TankBud

Sardine cichlid

Cyprichromis leptosoma

Also known as Utinta

FreshwaterFish

Sardine cichlid (Cyprichromis leptosoma)
regani · Public domain

Care at a glance

Temperature
75–81°F
24–27°C
pH
7.8–9.0
Adult size
4.3 in
11 cm
Minimum tank
45 gal
170 L
Temperament
Peaceful
Social behavior
Schooling
Swim level
Middle
Difficulty
Medium
Breeding
Medium
Rarity
Rare
Family
Cichlidae
Origin
Lake Tanganyika

Overview

They are schooling fish and need a decent group to feel secure and show their colors, so plan for a large tank of around 170 liters or more. They hold the middle and upper water and are peaceful, doing well with other non-aggressive open-water Tanganyikans. In the wild they eat plankton, so feed small foods like micro-pellets, quality flake, and live or frozen brine shrimp and daphnia. Keep the water hard and alkaline, pH from about 7.8 to 9, in the mid 20s C.

In the wild

Sardine cichlids live in the open water of Lake Tanganyika, not down among the rocks like most of the lake's cichlids. They school in the mid-water zone, often at depths of ten meters or more, in clear, mineral-rich water. To keep them you need a tall, long tank that gives real vertical and horizontal swimming room, with the same hard, alkaline water the lake provides. Some rockwork at the edges is fine, but open space is the point.

Good to know

This is a cichlid in the family Cichlidae with a slim, streamlined body built for life in open water, reaching about 11 cm with males a bit larger. It is one of the few truly pelagic, mid-water cichlids, which is unusual for the family. Females are maternal mouthbrooders, holding eggs and fry in the mouth for several weeks. Wild populations are currently considered stable.

Did you know

Males display their bright colors while hanging in open water rather than over a defended patch of bottom, which is rare for cichlids. They spawn up in the water column too, and the female scoops up the eggs to brood before they ever settle.

Weekly picks

Tank mates

Sardine cichlid is a peaceful, schooling 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 Sardine cichlid need?

A Sardine cichlid needs at least 45 gal (170 L). It spends most of its time in the middle.

What temperature and pH does a Sardine cichlid need?

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

How big does a Sardine cichlid get?

An adult Sardine cichlid reaches about 4.3 in (11 cm).

Does a Sardine cichlid need a group?

Yes. A Sardine cichlid is a schooling species and should be kept in a group, not singly.

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