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Elongate lamprologus

Lepidiolamprologus elongatus

Also known as Pike lamprologus

FreshwaterFish

Elongate lamprologus (Lepidiolamprologus elongatus)

Care at a glance

Temperature
75–81°F
24–27°C
pH
7.8–9.0
Adult size
12.6 in
32 cm
Minimum tank
119 gal
450 L
Temperament
Aggressive
Social behavior
Solitary
Tankmates
With caution
Swim level
Middle
Diet
Carnivore
Difficulty
Medium
Breeding
Cave spawner · Hard
Rarity
Rare
Family
Cichlidae
Origin
Lake Tanganyika

Overview

The elongate lamprologus is a big, torpedo-shaped predator and one of the more aggressive Tanganyikan cichlids. It hunts through the middle and lower water, and it suits a keeper with some cichlid experience.

Did you know

The elongate lamprologus hunts by stealth, hanging almost still in the water and then striking. It is one of the main predators that keep the smaller rock-dwelling cichlids of its shoreline constantly wary.

Caring for the elongate lamprologus

A single adult elongate lamprologus needs a long tank of at least 119 gal (450 L), and more is better. Give it substantial rockwork and clear swimming lanes over a sand floor.

Keep the water hard and alkaline, at 75 to 81°F (24 to 27°C) and a pH of 7.8 to 9.0. Strong filtration helps carry the load of a large, meat-eating fish. Feed meaty foods and good pellets, plus frozen or fresh items such as mysis, prawn and the occasional larger morsel. Do not turn it into a fatty feeder-fish diet.

Keep it alone, or with company too large to be eaten. It will swallow any tank mate it can fit in its mouth, and small fish simply become food. Choose only large, sturdy companions, and choose them with great care.

It is a cave spawner that hides its eggs in a sheltered crevice and guards the fry. Pairing two large, aggressive predators safely is tricky, so aquarium breeding is hard.

Good to know

The elongate lamprologus is the pike of the lamprologine group in the family Cichlidae. Its long, spear-shaped body is marked with rows of dark stripes.

In the wild

Lepidiolamprologus elongatus patrols the rocky shorelines of Lake Tanganyika as a top predator. It cruises open water near cover and darts into the rocks after smaller fish.

Common questions

What size tank does an elongate lamprologus need?

An elongate lamprologus needs at least 119 gal (450 L). It spends most of its time in the middle.

What temperature and pH does an elongate lamprologus need?

An elongate lamprologus is comfortable at 75–81°F (24–27°C) with a pH of 7.8–9.0.

What does an elongate lamprologus eat?

An elongate lamprologus eats meaty foods and good pellets, plus frozen or fresh items such as mysis and prawn. Do not feed it a fatty diet of feeder fish.

How big does an elongate lamprologus get?

An adult elongate lamprologus reaches about 12.6 in (32 cm).

How does an elongate lamprologus breed?

The elongate lamprologus is a cave spawner that hides its eggs in a sheltered crevice and guards the fry. Pairing two of these large predators safely is tricky, so breeding them is hard.

Related species