Lake Tanganyika cichlids — species, locations & maps

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Neolamprologus sp. 'eseki' Mswa Point.jpg

Neolamprologus sp. 'eseki' Mwaka, Korongwe Bay.jpg

Neolamprologus sp. 'eseki' Nkondwe Island.jpg

Neolamprologus sp. 'eseki' Nkondwe Island

Tribe / Genus:	Lamprologini / Neolamprologus
Biotope:	Coastal rocky and intermediate habitats, typically over mixed rock-and-sand bottoms.
Geographic distribution:	Occurs on the Tanzanian shore north of the Kipili Archipelago: recorded from the five northernmost islands of the archipelago (Kamamba, Kasisi, Kerenge, Nkondwe, and Mwila) and northwards along the mainland up to Isonga.
Typical adult size:	About 10–11 cm TL in the lake; in aquaria it may grow roughly 1 cm larger.
Sexual dimorphism:	Males may be slightly larger; otherwise there are no clear visual differences between sexes.
Recommended aquarium size:	200 L (for an established pair). In community aquaria, at least 300 L is recommended.
Aquarium setup:	Provide several larger rock piles separated into distinct structures, with fine sand on the bottom. For an established pair, a tank of at least 200 L is advised due to the species’ temperament; for a community tank, a substantially larger aquarium is recommended.
Diet:	Carnivorous; feeds mainly on various invertebrates, and occasionally also on small snails.
Breeding:	Reported as most likely similar to N. christyi. Egg numbers are described as being in the hundreds. In captive observations referenced in the provided material, spawns produced more than 100 fry, and a pair in the wild (Katondo, Cape Mpimbwe) was estimated to be guarding around 100 fry.
Aggression:	Extremely aggressive toward conspecifics and also toward other species; a spacious aquarium is required.
Special notes:	Based on observations and accounts by African Diving Ltd, Neolamprologus sp. “Eseki” was discovered in early 1990 at the rocky shore of Udachi, southern Tanzania. The species was initially misidentified as N. mondabu and some of the first exported specimens were shipped under that name, before it was recognised as a distinct taxon and introduced as N. sp. “Eseki” later the same year. The species inhabits shallow rocky and sandy habitats and is characterised by a greyish to dark brown body, yellowish to yellow-brown fins, blue-green eyes, and a slightly emarginate caudal fin with pointed corners. Certain populations, such as those from Kansombo, Katondo, and Cape Korongwe, exhibit a black margin on the lower part of the caudal fin, whereas populations around the Kipili Archipelago lack this feature. N. sp. “Eseki” appears morphologically and behaviourally intermediate between N. mondabu and N. christyi. It is more aggressive than N. mondabu but slightly less aggressive than N. christyi, and the shape of the caudal fin is likewise intermediate between the two species. It has been suggested that N. sp. “Eseki” could represent a natural hybrid or a geographical derivative of these taxa; however, African Diving Ltd consider it a valid and distinct species based on consistent morphological characters and a clearly delimited distribution. Within the Kipili Archipelago, N. sp. “Eseki” is confined to the five northern islands and does not occur sympatrically with N. christyi, which is restricted to the three southern islands. This pattern of geographical separation is also observed in several other cichlid species and colour variants in the same area.