Six-Bar Cichlid (Neolamprologus sexfasciatus) Care Guide
Neolamprologus sexfasciatus is a stout six-banded Tanganyika cichlid that crushes snails with adapted pharyngeal teeth.
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.