Daffodil Cichlid (Neolamprologus pulcher) Care Guide
Neolamprologus pulcher is a Lake Tanganyika cichlid famous for cooperative breeding, in which groups of helpers assist a single pair in raising fry.
Overview
Neolamprologus pulcher, the Daffodil cichlid, is a yellow-finned rock-dweller endemic to Lake Tanganyika. It belongs to the brichardi group; N. pulcher and the former N. brichardi are now treated as the same species, with pulcher the valid name. The species is a model organism for the study of cooperative breeding in fish.
Taxonomy
- Family: Cichlidae
- Genus: Neolamprologus
- Scientific name: Neolamprologus pulcher
- Common synonyms: Neolamprologus brichardi
Habitat
The species inhabits rocky coastlines in the southern portion of Lake Tanganyika across Burundi, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Tanzania and Zambia. Wikipedia reports it occurs at depths of at least 10 metres in sediment-rich areas; FishBase gives a typical range of about 6-12 metres.
Tank requirements
- Minimum tank volume: 250 L (66 gal)
- Temperature: 24-27 °C (75-81 °F)
- pH: 8.5-9.2
- GH: 12-25 °dGH
- Rockwork with caves and crevices for spawning
- Lifespan: 8-12 years
Stacked rockwork that creates caves suits colony formation. FishBase lists a wild temperature of about 24-26 °C; the parameters above follow the verified care record.
Diet
FishBase rates the species as omnivorous with a trophic level near 3.4. In the wild it picks plankton from the water column along with small crustaceans and invertebrates. In the aquarium it accepts small frozen and prepared foods fed about twice daily.
Compatibility
Semi-aggressive and mid-water in habit, it forms colonies that defend a shared territory. Suitable companions include open-water Cyprichromis, Julidochromis and Synodontis petricola. Avoid mbuna and Tropheus, whose differing temperaments and diets clash with Tanganyikan rock-dwellers.
Breeding
Pairs are monogamous cave-spawners. Wikipedia describes permanent social groups of one breeding pair plus helpers of both sexes (commonly 1-14 helpers) that provide brood care and raise offspring survival. FishBase notes clutches of roughly 20-60 eggs laid in crevices, with both sexes and larger juveniles defending the nest.
Conservation status
IUCN Red List: Least Concern (assessed 2025), per FishBase.