Neolamprologus Leleupi Cichlid (Neolamprologus leleupi)
Neolamprologus leleupi cichlids are freshwater aquarium fish native to Lake Tanganyika in Africa. These are cave dwelling cichlids found in the rocky areas of the lake. Neolamprologus leleupi cichlids are characterized by the elongated body shape and comes in a variety yellows and oranges. The bright yellow or orange color of leleupi cichlids will give your aquarium a nice pop of color. It’s a small cichlid growing up to around 4 inches at maturity. Below you will find tips and advice on how to set up the aquarium for your cichlid, what to feed your cichlid and how to breed leleupi cichlids.
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Aquarium Set Up for Neolamprologus Leleupi Cichlids
The Neolamprologus Leleupi Cichlid are cave dwellers so the aquarium should be set up so that it simulates the rocky lake environment. Decorate your aquarium with rocks and caves. I like these cave aquarium decorations that are made to mimic cave-like environment. You need an aquarium size of at least 30 gallons. They are aggressive to its own species, you can mix them with other smaller Lake Tanganyikan fish. They prefer hard water and high alkalinity of pH 7.8-9.0. To maintain these water conditions, it’s best to use aragonite sand for your cichlids.
What to Feed Neolamprologus Leleupi Cichlids
Your neolamprologus leleupi cichlids are carnivorous. Feed them a diet consisting of bloodworms, brine shrimp and krill shrimp. Cichlid pellets and good quality flake food are ideal food for your cichlids.
How to Breed Neolamprologus Leleupi Cichlids
Compared to other cichlids, it is not as easy to breed neolamprologus leleupi cichlids. Start with 4 to 6 neolamprologus leleupi cichlids in an aquarium wait for the cichlids to pair up. Once a pair is formed, remove the other fish from the aquarium. Make sure there are plenty of caves and rocks in your aquarium so your cichlids can spawn. The female will lay her eggs in a cave and the male will fertilize the eggs. Incubation time is around 3 to 4 days. They will take care of their fry but beware, once the parents start spawning again they will eat the babies.You need to move the babies to another fish tank to prevent this from happening. Feed the fry finely crushed flake food and baby brine shrimp.
Neolamprologus Leleupi Cichlid Facts
Family: Cichlidae
Origin: Farm Raised
Max. Size: Up to 4″
Minimum Tank Size: 30 gallons
Level: Easy
Water Temperature: 72-84°F
Water Conditions: PH 7.8-9.0
Color: Yellow, Orange and Brown
Temperament: Semi-aggressive
Diet: Carnivore
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