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Black-belly lamprologus

Neolamprologus nigriventris

Also known as Lamprologus nigriventris

FreshwaterFish

Black-belly lamprologus (Neolamprologus nigriventris)

Care at a glance

Temperature
75–81°F
24–27°C
pH
7.8–9.0
Adult size
3.9 in
10 cm
Minimum tank
42 gal
160 L
Temperament
Aggressive
Social behavior
Solitary
Tankmates
With caution
Swim level
Bottom
Difficulty
Medium
Breeding
Cave spawner · Hard
Rarity
Rare
Family
Cichlidae
Origin
Lake Tanganyika, Congolese coast

Overview

The black-belly lamprologus is a small, rock-dwelling cichlid from Lake Tanganyika. It is slow to settle, but once it does, it stays faithful to its chosen cave. It is best with a little experience.

Did you know

The black-belly lamprologus wears a notably dark belly, the opposite of most fish. Most fish are pale on the belly and darker on the back, a shading that helps hide them when seen from below.

Caring for the black-belly lamprologus

A black-belly lamprologus needs at least 42 gal (160 L), with a well-built pile of rock over a sand floor. Build in shaded caves and crevices, and keep the lighting fairly subdued.

Give it hard, alkaline water like its home lake, at 75 to 81°F (24 to 27°C) and a pH of 7.8 to 9.0. It hunts small invertebrates around the stone, so feed small meaty foods such as frozen cyclops, mysis and brine shrimp. Add fine pellets as well.

Keep it as a single fish or a pair, not a group, and let it establish a territory in the rocks undisturbed. It is territorial and can be scrappy, so choose tank mates with caution. Pick calm to moderately assertive Tanganyikans of similar size that will not overwhelm it. It is a cave spawner, and breeding it in the aquarium is hard.

Good to know

The black-belly lamprologus is a member of the cichlid family, described by Buscher in 1992. Its name nigriventris means black-bellied, after its unusually dark underside.

In the wild

The black-belly lamprologus is found along the rocky southwestern shore of Lake Tanganyika. It lives on sand-and-rock slopes, staying close to the stone and often at some depth.

Common questions

What size tank does a black-belly lamprologus need?

A black-belly lamprologus needs at least 42 gal (160 L). It spends most of its time in the bottom.

What temperature and pH does a black-belly lamprologus need?

A black-belly lamprologus is comfortable at 75–81°F (24–27°C) with a pH of 7.8–9.0.

What does a black-belly lamprologus eat?

A black-belly lamprologus eats small meaty foods such as frozen cyclops, mysis and brine shrimp, along with fine pellets.

How big does a black-belly lamprologus get?

An adult black-belly lamprologus reaches about 3.9 in (10 cm).

How does a black-belly lamprologus breed?

The black-belly lamprologus spawns in caves. It is hard to breed in the aquarium.

Related species