Marungu cichlid
Neolamprologus marunguensis
Also known as Lamprologus marunguensis, Blue-fin marunguensis, White tip cichlid
FreshwaterFish
Care at a glance
- Temperature
- 75–81°F
- 24–27°C
- pH
- 7.8–9.0
- Adult size
- 2.8 in
- 7 cm
- Minimum tank
- 18 gal
- 70 L
- Temperament
- Mostly peaceful
- Social behavior
- Social
- Swim level
- Middle
- Difficulty
- Medium
- Breeding
- Cave spawner · Medium
- Rarity
- Rare
- Family
- Cichlidae
- Origin
- Lake Tanganyika, Marungu coast
Overview
The Marungu cichlid is a small, colony-living fish from Lake Tanganyika. It hovers just above the rocks in the lower and middle water, and it is a step up from the easiest fish.
Caring for the Marungu cichlid
Keep Marungu cichlids as a colony, and let pairs form and claim caves within it. A colony does well in 18 gal (70 L) or more. Build a good stack of rock with many small caves and crevices over a sand floor.
Give them hard, alkaline, oxygen-rich water like the lake's, at 75 to 81°F (24 to 27°C) and a pH of 7.8 to 9.0. Keep it clean, with steady filtration.
In the wild they feed on tiny invertebrates and zooplankton, so offer small frozen and prepared foods. Marungu cichlids are generally peaceful, except right around a nest. They fit well in a community of other calm Tanganyikan fish.
They are cave spawners rather than mouthbrooders, and breeding them is of medium difficulty. They often breed as a colony, where older young help tend later broods.
Good to know
The Marungu cichlid belongs to the brichardi group of fairy cichlids, in the family Cichlidae. Its deeply forked tail is edged in pale blue, over a gray-bronze body.
In the wild
Neolamprologus marunguensis lives over rocky rubble along the Marungu coast, in the southwest of Lake Tanganyika. It usually stays fairly deep, at about 25 to 35 meters.
Weekly picks
Tank mates
The Marungu 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.
Pearly ocellatus
Lamprologus stappersi
Freshwater2.2 in (5.5 cm) · 11 gal (40 L)75–81°F (24–27°C)
Golden julie
Julidochromis ornatus
Freshwater3.1 in (8 cm) · 18 gal (70 L)73–81°F (23–27°C)
Cuckoo squeaker
Synodontis multipunctatus
Freshwater7.1 in (18 cm) · 29 gal (110 L)75–82°F (24–28°C)
Tanganyika killifish
Lamprichthys tanganicanus
Freshwater5.5 in (14 cm) · 40 gal (150 L)73–77°F (23–25°C)
Poll's synodontis
Synodontis polli
Freshwater5.1 in (13 cm) · 21 gal (80 L)72–79°F (22–26°C)
Common questions
What size tank does a Marungu cichlid need?
A Marungu cichlid needs at least 18 gal (70 L). It spends most of its time in the middle.
What temperature and pH does a Marungu cichlid need?
A Marungu cichlid is comfortable at 75–81°F (24–27°C) with a pH of 7.8–9.0.
What does a Marungu cichlid eat?
A Marungu cichlid feeds on tiny invertebrates and zooplankton in the wild. In the tank, offer it small frozen and prepared foods.
How big does a Marungu cichlid get?
An adult Marungu cichlid reaches about 2.8 in (7 cm).
Related species
3.1 in (8 cm)42 gal (160 L)75–81°F (24–27°C)Falcicula cichlid
Neolamprologus falcicula
3.1 in (8 cm) · 42 gal (160 L)
3.1 in (8 cm)42 gal (160 L)75–81°F (24–27°C)Splendid lamprologus
Neolamprologus splendens
3.1 in (8 cm) · 42 gal (160 L)
3.5 in (9 cm)42 gal (160 L)75–81°F (24–27°C)Graceful lamprologus
Neolamprologus gracilis
3.5 in (9 cm) · 42 gal (160 L)
4.5 in (11.5 cm)20 gal (75 L)73–81°F (23–27°C)Lemon cichlid
Neolamprologus leleupi
4.5 in (11.5 cm) · 20 gal (75 L)
5.1 in (13 cm)29 gal (110 L)75–81°F (24–27°C)Daffodil cichlid
Neolamprologus pulcher
5.1 in (13 cm) · 29 gal (110 L)
2.8 in (7 cm)20 gal (75 L)75–79°F (24–26°C)Caudopunctatus
Neolamprologus caudopunctatus
2.8 in (7 cm) · 20 gal (75 L)