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Prochilus cichlid

Neolamprologus prochilus

Also known as Lamprologus prochilus

FreshwaterFish

Prochilus cichlid (Neolamprologus prochilus)

Care at a glance

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

Overview

The Prochilus cichlid is a big, cave-dwelling predator from Lake Tanganyika. It is a step up from the easiest fish and needs serious rockwork to claim.

Did you know

The Prochilus cichlid's name describes its bite. Prochilus means forward lip, after the underbite that marks it as a cave ambush hunter.

Caring for the Prochilus cichlid

Build heavy, cave-filled rockwork over sand in a tank of at least 79 gal (300 L). Leave dark retreats a Prochilus cichlid can lurk in, since it ambushes from the caves and defends its space firmly.

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 well oxygenated and stable, in the Tanganyikan style. It hunts low in the tank and takes meaty foods, best offered toward the end of the day when it becomes more active.

Keep a single fish or a matched pair. It will eat smaller fish that fit in its jutting-jawed mouth. House it only with substantial tank mates, such as other large lake cichlids, and never with bite-sized company.

The Prochilus cichlid is a cave spawner that spawns secretively deep in the rockwork. It is difficult to breed in aquariums, so tank-raised fish are seldom seen.

Good to know

Neolamprologus prochilus is a cichlid of the family Cichlidae, with a projecting lower jaw built for seizing prey. It also goes by the name Lamprologus prochilus.

In the wild

The Prochilus cichlid lives in deep, rocky zones of southern Lake Tanganyika that are riddled with caves. It keeps to the shadows well below the surface.

Common questions

What size tank does a Prochilus cichlid need?

A Prochilus cichlid needs at least 79 gal (300 L). It spends most of its time in the bottom.

What temperature and pH does a Prochilus cichlid need?

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

What does a Prochilus cichlid eat?

A Prochilus cichlid eats meaty foods. Offer them toward the end of the day, when it becomes more active and hunts low in the tank.

How big does a Prochilus cichlid get?

An adult Prochilus cichlid reaches about 6.7 in (17 cm).

How does a Prochilus cichlid breed?

The Prochilus cichlid is a cave spawner that spawns secretively, deep in the rockwork. It is difficult to breed in aquariums, and tank-raised fish are seldom seen.

Related species