Reference

Species care guide

Quick-reference care requirements for every species we keep — tank size, water parameters, temperament and diet at a glance. For full descriptions, availability and price, follow through to each species' own page.

Species	Temperament	Min. tank size	Water parameters	Diet	Group size
Black OcciesNeolamprologus speciosus	Peaceful shell-dweller, territorial over its shell	2ft / 60L+	pH 7.8 - 9.0 24 - 27°C · 10 - 20 dGH	Omnivore — micro pellet and finely crushed flake	Colony (small group, one shell per fish)	View
BrichardiNeolamprologus brichardi	Peaceful, cooperative breeder — forms colonies well	4ft / 200L+	pH 7.8 - 9.0 24 - 27°C · 10 - 20 dGH	Omnivore — high-quality cichlid pellet plus occasional live/frozen food	Colony	View
Bristlenose (Common)Ancistrus sp.	Peaceful, hardy, mostly nocturnal algae grazer	2ft / 75L+	pH 7.0 - 9.0 (tolerant — adapts well to our harder Tanganyika water) 22 - 27°C · 5 - 20 dGH (adaptable)	Omnivore/algae grazer — algae wafers, veggies, driftwood to graze on	—	View
CalliurusNeolamprologus calliurus	Semi-aggressive, territorial rock-dweller	4ft / 200L+	pH 7.8 - 9.0 24 - 27°C · 10 - 20 dGH	Omnivore/carnivore leaning — pellet plus meaty frozen food	—	View
CaudopunctatusNeolamprologus caudopunctatus	Peaceful, forms pairs and small groups over sand/shell	3ft / 100L+	pH 7.8 - 9.0 24 - 27°C · 10 - 20 dGH	Omnivore — micro pellet, occasional live/frozen food	Pair or small group	View
Cyprichromis Leptosoma 'Utinta'Cyprichromis leptosoma	Peaceful, open-water shoaler — keep in groups of 6+	5ft / 300L+	pH 7.8 - 9.0 24 - 27°C · 10 - 20 dGH	Omnivore — small pellet and micro live/frozen food, feeds in mid-water	6+ fish	View
Cyprichromis Leptosoma 'zonatus'Cyprichromis leptosoma	Peaceful, open-water shoaler — keep in groups of 6+	5ft / 300L+	pH 7.8 - 9.0 24 - 27°C · 10 - 20 dGH	Omnivore — small pellet and micro live/frozen food, feeds in mid-water	6+ fish	View
FrontosaCyphotilapia frontosa	Peaceful, social — does best kept in a group despite its size	6ft / 400L+ (adult)	pH 7.8 - 9.0 24 - 27°C · 10 - 20 dGH	Carnivore — quality pellet plus meaty frozen/live food	Breeding group	View
Gold Head CompressicepsAltolamprologus compressiceps 'Gold Head'	Reclusive predator, best kept singly or in a mated pair	5ft / 250L+	pH 7.8 - 9.0 24 - 27°C · 10 - 20 dGH	Carnivore — prefers meaty frozen/live food, ambushes small fish and fry	Single fish or mated pair	View
Gold Head Kantalamba CompressicepsAltolamprologus compressiceps 'Kantalamba'	Reclusive predator, best kept singly or in a mated pair	5ft / 250L+	pH 7.8 - 9.0 24 - 27°C · 10 - 20 dGH	Carnivore — prefers meaty frozen/live food, ambushes small fish and fry	Single fish or mated pair	View
KilesaEnantiopus sp. 'Kilesa'	Peaceful, shoaling sand-dweller	4ft / 200L+	pH 7.8 - 9.0 24 - 27°C · 10 - 20 dGH	Micro-organism feeder — fine sinking pellet, small live/frozen food; sifts sand for food	Group	View
Lemon CichlidNeolamprologus leleupi	Semi-aggressive, territorial	3ft / 100L+	pH 8.0 - 9.0 24 - 27°C · Hard water (10 - 20 dGH)	Omnivore — pellets, occasional vegetables (e.g. green beans)	—	View
MarlieriJulidochromis marlieri	Semi-aggressive, pair-bonding and territorial over rockwork	4ft / 200L+	pH 7.8 - 9.0 24 - 27°C · 10 - 20 dGH	Omnivore — cichlid pellet, occasional live/frozen food	Pair	View
MelanogenysEnantiopus melanogenys	Peaceful, shoaling sand-dweller	4ft / 200L+	pH 7.8 - 9.0 24 - 27°C · 10 - 20 dGH	Micro-organism feeder — fine sinking pellet, small live/frozen food; sifts sand for food	Group	View
MultisNeolamprologus multifasciatus	Peaceful shell-dweller, territorial only over its own shell	2ft / 60L+	pH 7.8 - 9.0 24 - 27°C · 10 - 20 dGH	Omnivore — micro pellet and finely crushed flake	Colony	View
NkambaeLepidiolamprologus kendalli 'Nkambae'	Predatory, semi-aggressive — best with similarly sized tankmates	5ft / 300L+	pH 7.8 - 9.0 24 - 27°C · 10 - 20 dGH	Carnivore — meaty frozen/live food, will take small fish	—	View
SignatusNeolamprologus signatus	Peaceful shell-dweller, colonial	2ft / 60L+	pH 7.8 - 9.0 24 - 27°C · 10 - 20 dGH	Omnivore — micro pellet and finely crushed flake	Colony	View
SimilisNeolamprologus similis	Peaceful shell-dweller, shy and colonial	2ft / 60L+	pH 7.8 - 9.0 24 - 27°C · 10 - 20 dGH	Omnivore — micro pellet and finely crushed flake	Colony (larger colony recommended)	View
Sumbu CompressicepsAltolamprologus compressiceps 'Sumbu'	Reclusive predator, best kept singly or in a mated pair	5ft / 250L+	pH 7.8 - 9.0 24 - 27°C · 10 - 20 dGH	Carnivore — prefers meaty frozen/live food, ambushes small fish and fry	Single fish or mated pair	View
Sunspot BrevisNeolamprologus brevis	Peaceful, shy shell-dweller — best kept in pairs	2ft / 60L+	pH 7.8 - 9.0 24 - 27°C · 10 - 20 dGH	Omnivore — micro pellet, occasional live/frozen micro food	Pair	View
Super Red BristlenoseAncistrus sp. 'Super Red'	Peaceful, hardy, mostly nocturnal algae grazer	2ft / 75L+	pH 7.0 - 9.0 (tolerant — adapts well to our harder Tanganyika water) 22 - 27°C · 5 - 20 dGH (adaptable)	Omnivore/algae grazer — algae wafers, veggies, driftwood to graze on	—	View
Tanganyikan KillifishLamprichthys tanganicanus	Peaceful, active shoaler	3ft / 150L+	pH 7.8 - 9.0 24 - 27°C · 10 - 20 dGH	Omnivore — flake, small pellet, and live/frozen insects	Group (shoaling species)	View
Telmatochromis VittatusTelmatochromis vittatus	Semi-aggressive, territorial over rock crevices	3ft / 150L+	pH 7.8 - 9.0 24 - 27°C · 10 - 20 dGH	Omnivore — pellet, occasional live/frozen food	—	View
White CalvusAltolamprologus calvus 'White'	Reclusive predator, best kept singly or in a mated pair	4ft / 200L+	pH 7.8 - 9.0 24 - 27°C · 10 - 20 dGH	Carnivore — meaty frozen/live food, ambushes small fish and fry	Single fish or mated pair	View

Water parameters and tank sizes reflect what we maintain for that species — see About us for how our systems are set up generally.