Lemon Cichlid

About

The lemon cichlid (Neolamprologus leleupi) is one of the more recognizable faces of the Tanganyikan hobby, dressed in a vivid uniform of deep yellow-orange that covers the entire body. There are two recognized subspecies. The standard yellow form and the much darker N. l. melas, which carries the same underlying pigmentation but has it masked by dark coloration. A third silvery form exists in the wild as well, though it rarely turns up in the trade. In Lake Tanganyika, lemon cichlids live among the rocky littoral zone, tucking into crevices and cave-like recesses where they hunt invertebrates from biocover and the substrate. They are naturally solitary fish, which explains a lot about their behavior in captivity. Outside of spawning, a single individual is generally fairly calm, but toward members of its own species it can be relentless. A single pair is the standard approach, and the safest way to get a compatible pair is to raise a small group from juveniles and let them sort themselves out. A process that can take well over a year. Purchasing two adults and hoping for a bond often ends badly. They can work in a Tanganyikan community alongside species that occupy different niches, such as open-water Cyprichromis, but tank mates should be chosen carefully. Water quality needs to stay consistently high, especially when fry are present. A rewarding species, but one that asks for patience and attention.