CICHLIDS OF LAKE TANGANYIKA.
Order Perciformes ( Perciformes )
Family Cichlidae ( Cichlidae )
Subfamily ( Pseudocrenilabrinae )
Continued…
Genus Neolamprologus.
— Neolamprologus toae [Poll, 1949] — Toae Cichlid. Synonym: Lamprologus, Paleolamprologus toae. (Eng. — Toae Cichlid). North-western coast of Lake Tanganyika, rocky biotopes. 8-12 cm, females are smaller. The dorsal fin is quite high and always vertically spread. It has large eyes relative to its body size.
There are two color morphs, a brown form and a gray form. The brown form has a brown base color and scales with a pearly-bluish sheen, females are often almost completely black. The unpaired fins also have a pearly sheen, and separate black and blue lines on the outer edges of the fins. Depending on mood, fish may show several white spots on their flanks. Sexual dimorphism is absent. In coloration, it is very similar to N. tetracanthus.
The aquarium should contain sandy areas and open water zones along with shelters and caves. Usually a very peaceful fish, it becomes quite vicious during spawning and brood care. Both males and females defend the territory during the site preparation period. This species is carnivorous, and therefore keeping it together with algae-eaters is undesirable. Weekly water changes. A small pit is dug in the substrate for spawning. After spawning, only the female guards the clutch, occupying an area approximately 30 centimeters in diameter. T 25-27°C; pH 7.8-8.5; dH 10-20°.
— Neolamprologus tretocephalus [Boulenger, 1899] — Five Barred Cichlid, Dwarf Frontosa, Poor Mans Frontosa. Synonym: Lamprologus tretocephalus. (Eng. — Dwarf Frontosa, Five Bar, Five Barred Cichlid, Poor Mans Frontosa). Lake Tanganyika, rocky biotopes. 14 cm, in aquarium 10-14 cm. This species has all the magnificence of the coloration of Cyphotilapia frontosa cichlids, but they are smaller in size. Distinctive features of this cichlid species are: • elongated, slightly high-bodied, laterally compressed body; • strong head with a slightly lowered mouth; • pointed ends of the dorsal, anal and ventral fins (the latter slightly elongated); • rounded caudal fin.
The body is light with bluish glints. They have five distinct, dark blue, vertical stripes on a light blue background, the width of the dark stripes is about 1.5 cm, the light spaces are thinner. The stripes slightly extend onto the dorsal fin. Encircling the forehead to the eyes, there is a sixth black stripe. The upper region of the head between the eyes is colored black in the shape of a bow.
Large spots shimmering with black and turquoise are located on the gill covers. The scales on the flank shimmer with a light blue color. The fins are blue, the anal and dorsal fins have a light blue or purple border. Males are larger, brighter and more energetic than females. Fry are colored like their parents, hardy and grow fast. Externally, the fish are very similar to Cyphotilapia frontosa, only smaller and without the characteristic bulging forehead.
Intraspecific aggression in these species is so strong that the aquarium for keeping them must be quite large. A spacious aquarium is required with a large number of shelters in the form of slotted bricks, rounded boulders, caves, drainage pipes, thickets of live or artificial plants, but also sufficient swimming space. In a spacious body of water, it is compatible with other commensurable endemics of Lakes Malawi and Tanganyika, large and medium barbs, rainbowfishes, catfishes. Cracks between rocks and caves will serve as shelters, which should be more than the number of fish.
Males control a large territory, so it is better to keep fish in pairs in a spacious species aquarium with an abundance of shelters. A large seasoned leader-male can create a group with two or three females. Each of them occupies its own shelter and guards it from all neighbors except the male, who controls the entire territory occupied by his females. If only a pair has formed from a group of fish, the territory controlled by it is somewhat smaller than the harem territory, which allows more neighbors to be introduced into the aquarium.
Substrate is sandy. It stays in the middle and lower water layers, actively swimming throughout the aquarium, chasing each other and peacefully conflicting with other inhabitants of the underwater world. Continuous aeration, filtration and water changes are mandatory. Sensitive to pH fluctuations. When transplanting to another aquarium or after transportation, it is necessary to gradually add water in small portions from the new aquarium so that the fish get used to the different environment. For them, even a simple transplantation, during which more hardy species (e.g., N. brichardi) do not even lose their appetite, can be fatal.
They eat mollusks. Young specimens eagerly consume bloodworms, glassworms, tubifex. Older fish are fed chopped squid, beef meat, lean fish. Interest in plant-based food is episodic. They mature in 14-16 months. The pair protects the territory near the nest pit up to 10 cm high under a large stone. The female remains on the clutch. The male, guarding the surrounding territory, can simultaneously participate in spawning with another female of his group. Juveniles grow relatively fast. They live up to 10 years. T 25-27°C; pH 7.2-8.5; dH 10-20°.
— Neolamprologus ventralis [Buescher, 1995] — Neolamprologus ventralis. 8 cm. Elongated long (up to 4 cm) ventral fins and a branched caudal fin distinguish this variety from other representatives of the genus. The body is beige. The dorsal fin is of a pale orange shade with a transparent zone covered with blue shiny dots. The caudal and anal fins are transparent blue with shiny spots.
Intraspecific aggressiveness is quite strong. The aquarium for keeping them must have a sufficient number of shelters, such as caves or cracks between stones or piles of stones of various sizes. It is necessary to build the layout so as to highlight clear territorial boundaries. T 25-27°C, pH 7.8-8.5, dH 10-20°.
— Neolamprologus wauthioni [Poll, 1949] — Neolamprologus wauthioni. Synonym: Lamprologus wauthioni. 5-7 cm. The body is moderately compressed laterally and seems a bit short. The head is small. Unlike representatives of the genus that have rounded ventral fins, this one has pointed ventral fins. Externally similar to L. speciosus, but these are completely different species, the main distinguishing feature of which is the difference in the shape of the ventral fins.
This species has a number of other distinctive features, such as an elongated body, high body depth, lateral compression, large rounded eyes, a bulge in the upper head region, and six hard rays in the anal fin. The main body coloration is beige-brown, lighter in the belly area with a bluish, shiny sheen. It is distinguished by a light mesh pattern and a white border on the unpaired fins. The turquoise pattern on the body in this species is more pronounced and brighter. There are light spots in the soft-rayed area of the dorsal and anal fins and at the base of the caudal fin.
To keep this species, it is necessary to provide a sufficient number of shelters in the aquarium in the form of caves and empty snail shells the size of a tennis ball. Fish are indifferent to plants, and juveniles and subdominant individuals find shelter in them. It is recommended to lay fine or medium river sand on the bottom. Given an adequate volume and number of shelters, this species coexists well with other cichlids of the lake.
Artemia, shrimp meat, mosquito larvae, daphnia and other live or frozen foods are suitable as food. This species also readily accepts prepared flake or pellet foods. This species is a typical shell-dweller, monogamous. The eggs laid inside an empty shell are guarded by the female, while the male defends the territory.
Ophthalmotilapia boops, Ophthalmotilapia nasuta.
Neolamprologus splendens, Neolamprologus tetracanthus. 
