Overview
- The Fairy Cichlid (Neolamprologus brichardi), also known as the Princess of Burundi, is an elegant Lake Tanganyika cichlid with long, white-edged fins.
- Found along the rocky shores of Burundi, Tanzania and the Democratic Republic of the Congo, mostly 16–82 ft (5–25 m) deep.
- Grows to about 3.5 in (9 cm) total length.
Feeding
- Feeds mainly on plankton in the wild.
- Live and frozen foods should make up much of the diet, with dried foods less often.
- Include some vegetable matter such as spirulina.
Habitat
- A tank with a base of 48 × 12 in (120 × 30 cm).
- Rock piles forming caves over much of the tank, on a sandy substrate.
- Hard, alkaline water: 73–79°F (23–26°C), pH 8.0–9.0, GH 9–19.
Fish Care
- Needs stable, hard, alkaline water.
Compatibility
- Best in a species tank.
- In a large tank it can live with Tanganyikans that use other areas, such as Cyprichromis or shell dwellers.
Aquarium Behavior
- Territorial, especially with fry.
- Lives in family groups where older young help guard younger fry. [UNVERIFIED]
Breeding
- A cave spawner and one of the easier Tanganyikans to breed.
- Start with at least 6 young fish and remove extras once a pair forms.
- The female tends the eggs while the male guards the area.