All fish / Cichlidae

Falcicula Cichlid

Neolamprologus falcicula

Also known as falcicula, neolamprologus falcicula, lamprologus falcicula, sickle cichlid, falcicula fairy cichlid, ネオランプロローグス・ファルキクラ, 镰尾新亮丽鲷

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This slim Lake Tanganyika cichlid is a close relative of the fairy cichlid (N. brichardi) and has a sandy beige body with blue-edged fins and a lyre-shaped tail with long tips. Keepers like it because it is graceful and smaller than many Tanganyikans, and it lives in family colonies where the older young help guard their younger siblings.

Care at a glance

Care level

Moderate

Temperament

Semi

Adult size

8 cm

Temperature

23 to 27 °C

pH

7.8 to 9

Smallest tank

100 litres

Keep as

One pair, or a small harem in a large tank

Diet

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

Swims

Bottom of the tank

Lifespan

6 to 10 years

Water

Freshwater

Wild range

Lake Tanganyika (Tanzania, DR Congo, Burundi, Zambia)

Breeding

Pairs lay their eggs on the roof of a cave or crevice among rocks, and both parents guard the brood. It breeds fairly easily in hard, alkaline water, and young from earlier spawns often stay on with the parents.

Good to know

It needs hard, alkaline water and plenty of rockwork, and a breeding colony will defend its territory hard against fish that live near the bottom. It is easily confused with N. brichardi and other members of the 'princess' group, so buy from sellers who label their stock reliably.