Lyretail cichlid
Neolamprologus brichardi
Also known as fairy cichlid
FreshwaterFish
Care at a glance
- Temperature
- 73–81°F
- 23–27°C
- pH
- 7.8–9.0
- Adult size
- 3.9 in
- 10 cm
- Minimum tank
- 29 gal
- 110 L
- Temperament
- Aggressive
- Social behavior
- Social
- Tankmates
- With caution
- Swim level
- Middle
- Difficulty
- Medium
- Breeding
- Cave spawner · Medium
- Rarity
- Common
- Family
- Cichlidae
- Origin
- Lake Tanganyika
Overview
The lyretail cichlid is a Lake Tanganyika cichlid for the middle of a rocky, hard-water tank. It is a good fish for an intermediate keeper.
Caring for the lyretail cichlid
Keep lyretail cichlids as a colony built around one breeding pair, in at least 29 gal (110 L). Build a pile of rock with plenty of caves and gaps for pairs to claim.
Keep the water hard and alkaline, at 73 to 81°F (23 to 27°C) and a high pH of 7.8 to 9.0. Feed a quality cichlid pellet, with regular frozen or live brine shrimp and daphnia.
They hold a patch in the middle of the tank and get scrappy near their cave, especially when guarding fry. Give other Tanganyikans room to stay clear, and choose tank mates with caution. Stick to fish that want the same hard, alkaline water.
Lyretail cichlids are cave-spawning substrate breeders, not mouthbrooders. Pairs can stay productive for years, and breeding them is of medium difficulty.
Good to know
Neolamprologus brichardi is a cichlid in the family Cichlidae. It has a slender body, a long lyre-shaped tail with trailing filaments, and a white stripe from the eye back to the gill. Wild stocks are stable, though local collection and habitat loss are concerns.
In the wild
The lyretail cichlid comes from the rocky shorelines of Lake Tanganyika in East Africa. It lives among the steep slopes and crevices a few meters down.
Common questions
What size tank does a lyretail cichlid need?
A lyretail cichlid needs at least 29 gal (110 L). It spends most of its time in the middle.
What temperature and pH does a lyretail cichlid need?
A lyretail cichlid is comfortable at 73–81°F (23–27°C) with a pH of 7.8–9.0.
What does a lyretail cichlid eat?
A lyretail cichlid eats a quality cichlid pellet, with regular frozen or live brine shrimp and daphnia.
How big does a lyretail cichlid get?
An adult lyretail cichlid reaches about 3.9 in (10 cm).
How does a lyretail cichlid breed?
A lyretail cichlid spawns in caves as a substrate breeder, not a mouthbrooder. Pairs can stay productive for years, and breeding them is of medium difficulty.
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