Photos © Sean Evans
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| Common name: | |
| Scientific name: | Cyprichromis leptosoma |
| Synonyms: | (none) |
| Size: | 5" (12.5cm) |
| Origin: | Lake Tanganyika, E. Africa |
| Tank setup: | A large tank (suggest 4ft/120cm or more, and at least 18"/45cm high) with plenty of open swimming space in the upper levels. |
| Compatibility: | Generally peaceful, can be kept with other less aggressive Tanganyikan cichlids. |
| Temperature: | 22-25oC (72-77oF) |
| Water chemistry: | Hard and alkaline: pH 7.8-9.0, GH 12-20, KH 14-20 ideally, but at least 6. |
| Feeding: | Omnivorous, feed live, frozen and flake / granular foods. |
| Sexing: | Males are more colourful with most colour variants having blue dorsal and anal fins and a yellow caudal fin. |
| Breeding: | Mouthbrooder, spawning takes place in open water near the surface. The female will catch the eggs,
which hatch in about 3 weeks. There is no parental care of the fry after release. |
| Comments: |
Keep this shoaling fish as a group, with more females than males. They can be kept with rock dwelling cichlids,
for which the usual rocky decor should be supplied - but leave plenty of room in the upper levels. The tank
should be covered as these fish may jump.
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