densities typically observed between 7 and 15 m.
Geographic distribution: The area where this variant occurs is reported as being between the Lunangwa River and Katete. The holotype label mentions Bay of Luhanga (Masanza near Cape Kapampa) on the west coast of Lake Tanganyika in the Democratic Republic of Congo, but this locality has been questioned, and the name has been linked by some authors to the trade form known as “black brichardi” from the Cape Chipimbi area in Zambia.
Typical adult size: Reaches around 7 cm in the lake, not counting the caudal fin filaments.
Sexual dimorphism: Sexes are very similar in appearance; males are on average slightly larger.
Recommended aquarium size: 200 L. For maintaining a larger colony, 300 L or more is recommended.
Aquarium setup: Use fine sand as substrate and arrange rocks to create a rocky environment with many caves and passages. When a pair is kept, a colony may form quickly; in a colony a dominant male can establish control over the group. Because the colony can expand rapidly and the defended territory increases accordingly, this species is strongly recommended for a species-only aquarium. Long-term cohabitation with other Tanganyikan cichlids is discouraged.
Diet: Carnivorous. In nature it feeds mainly on small invertebrates such as insect larvae and copepods, taken from biofilm or from the water just above the substrate. In the aquarium it accepts most foods, and can be offered a variety of live and frozen items.
Breeding: Once a pair forms, spawning occurs regularly. Each pair holds a territory that is also defended by helpers, sometimes up to about 20, indicating a well-organized social group. In the lake, the species is described as sometimes monogamous and sometimes polygamous, with a male potentially maintaining a harem of up to four females. If one breeding partner dies, a helper may replace it according to the group’s hierarchy. Early broods may be small, later reaching up to about 150 eggs. Fry form colonies of mixed sizes and ages; some older juveniles remain near the parents and assist in defense, while others form new pairs and establish new colonies elsewhere. Although cave spawning is typical, females in an established colony may lay eggs on the outer cave wall, or in aquaria even on the front glass. Compared with N. savoryi and N. helianthus, this species is noted as highly reproductive, and aquaria can fill quickly with fry of many different sizes.
Aggression: Can be highly aggressive toward other species and may stand up to considerably larger cichlids. As the colony grows, collective defense becomes stronger, and the group may expand into space used by other fish, leading to frequent conflicts. A species-only aquarium is therefore strongly recommended.
Special notes: Ad Konings has treated this form as a junior synonym of Neolamprologus pulcher, proposing that it differs mainly by facial pattern. The distinguishing feature described here is a single black spot behind the eye on the gill cover area, whereas typical N. pulcher and N. brichardi show crescent-like “((” markings or a “T”-shaped marking. It is further argued that facial colour patterns can be informative for separating species, and that rapid synonymisation without complete evidence may be harmful; for that reason this text treats N. crassus as a distinct species.
Diagnosis information provided describes a member of the savoryi–brichardi–pulcher lyretail complex: a rather plump, plain pale purple fish with a very blue eye, lyretail filaments tipped white, few scales on unpaired fins, and reported meristics including 9–10 gill rakers, anal spines IV, dorsal spines XIX–XX, and 33–36 scales in the longitudinal line.
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Photo: © Mattia Matarrese
Photo: © Mattia Matarrese
Photo: © Benoit Jonas
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