Brichardi Cichlid (Neolamprologus brichardi) – 4cm

The Brichardi Cichlid is relatively peaceful for a cichlid and they should be kept in groups as they are a shoaling fish.  An excellent fish for someone wishing to get started with Rift Lake cichlids, and its beauty and fascinating spawning behaviors endear it to experienced African cichlid aquarists as well.  They thrive in aquariums with multiple rock formations and hiding coves. Adult size: up to 10 cm, minimum tank size 100 litres.

Neolamprologus brichardi is native to the alkaline waters and rocky shorelines of the northern part of Lake Tanganyika in East Africa.  Not the typical cichlid in appearance, the Brichardi is a sleek and elongated fish with the most notable characteristic being its’ lyretail.  Some of it’s common names are Princess cichlid, Princess of Burundi, Lyretail cichlid, Fairy cichlid and Brichard’s lamprologus.

Behaviour

Though more peaceful than other members of the Cichlidae family, Brichardi Cichlids will become territorial during mating. It is difficult to distinguish male from female on sight alone, however. Usually, the dorsal fin and tip of the caudal fin are slightly longer in males.

Tank Conditions

Like all true Tanganyikan set ups the tank should be decorated with a crushed coral or similar substrate and contain lot of rocks that form caves and crevices. This is especially true for the brichardi as a retreat for each fish is a must. The rocks must be firmly anchored as these fish will dig a lot and can disrupt the aquascape and possibly hurt themselves or the aquarium. Provide open areas for swimming.

Though not as active as other cichlids, the Brichardi will dig in substrates and uproot plants. Therefore, care needs to be taken to ensure success of your aquatic plants. Since they are diggers, choose a soft sand or fine gravel substrate.  Plants can be used and will not be eaten but should be placed carefully as their digging will continually uproot them.

Good filtration is a must and frequent partial water changes are a necessity as well.  Click for products (food and water treatments etc.) related to Tanganyika at Rebel Pets.

Compatibility

Peaceful for a cichlid and they should be kept in groups as they will school outside of breeding time.  Recommended ONLY for Tanganyikan cichlid community tanks.

Feeding

Feeding is not a problem as they will accept all types of flake and frozen food, in nature they eat small animals. In nature they are a micropredator and plankton feeder.  For optimal health, feed this omnivorous fish cichlid pellets, flake foods, and frozen foods, such as brine shrimp, mysis shrimp, and plankton.  Click for Fish Foods specific for African Cichlids at Rebel Pets

Care

These fish do best in Tanganyikan setup tanks and should have hard water with a pH of 8 or higher. Water should have 0 ammonia and 0 nitrite, and ideally less than 25ppm nitrate. A temperature of around 25°C is about right.  Seachem Tanganyikan Buffer helps maintain these water parameters.

See Fish Disease Diagnosis and Treatment at Rebel Pets for help with diagnosing and treating diseases.