Brichardi (Fairy Cichlid)
Neolamprologus brichardi
Cichlidae
About
The brichardi is a graceful, pale-gold cichlid from the rocky northern shores of Lake Tanganyika, instantly recognisable by its flowing lyretail fins and the delicate blue-and-gold markings around its gill covers. It is famous for cooperative colony life: a bonded pair spawns repeatedly in a favourite crevice, and their older offspring stay on to help guard and raise each new generation, building an extended family that patrols and defends a shared rocky territory. Peaceful enough toward unrelated dither species, the colony becomes fiercely territorial once breeding begins and will drive off intruders, so it is usually best appreciated in a dedicated hard-water aquarium built around plenty of rockwork.
Care
Keep as a colony of 6+ in a rocky, hard alkaline tank of at least 110 L (100 cm base) at pH 8.2-8.6 and 24-26 C, with many caves and crevices for territories. Relatively hardy, but territorial when breeding, so choose robust tankmates or run a species tank.
Diet
Micropredatory omnivore that feeds on zooplankton and small invertebrates. Give a small cichlid pellet plus frequent frozen or live cyclops, daphnia and brine shrimp, with occasional spirulina.
Tankmate compatibility
Gets along with (3)
Possible with care (71)
Avoid (47)
Computed by the AquaSage engine for a spacious reference tank — always check the full verdict for your exact setup in the calculator.