Compressiceps (Altolamprologus compressiceps) Care Guide
Altolamprologus compressiceps is a laterally compressed Tanganyika cichlid with many regional morphs, a specialist ambush predator.
Overview
Altolamprologus compressiceps is a cichlid endemic to the shallow rocky areas of Lake Tanganyika, locally called 'lupapa'. Its laterally compressed body lets it slip into narrow cracks. Many regional morphs exist, including 'Fire Fin', 'Gold', 'Kigoma', 'Mutondwe' and 'Zaire Gold'. It differs from A. calvus by its shorter jaws and turned-up snout, and was described by Boulenger in 1898.
Taxonomy
- Family: Cichlidae
- Genus: Altolamprologus
- Scientific name: Altolamprologus compressiceps
- Common synonyms: Lamprologus compressiceps, Neolamprologus compressiceps
Habitat
Endemic to and widely distributed in Lake Tanganyika (about 3-9°S), it favours shallow rocky areas. FishBase classes it as a freshwater, benthopelagic species of tropical waters around 23-25 °C.
Tank requirements
- Minimum tank volume: 300 L (79 gal)
- Temperature: 24-27 °C (75-81 °F)
- pH: 8.5-9.2
- GH: 12-25 °dGH
- Rockwork with caves and crevices
- Lifespan: 8-12 years
Provide rockwork with narrow crevices the fish can wedge into. FishBase lists wild values near 23-25 °C, pH 6.5-7.5 and dH 8-12; the parameters above follow the verified care record for hard, alkaline Rift-lake water.
Diet
A carnivore and specialist ambush predator with a trophic level around 3.6 per FishBase. It preys on small fish and invertebrates. In the aquarium it accepts meaty frozen and prepared foods fed about twice daily.
Compatibility
Semi-aggressive and mid-water in habit, it ambushes small tankmates, so keep it with similarly sized or larger Tanganyika cichlids such as larger lamprologines, Julidochromis and open-water Cyprichromis. Avoid mbuna, Tropheus and small fish under about 5 cm.
Breeding
A cave spawner. Females typically deposit eggs in a small shell or narrow crevice and guard the brood, a strategy aided by the compressed body shape.
Conservation status
IUCN Red List: Least Concern (assessed 2025), per FishBase and Wikipedia.