All fish / Cichlidae

Mustax Cichlid

Neolamprologus mustax

Also known as mustax, yellow mustax, lamprologus mustax, neolamprologus mustax kantalamba, mustax kapampa, neolamprologus mustax kachese, mustax kachese, ネオランプロローグス・ムスタクス, 黄金喷点

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A small rock-dwelling cichlid from Lake Tanganyika with a greyish brown body, often washed with yellow, and bright blue markings around the face and fin edges. Some forms are largely yellow. It suits keepers who want a compact Tanganyikan cichlid with interesting pair behaviour in a rockwork tank.

Care at a glance

Care level

Moderate

Temperament

Semi

Adult size

8 cm

Temperature

24 to 27 °C

pH

7.8 to 9

Smallest tank

100 litres

Keep as

Single pair, or one male with females in a larger rocky tank

Diet

Carnivore: small crustaceans, frozen mysis, brine shrimp, bloodworm and quality sinking pellets

Swims

Bottom of the tank

Lifespan

6 to 10 years

Water

Freshwater

Wild range

Lake Tanganyika (southern part: Zambia, Tanzania, DR Congo)

Breeding

It spawns in caves among the rocks, where the female guards the eggs and the male defends the territory. Breeding is fairly easy in hard, alkaline water once a compatible pair forms, and both parents look after the young.

Good to know

It holds territory around its cave and becomes aggressive when breeding, so give plenty of rockwork and avoid keeping it with similar small cave spawners in tight spaces. It needs hard, alkaline water and stable conditions.