Falcicula cichlid

Neolamprologus falcicula

Also known as Lamprologus falcicula

FreshwaterFish

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: Medium
Rarity: Rare
Origin: Lake Tanganyika
Family: Cichlidae

Overview

This is a small, peaceful Tanganyikan cichlid from the brichardi lineage, kept as a bonded pair or a small group over rockwork rather than singly. It hovers in the lower and middle water near its chosen caves, staying close to cover. It is harmless to other fish and fits a calm Tanganyikan community, though a breeding pair will defend the patch of rock around their fry. Feed small meaty foods, frozen brine shrimp, cyclops and mysis, and fine pellets. A pair or small group needs a tank of at least 160 liters with stacked rock caves over a sand floor and hard, alkaline water.

In the wild

Neolamprologus falcicula lives over rocky rubble in Lake Tanganyika, sheltering among the stones and slipping into crevices for safety and spawning. Recreate that with plenty of rock stacked into caves and passages over a sand floor. Keep the water hard and alkaline like the lake, around 24 to 27 C at a pH from 7.8 to 9, kept clean and well filtered.

Good to know

A small lamprologine in the family Cichlidae, it reaches only about 8 centimeters and belongs to the same group as the well-known Neolamprologus brichardi. Its name, falcicula, means little sickle, for the curved, lyre-shaped extensions on its tail. It is a cave spawner that lays eggs in a sheltered crevice and tends the fry, so breeding is a moderate project in the right hard water.

Did you know

The little sickle in its name is its tail: the upper and lower edges of the fin draw out into fine curved points, like a thin sliver of a crescent moon.

Tank mates

Falcicula cichlid is a mostly peaceful, social species that keeps to the middle. These picks match on water type, temperature, pH, size and temperament.