Brichardi (Fairy Cichlid)
Neolamprologus brichardi
Cichlidae
About
The brichardi is a graceful, pale-gold cichlid from the rocky northern shores of Lake Tanganyika, instantly recognisable by its flowing lyretail fins and the delicate blue-and-gold markings around its gill covers. It is famous for cooperative colony life: a bonded pair spawns repeatedly in a favourite crevice, and their older offspring stay on to help guard and raise each new generation, building an extended family that patrols and defends a shared rocky territory. Peaceful enough toward unrelated dither species, the colony becomes fiercely territorial once breeding begins and will drive off intruders, so it is usually best appreciated in a dedicated hard-water aquarium built around plenty of rockwork.
Care
Keep as a colony of 6+ in a rocky, hard alkaline tank of at least 110 L (100 cm base) at pH 8.2-8.6 and 24-26 C, with many caves and crevices for territories. Relatively hardy, but territorial when breeding, so choose robust tankmates or run a species tank.
Diet
Micropredatory omnivore that feeds on zooplankton and small invertebrates. Give a small cichlid pellet plus frequent frozen or live cyclops, daphnia and brine shrimp, with occasional spirulina.
Tankmate compatibility
Gets along with (5)
Possible with care (123)
Avoid (143)
Computed by the AquaSage engine for a spacious reference tank — always check the full verdict for your exact setup in the calculator.
Telling males from females
What works for this species, most reliable first.
- Extended finsStrong · from about 8 months, and later in a suppressed male
On many cichlids and killifish the male's dorsal and anal fins draw out into trailing points as he matures, while the female's stay rounded.
- VentingA hint only · only on a mature fish, easiest when she is in breeding condition
The method breeders use when the answer has to be right. Hold the fish upside down in a wet hand or soft net and look at the two openings ahead of the anal fin. The forward one is the anus; the one behind it is what you are reading.
- Adult sizeA hint only · only across animals of the same age
In many cichlids, catfish and loaches one sex simply grows larger — usually the male, though there are well-known reversals.
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Frequently asked questions
- What tank size does a Brichardi (Fairy Cichlid) need?
- A Brichardi (Fairy Cichlid) needs an aquarium of at least 110 litres (29.1 US gallons) with a footprint at least 100 cm (39.4 in) long — for this species, swimming length matters as much as raw volume.
- What water parameters does a Brichardi (Fairy Cichlid) need?
- Brichardi (Fairy Cichlid) does best at 22–27 °C (71.6–80.6 °F), pH 7.8–9 and a general hardness of 9–20 °dGH.
- What group size does a Brichardi (Fairy Cichlid) need?
- Brichardi (Fairy Cichlid) is a social species — keep a group of at least 6 so natural behaviour emerges and stress stays low.
- Is the Brichardi (Fairy Cichlid) suitable for beginners?
- Brichardi (Fairy Cichlid) sits in the middle of the difficulty scale — manageable for a careful beginner who has done the reading, but it has specific needs worth researching first.