tanganyika

Neolamprologus Brichardi Księżniczka z Burundi

Neolamprologus brichardi, one of the most fascinating social cichlids from Lake Tanganyika, famous for its family-based breeding behavior.

🐟 Neolamprologus brichardi — Species Description

(Common name: Princess of Burundi)

📏 Size

Adult size: 8–10 cm (3–4 inches)

Slim, elegant body

Males and females look very similar

Long, flowing fins develop with maturity

🌍 Occurrence (Natural Origin)

Endemic to Lake Tanganyika, East Africa

Found mainly along:

Burundi

Northern Tanzania

Southern DR Congo

Habitat:

Rocky shorelines

Crevices and caves

Shallow to mid-depth zones

🎨 Appearance

Base color:

Creamy white to pale beige

Markings:

Thin black lines through the eyes

Fins:

Long, elegant dorsal, anal, and caudal fins

Often edged in white or light blue

Overall look:

Graceful, flowing, and “royal”

🍽️ Diet (Preferred Food)

In the wild:

Omnivorous plankton picker

Feeds on:

Zooplankton

Small crustaceans

Insect larvae

In the aquarium:

High-quality small cichlid pellets

Frozen foods:

Mysis shrimp

Brine shrimp

Cyclops

Occasional vegetable-based foods

🧠 Behavior & Temperament

Highly social and cooperative breeder

Forms large family colonies

Older offspring help:

Defend territory

Care for younger fry

Peaceful within the group

Extremely territorial toward outsiders, especially during breeding

This is one of the very few fish that displays true cooperative breeding.

🏞️ Preferred Aquarium Conditions

Tank size:

Colony: 200 L (55 gallons) minimum

pH: 8.0–9.0

Hardness: Hard to very hard

Temperature: 24–26 °C (75–79 °F)

Substrate: Sand

Décor: Rock piles with caves and vertical surfaces

🧾 Quick Summary
Feature Details
Scientific Name Neolamprologus brichardi
Lake Tanganyika
Adult Size 8–10 cm (3–4 in)
Diet Omnivorous
Temperament Peaceful in colony, aggressive to outsiders
Breeding Cooperative colony breeder

⚠️ Compatibility Notes

Avoid mixing with:

Other cave-spawning Tanganyika species in small tanks

Slow, shy fish that can’t handle territorial defense

Possible tankmates (large tanks only):

Cyprichromis

Altolamprologus (with careful layout)

Calm open-water Tanganyika species

🧠 Expert Tip

Once Neolamprologus brichardi starts breeding, your tank becomes their tank. Colonies expand fast, and territorial range grows with each generation.