Blue Neon Cichlid

About

Found only in the rocky, open-water zones of Lake Tanganyika, this lesser-known cichlid has no widely accepted common name. It goes simply by Paracyprichromis nigripinnis in the hobby. In the wild it gathers in enormous schools numbering in the hundreds, picking zooplankton from the water column above the rocks below. In the aquarium it tends to form looser groups than its close relative Cyprichromis, but it still needs to be kept in a shoal. Eight individuals is a sensible minimum, and more is always better. Males develop vivid coloration but will quickly fade if kept under harsh lighting, crowded with boisterous tankmates, or denied caves and overhangs to call their own. Watch a conditioned male and you may catch him hanging completely upside-down under a ledge or pressed vertically against a rock face. This is perfectly natural behavior and one of the quirks that makes the species memorable. Females are maternal mouthbrooders, carrying a small clutch for three to four weeks before releasing surprisingly large, robust fry. Breeding is possible but rarely accomplished in captivity. This is not a good fit for a general Tanganyikan community or for newer cichlid keepers, but for someone willing to give it a dedicated or carefully chosen setup, it rewards patience with genuinely interesting behavior. Be aware that distinct color morphs exist and should not be mixed, as they will interbreed.