Daffodil Cichlid

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Scientific Name

Neolamprologus pulcher

Min. Tank Size

30 gallons

Personality

Aggressive & territorial

Temperature

75-82°F

pH

7.5-9.0/10-25°dGH

Size

4"

Diet

Omnivore

Breeding

Egglayer

Compatibility

Best kept in a species tank; can be kept in very large tanks with other small or medium-sized Lake Tanganyika Cichlids.

Daffodil Cichlid

The Daffodil Cichlid is endemic to Lake Tanganyika, the largest African rift lake. These fish tend to inhabit the rocky shorelines in the southeastern part of the lake where the water is fairly shallow. The Daffodil Cichlid is named for the yellow coloration that can be seen on various parts of its body, offsetting an overal tan coloration. They may also exhibit blue or purple spots along with two dark bars just behind the eye which are bright blue in color. The dorsal fins of this species are lyre-shaped and most of the fins are tipped in blue.

Tank Set-Up

As long as they are provided with adequate space, Daffodil Cichlids are fairly easy to care for. Like most Lake Tanganyika species, these fish cannot tolerate drastic changes in water chemistry so limit water changes to 10% or 15% of the tank volume and regulary check nitrate, pH and hardness levels. It’s best to introduce them only to already established mature tanks where water parameters, biological bacteria, etc. have stabilized. The ideal tank setup for these fish will include sandy substrate and plenty of rockwork to form caves for hiding places and spawning sites. Provide excellent filtration and well-oxygenated water to ensure the Daffodil Cichlid thrives in your aquarium.

Feeding

In the wild, Daffodil Cichlids live and feed in large schools containing hundreds of fish. This species feeds largely on small crustaceans, plankton and insect larvae as well as other invertebrates. In the home aquarium, however, these fish may accept a variety of foods including live and frozen Daphnia, brine shrimp and krill in addition to dried foods and vegetable matter. Feed a regular varied diet for optimum health and coloration.

Breeding

Daffodil Cichlids are cave spawners and spawning is most likely to occur when a group of juvenile fish is allowed to pair off naturally. The breeding tank should be kept at a pH between 8.2 and 9.0 and at a temperature between 77 and 80 degrees Fahrenheit. Once the fish are ready to spawn they will do so secretly on the walls or roof of a cave. The female will deposit the eggs then proceed to tend to them as the male guards the area. After hatching, the fry are usually large enough to eat brine shrimp nauplii but will grow fairly slowly. The parent fish are likely to continue caring for the fry long after they have hatched