Cylindricus Cichlid
Neolamprologus cylindricus
Cichlidae
About
The cylindricus cichlid is a slender, elongated rock-dweller endemic to the rocky shorelines of Lake Tanganyika, instantly recognised by its bold black-and-white vertical banding and burnt-orange finnage. It is a confident, territorial fish that patrols a small cave-and-crevice territory, forming pairs to spawn on the roof of a hidden recess. Peaceful enough toward unrelated tankmates, it can be genuinely nasty to its own kind, so it demands a well-structured rockscape with broken sightlines.
Care
Keep a single bonded pair in a species-appropriate Tanganyikan setup of at least 110 L with a sand base and dense rock piles forming tight caves and line-of-sight breaks. Water must stay hard and alkaline (pH ~8-9, high GH/KH), warm and well oxygenated. House only with robust rift-lake tankmates and provide a secure lid.
Diet
Carnivorous micropredator of invertebrates and zooplankton. Feed a carnivore cichlid granule as the staple, supplemented with frozen or live mysis, cyclops, brine shrimp and chopped krill in small, frequent portions.
Tankmate compatibility
Gets along with (6)
Possible with care (97)
Avoid (18)
Computed by the AquaSage engine for a spacious reference tank — always check the full verdict for your exact setup in the calculator.