TankBud

Falcicula cichlid

Neolamprologus falcicula

Also known as Lamprologus falcicula

FreshwaterFish

Falcicula cichlid (Neolamprologus falcicula)

Care at a glance

Temperature
75–81°F
24–27°C
pH
7.8–9.0
Adult size
3.1 in
8 cm
Minimum tank
42 gal
160 L
Temperament
Mostly peaceful
Social behavior
Social
Swim level
Middle
Difficulty
Medium
Breeding
Cave spawner · Medium
Rarity
Rare
Family
Cichlidae
Origin
Lake Tanganyika

Overview

The Falcicula cichlid is a small, mostly peaceful Tanganyikan cichlid that hovers near its chosen caves in the lower and middle water. It stays close to cover and suits a keeper past the beginner stage.

Did you know

The Falcicula cichlid's name means little sickle, for the curved, lyre-shaped extensions on its tail. The upper and lower edges of the fin draw out into fine points, like a thin sliver of a crescent moon.

Caring for the Falcicula cichlid

Keep Falcicula cichlids as a bonded pair or a small group rather than singly. A pair or small group needs at least 42 gal (160 L). Stack plenty of rock into caves and passages 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. Keep it clean and well filtered. Feed small meaty foods such as frozen brine shrimp, cyclops and mysis, along with fine pellets.

The Falcicula cichlid is harmless to other fish and fits a calm Tanganyikan community. A breeding pair will defend the patch of rock around their fry.

It is a cave spawner that lays eggs in a sheltered crevice and tends the fry. Breeding is a moderate project in the right hard water.

Good to know

The Falcicula cichlid is a small lamprologine in the family Cichlidae. It belongs to the same group as the well-known Neolamprologus brichardi.

In the wild

Neolamprologus falcicula lives over rocky rubble in Lake Tanganyika. It shelters among the stones and slips into crevices for safety and spawning.

Weekly picks

Tank mates

The Falcicula cichlid is a mostly peaceful, social species that keeps to the middle. These picks share a community profile with it, are safe together in both directions, and overlap on water type, temperature and pH.

Check the full mix in the stocking calculator

Common questions

What size tank does a Falcicula cichlid need?

A Falcicula cichlid needs at least 42 gal (160 L). It spends most of its time in the middle.

What temperature and pH does a Falcicula cichlid need?

A Falcicula cichlid is comfortable at 75–81°F (24–27°C) with a pH of 7.8–9.0.

What does a Falcicula cichlid eat?

A Falcicula cichlid eats small meaty foods such as frozen brine shrimp, cyclops and mysis, along with fine pellets.

How big does a Falcicula cichlid get?

An adult Falcicula cichlid reaches about 3.1 in (8 cm).

How does a Falcicula cichlid breed?

Falcicula cichlids are cave spawners that lay their eggs in a sheltered crevice and tend the fry. Breeding them is a moderate project in the right hard water.

Related species