Six-Bar Cichlid (Neolamprologus sexfasciatus) Care Guide
Neolamprologus sexfasciatus is a stout six-banded Tanganyika cichlid that crushes snails with adapted pharyngeal teeth.
Compiled by Aquairi from published sources · Published · Updated
Overview
Neolamprologus sexfasciatus, the Six-bar cichlid, is a stout, deep-bodied species endemic to the southern half of Lake Tanganyika. Yellow and blue colour variants occur. It was described by Trewavas and Poll in 1952 (formerly Lamprologus sexfasciatus). The unrelated scale-eater Plecodus straeleni mimics this harmless species to approach its prey.
Taxonomy
- Family: Cichlidae
- Genus: Neolamprologus
- Scientific name: Neolamprologus sexfasciatus
- Common synonyms: Lamprologus sexfasciatus
Habitat
Endemic to the southern half of Lake Tanganyika (about 6-9°S), it is a freshwater, benthopelagic species of tropical waters around 23-26 °C per FishBase.
Tank requirements
- Minimum tank volume: 350 L (92 gal)
- Temperature: 24-27 °C (75-81 °F)
- pH: 8.5-9.2
- GH: 12-25 °dGH
- Spacious tank with rock structure
- Lifespan: 8-12 years
A large, robust fish requiring a spacious aquarium with rock structure. FishBase lists a wild temperature near 23-26 °C; the parameters above follow the verified care record for hard, alkaline Rift-lake water.
Diet
A carnivore. Wikipedia reports it mainly eats snails, with pharyngeal bones and teeth adapted to hard-shelled prey; FishBase gives a trophic level around 3.7. In the aquarium it accepts meaty frozen and prepared foods fed about twice daily.
Compatibility
Aggressive and mid-water in habit. Best kept with similarly robust companions such as larger lamprologines and open-water Cyprichromis in spacious tanks. Avoid mbuna and smaller shell-dwellers.
Breeding
FishBase describes it as a typical cave spawner. Pairs deposit eggs in a cave and guard the brood in the usual lamprologine fashion.
Conservation status
IUCN Red List: Least Concern (assessed 2025), per FishBase.
Breeding Neolamprologus sexfasciatus (Six-Bar Cichlid)
Overview
Neolamprologus sexfasciatus, the Six-Bar Cichlid, is a stout Lamprologine from Lake Tanganyika reaching about 15 cm. Several geographical morphs exist, including 'Sambia' and 'Kipili', varying in base colour from blue to yellow to white. It is a bi-parental cave spawner that Seriously Fish describes as aggressive, territorial and predatory.
Sexing
Determining sex is challenging; adult males tend to grow larger than females. Visual sexing is unreliable, so pairs are best obtained from a group grown on together.
Conditioning
Maintain hard, alkaline water; Seriously Fish recommends a pH of 8.2-9.0 and a temperature of about 25-27 C (77-80 F) for breeding. A varied carnivorous diet brings adults into spawning condition.
Breeding Setup
Use a tank of at least 120 cm (48 in) in length with sand and rockwork. The pair excavates caves themselves, so loose rock arrangements over sand support natural cave construction.
Spawning Behavior & Trigger
The pair excavates a cave and the female lays her eggs on the floor of it. Best results come from buying a group of young fish and allowing them to pair off naturally, which may take a year or more; once a pair forms, other individuals must be removed because they are not tolerated.
Egg & Fry Care
The female tends the eggs while the male guards the surrounding area. Female brood care lasts about 2-3 weeks, at which point the male takes over. Fry are large enough to take brine shrimp nauplii from birth.
Common Challenges
Strong conspecific aggression makes pairing the principal difficulty; subdominant fish and even an unbonded partner can be killed. A large tank with abundant cover and naturally formed pairs are the safest route to broods.