Black-belly lamprologus
Neolamprologus nigriventris
Also known as Lamprologus 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
- Tankmates with caution
- Swim level
- Bottom
- Difficulty
- Medium
- Breeding
- Hard
- Rarity
- Rare
- Origin
- Lake Tanganyika, Congolese coast
- Family
- Cichlidae
Overview
This is a small, rock-dwelling Tanganyikan cichlid that is slow to settle but faithful to its chosen cave once it does. 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 tankmates with caution: other calm to moderately assertive Tanganyikans of similar size that will not overwhelm it. It hunts small invertebrates around the stone, so feed small meaty foods such as frozen cyclops, mysis, and brine shrimp along with fine pellets. A rockwork tank of at least 160 liters suits it.
In the wild
It is found along the rocky southwestern shore of Lake Tanganyika, on sand-and-rock slopes where it stays close to the stone, often at some depth. Match the lake with hard, alkaline water around pH 7.8 to 9.0 and a temperature of 24 to 27 C. Give it a well-built pile of rock with shaded caves and crevices over a sand floor, and keep the lighting fairly subdued.
Good to know
A member of the cichlid family, it was described by Buscher in 1992 and reaches only around 10 cm. Its name nigriventris means black-bellied, marking an unusually dark underside. It is a cave spawner and is considered difficult to breed in the aquarium.
Did you know
Most fish are pale on the belly and darker on the back, a shading that helps hide them when seen from below. This species is named for doing the opposite, wearing a notably dark belly, which is where the name black-bellied comes from.
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 do Black-belly lamprologus need?
Black-belly lamprologus are comfortable at 75–81°F (24–27°C) with a pH of 7.8–9.0.
How big do Black-belly lamprologus get?
An adult Black-belly lamprologus reaches about 3.9 in (10 cm).
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Related species
Longtail lamprologus
Neolamprologus longicaudatusFreshwater3.9 in (10 cm)42 gal (160 L)75–81°F (24–27°C)
Mustache lamprologus
Neolamprologus mustaxFreshwater3.5 in (9 cm)42 gal (160 L)75–81°F (24–27°C)
Cylindricus cichlid
Neolamprologus cylindricusFreshwater4.7 in (12 cm)29 gal (110 L)75–81°F (24–27°C)Buescher's cichlid
Neolamprologus buescheriFreshwater3.1 in (8 cm)42 gal (160 L)75–81°F (24–27°C)Savory's cichlid
Neolamprologus savoryiFreshwater3.1 in (8 cm)42 gal (160 L)75–81°F (24–27°C)
Five-bar cichlid
Neolamprologus tretocephalusFreshwater5.9 in (15 cm)53 gal (200 L)73–81°F (23–27°C)