tanganyika.si

Lake Tanganyika cichlids — species, locations & maps

Lake Tanganyika cichlids — species, locations & maps
By genera By locations Locations Maps Posters Interactive map
Lamprologus ocellatus 'Kigoma'.jpg Lamprologus ornatipinnis 'Kigoma'.jpg Lepidiolamprologus boulengeri 'Kigoma'.jpg Lestradea perspicax 'Kigoma'.jpg Neolamprologus bifasciatus 'Kigoma'.jpg
Previous pageNext pageLepidiolamprologus boulengeri 'Kigoma'
Tribe / Genus: Lamprologini / Lepidiolamprologus
Biotope: Sandy or muddy bottoms with very sparse shell beds, typically one to five empty shells per square meter. Occurs at depths between approximately 10 and 20 m.
Geographic distribution: Northern part of Lake Tanganyika, from Nyanza-Lac in Burundi southwards to the Malagarasi River in Tanzania.
Typical adult size: Males reach about 7 cm total length. Females remain smaller, usually around 5 cm.
Sexual dimorphism: Limited. Apart from males being larger than females, no obvious differences in coloration or shape are present.
Recommended aquarium size: Around 80 L for a single pair.
Aquarium setup: Fine sand substrate with a few empty gastropod shells used for shelter and spawning. Due to strong intraspecific aggression, never keep more than one male per aquarium. Suitable tankmates are other Tanganyika cichlids occupying different areas of the aquarium.
Diet: Carnivorous. Feeds mainly on small invertebrates, insect larvae, and planktonic crustaceans. In the aquarium accepts Artemia, Cyclops, Mysis, and similar live or frozen foods.
Breeding: Digs a relatively deep pit in the sand, within which one or more shells are present. Spawning takes place in association with the shells, but fry do not live inside them. Broods are small, usually up to about 25 fry. Females often guard the young, sometimes accompanied by the male, indicating both monogamous and polygynous breeding behavior.
Aggression: Males can be aggressive toward conspecifics, especially other males. Toward other species aggression is mainly limited to the defense of the immediate territory.
Special notes: Distinguished from other shell-dwelling lamprologines by a large black blotch in the dorsal fin of both sexes. Very similar to Lepidiolamprologus meeli, but differs by a deeper body, a larger dorsal blotch, and a proportionally larger mouth. Females live in shells, while males are usually too large to enter them.

Photo gallery

Photo: © Ad Konings
Photo: © Rainer Fassbender
Photo: © Rainer Fassbender
Photo: © Rainer Fassbender
Photo: © Rainer Fassbender
Photo: © Rainer Fassbender
Photo: © Rainer Fassbender
Photo: © Rainer Fassbender
tanganyika.si
Lake Tanganyika cichlids — species, locations & maps.
All images are used with permission of the authors. Unauthorized use is prohibited.
Quick links
By genera By locations Locations Maps Posters Interactive map
Contact
Email Facebook Instagram
© tanganyika.si