LAKE TANGANYIKA CICHLIDS.
Order Perciformes ( Perciformes )
Family Cichlidae ( Cichlidae )
Subfamily ( Pseudocrenilabrinae )
Continued…
Genus Lamprologus.
— Lamprologus speciosus [Buscher, 1991] — beautiful, magnificent lamprologus. Synonym: Neolamprologus speciosus. Found in the central part of the Congolese coast of Lake Tanganyika. Males up to 5 cm, females about 4 cm. Traditionally, a large mouth and eyes crown the fish’s massive head. The pelvic fins are rounded and set horizontally on the sides, indicating a benthic lifestyle for this miniature fish.
Distinctive features of this species include a relatively short snout with a terminal mouth, large rounded eyes, a slightly pointed upper head profile, and a dark spot on the gill covers. This species is colored in dark tones, sometimes with a coal-black body adorned with a pattern of tiny star-like dots.
The coloration of the species strongly depends on maintenance conditions. Thus, it can vary from asphalt gray with silver speckles to checkered, alternating large brownish-black splotches and blotches on a light background. The gill covers have a coal-black spot with a greenish rim. The back ranges from brownish-reddish to dark, and the sides are white with a clearly visible grid of individual scales.
Large dark brown and lighter spots on the body lack clear boundaries, and the intensity of their coloration changes with the fish’s mood. The spots really stand out, glowing sometimes even in the twilight, apparently catching the slightest light. The flanks of this lamprologus shimmer with rows of glowing violet scales. There are several faint transverse stripes. The belly is light.
During spawning, the fish turn black. The silvery dots shine especially brightly. And the females also have a yellowish belly. The dorsal, anal, and caudal fins look very effective due to the contrast of white and black dots and streaks. The dorsal fin has very distinct black and white endings of hard and soft rays. The edges of the caudal and dorsal fins are colored in bluish tones.
In an excited state, the fins are fully spread and, merging into a single “fan”, form a sort of patterned hand fan. Sexual dimorphism becomes noticeable with age. The male becomes larger than the female and has a slightly concave belly line. The head of females characteristically turns white during spawning.
They perfectly complement the bottom zone in community aquariums. They do not like harsh neighbors. Do not make assumptions about their behavior based solely on size. The spawning territory is fearlessly defended against intruders. They will try to drive away fish much larger than themselves and will bite your hand if you bring it too close during maintenance.
Coral sand substrate, a little sandstone in the background, and an open area in the foreground. It is best to choose natural gray tones of sand with rounded grains of the finest fraction. Shell cavities are used by them as a substrate for spawning and as shelter. Every individual in the aquarium needs to be provided with at least one shell.
Males and females try to acquire their own shell and already at the age of several months begin to actively compete for the most prestigious shells. Young males and females take turns trying to hold out in the cavity of such a shell longer than others. At approximately 10 months, a leader is determined among the rivals. The dominant male takes the best shell and no longer gives peace to his relatives. If there are several shells, the poor fellow simply rushes between homes, controlling one shell then the other.
At the same time, he begins to pay attention to the females who submissively stay at a distance, not participating in tournaments. Some second-tier males patiently wait for the opportunity to become leaders and periodically make attempts to occupy one of the shells, but most often they fail and retreat to the periphery.
If the shell is not convenient for the fish to hide in, it burrows into the substrate, leaving only the eyes visible. Males establish general territories where females establish their own territories. As a rule, an empty shell is buried in the substrate only halfway. Although plants can lead to a drop in pH, they are desirable to provide a natural look to the aquarium.
Water quality is crucial for the proper development of young fish. Weekly water changes of 25%. Feed with flake food, pellets, tablets, frozen krill and plankton, brine shrimp, bloodworms, and daphnia. It is best to feed in small amounts two to three times a day. T 24-27°C; pH 7.3-8.8; dH 8-25°.
— Lamprologus stappersi (meleagris) [Pellegrin, 1927] — Pearly shell-dwelling lamprologus. Lamprologus stappersi, meleagris. Synonym: Lamprologus meleagris, Neolamprologus stappersi. (Eng. Pearly Ocellatus, Shelldweller Cichlid). Congolese coast of Lake Tanganyika. Males up to 6 cm in length, females about 4 cm. The body shape is elongated, slightly high-bodied, compressed at the sides, shortened snout with a superior mouth, upper jaw shorter than the lower, larger yellow eyes, and a bulge of the upper head region — all these are distinctive features of L. stappersi.
Possessor of extremely spectacular, star-like coloration consisting of many small iridescent white dots covering the body and fins. The throat is silvery with a blue tinge, the upper part of the head from the upper lip to the back of the skull is black, on the lower edge of the gill covers there is a black spot edged with blue along the front edge. Flanks with a violet sheen; black stripes may appear on the body depending on mood.
Body coloration is brownish with six vertical stripes (sometimes merging) and a black spot on the gill covers. Nature has endowed representatives of both sexes with an impressive star-like attire. When these shell-dwelling lamprologus flare their fins in the excitement of games or competition, their outfit seems to light up with placers of pearly-white sparkles. The fins, silvery body with dark spots, and violet sheen look as if they are encrusted with many small, exquisitely crafted iridescent stones.
Naturally, during the spawning period, it is especially fine. The coloration of a mature female, in moments of special excitement, turns white in some places as if fading and acquires a special charm, shimmering with various shades. Gray and violet colors, shades dominated by white-silver tones, and, of course, wonderful sparkles all over the body and fins are added to this palette.
The male’s coloration during the spawning period does not undergo major changes, except that it becomes even more expressive. The intensity of body coloration varies throughout the day. This is influenced by the fish’s current mood, lighting, background landscape color, and aquarium maintenance conditions. Sexual dimorphism appears only at a mature age. A two-year-old male is already clearly larger and more massive than the female in all parameters. The unpaired fins of the female look shorter relative to the body.
They lead a benthic lifestyle, using an empty mollusk shell as a shelter and spawning substrate. Many shell-dwelling lamprologus strive to acquire their own personal shell. In the aquarium, every individual of this species should be provided with at least one “house”. Extra shells are not a problem, as they give the fish a choice of housing.
Extra shell-houses reduce the intensity of competition among fish. They do not like excessively harsh neighbors. One is amazed by the fearlessness with which a fish half the size of a pinky attacks any objects approaching the nest after spawning. Like all lamprologus, they are territorial.
This species can be kept either in pairs or in small groups consisting of one male and several females. Border conflicts may periodically flare up in the aquarium. They feel uncomfortable in the same aquarium with significantly larger and strictly territorial species of Tanganyikan cichlids.
Fine gray sand, carefully selected rounded stones, or textured pieces of rock are used as substrate, helping to divide the aquarium into separate territories. Fine sand with a fraction of 0.5-1.5 mm allows many shell-dwelling lamprologus to hide in it during moments of danger.
You can plant a few bushes of shade-tolerant plants. Their favorite food is small and large plankton. High-quality fine-pellet and flake foods can be used as supplementary feeding. Sexual maturity is reached at 10 months. They spawn in the community aquarium. Males organize a harem of two to five females. Fry are unique in having a distinct red-brown spot pattern on a gray-white background. T 25-26°C; pH 7.5-8.5; dH 10-20°.
Identification: Pearly lamprologus — Lamprologus stappersi.
Lepidiolamprologus attenuates, boulengeri, elongatus.
Lamprologus ornatipinnis, Lamprologus signatus. 
