All fish / Cichlidae

Cylindricus Cichlid

Neolamprologus cylindricus

Also known as lamprologus cylindricus, cylindricus, neolamprologus cylindricus, blue-spot cylindricus, cylindricus cichlid, ネオランプロローグス・シリンドリクス, 圆筒新亮丽鲷

A slim, cigar-shaped cichlid from the rocky shores of Lake Tanganyika, marked with dark vertical bars over a brownish body and fine blue edging on the fins. Keepers value it for its bold character and interesting territorial and breeding behaviour in a rock-built Tanganyikan setup.

Care at a glance

Care level

Moderate

Temperament

Aggressive

Adult size

11 cm

Temperature

24 to 27 °C

pH

7.8 to 9

Smallest tank

200 litres

Keep as

Single fish or a pair, with plenty of rocky cover

Diet

Carnivore: small crustaceans, mysis, brine shrimp, krill and quality cichlid pellets

Swims

Bottom of the tank

Lifespan

8 to 10 years

Water

Freshwater

Wild range

Southern Lake Tanganyika (Tanzania, Zambia)

Breeding

A cave spawner that forms pairs; the female lays eggs inside a cave and guards them while the male defends the surrounding territory. Breeding is fairly straightforward once a compatible pair has formed, and both parents guard the fry.

Good to know

Very territorial and aggressive towards its own kind and other bottom dwellers, especially when breeding, so provide plenty of rockwork and a large footprint. Needs hard, alkaline water with stable quality.