Leleupi cichlid

Leleupi Cichlid or Lemon Cichlid (Neolamprologus leleupi) is a species of cichlid endemic to Lake Tanganyika where it occurs throughout the lake. It is a recess-dweller, inhabiting cracks and crevices. Can be aggressive and territorial when breeding but otherwise is quite placid. This species reaches a length of 10 cm.

Behaviour

A solitary species in nature, with male fish entering females’ caves as they find them and spawning with receptive females. This explains the weak pair bond formed by spawning fish in aquaria and also the intolerance of unripe females by male fish.

Tank Conditions

Use sand as substrate. Much of the space should contain piles of rockwork forming lots of caves and hiding places.

Compatibility

An aggressive, territorial species when breeding but is otherwise quite placid. They can be kept with other small to medium-sized Tanganyikan cichlids that occupy different areas of the tank such as Cyprichromis sp. Other rockdwellers such as Julidochromis or Altolamprologus sp. are possibilities if the tank is large enough and sufficient territories are provided. It should never be kept with Mbuna or other boisterous species, however. It is very aggressive towards its own type and only a single pair should be kept unless the tank is very large.

Feeding

In the wild, the Leleupi Cichlids is a predator, feeding on zoobenthic organisms, aquatic insects, and copepods. In the aquarium, however, they readily accept flake and pellet foods. It’s important that Leleupi Cichlids’ diet have Cyclops, Mysis, or other carotene-containing foods if they are to show their bright, yellowish-orange color.  Live and frozen foods should comprise a large proportion of the diet. Dried foods can be fed, but use these less often. The diet also should include some vegetable matter, such as a good quality spirulina flake.

Care

It’s not uncommon for Leleupi Cichlids to develop goiter, which can easily be remedied and prevented by adding iodized table salt to the water. Believe it or not, Tanganyikan cichlids need iodine.

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.

Theses fish are sensitivity to deteriorating water conditions!  The water should be well-oxygenated with a moderate current, and frequent partial water changes are a must to help keep nitrate to a minimum.

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