Lamprologus ornatipinnis "Zaire" Care Guide
Lamprologus ornatipinnis is a small Tanganyikan shell-spawning cichlid reaching about 8 cm; the "Zaire" form is a regional Congolese variant kept in nano Tanganyika tanks.
Overview
Lamprologus ornatipinnis is a small lamprologine cichlid described by Poll in 1949 and endemic to Lake Tanganyika. The "Zaire" designation refers to a regional form from the Congolese (formerly Zaire) side of the lake. Wikipedia describes it as a shell-spawner that uses empty snail shells and occasionally rock crevices for breeding.
Taxonomy
- Family: Cichlidae
- Genus: Lamprologus
- Scientific name: Lamprologus ornatipinnis
- Author: Poll, 1949
- Trade form: "Zaire" regional variant
Habitat
The species is endemic to Lake Tanganyika, where FishBase and Wikipedia report it over sandy substrates and sometimes rocky areas, usually swimming just off the sand bottom. It is associated with deeper water and shell beds formed by Neothauma snail shells. The lake water is hard and alkaline.
Tank requirements
- Maximum size: about 7.8 cm (3.1 in) TL (FishBase, Wikipedia)
- Temperature: 24-26 °C (FishBase)
- Habit: sandy bottom with empty shells
- Hard, alkaline water
- Solitary, paired or trio grouping; not schooling
Diet
FishBase reports a trophic level of about 3.7, indicating a carnivorous micropredator. In the wild it forages just above the sand; aquarium specimens take small live and frozen invertebrate foods.
Compatibility
FishBase describes the species as having a peaceful temperament with little aggression or territoriality, which makes it suitable for community Tanganyika setups. It is typically kept with other shell-dwellers and small open-water Tanganyikans, avoiding large aggressive Rift Lake cichlids.
Breeding
Despite its small size it is a shell-spawner: females deposit eggs inside shells and guard the brood. FishBase notes solitary, paired or trio groupings rather than large colonies.
Conservation status
IUCN Red List: Least Concern.