Sardine Cichlid
Cyprichromis leptosoma
The 'Sardines' of Lake Tanganyika (10 cm / 4 inches). A massive evolutionary anomaly: a cichlid that completely abandoned the rocks to live 100% of its life swimming in giant, open-water schools. The dull silver females travel in huge packs, while males explode with neon blue and bright yellow tails, flashing and dancing in mid-water. They require long tanks, act as perfect 'Dither Fish', and must never be housed with predators.
Wassertemperatur
24 - 27 °C
pH-Wert
8 - 9
Wassertyp
Süßwasser
Tankfüllstand
Oberfläche und Mitte
Erwachsenengröße
11 cm
Mindesttankvolumen
>= 100 L
Mindestgruppe
>= 1
GH
12 - 20 dGH
KH
6 - 10 dKH
TDS
240 - 400 ppm
Leitfähigkeit
375 - 625 uS/cm
Artbeschreibung
Geographical Origin and Habitat: Endemic to Lake Tanganyika, spread along the entire coast. Inhabits open pelagic waters (high water column), often close to rocky cliffs, forming formidable schools of tens of thousands of individuals.
Taxonomy and Morphology: Slender Cichlid / Sardine Cichlid (Cyprichromis leptosoma). A Cichlid that swims in mid-water behaving like a cyprinid ("Tanganyika sardine"). Torpedo shape, tapered snout and tubular mouth to catch plankton.
Social Behavior: Obligate schooling species. There must be at least 10-15 in the tank. Males create fake three-dimensional territories in mid-water, in the absence of physical supports, displaying without ever injuring each other.
Coloration and Sexual Dimorphism: Polychromatic males (yellow tail and blue tail in the same litter), bright golden brownish body and neon back. Females are beige and drab. Swimming in a large school of sparkling males is breathtaking.
Pflege, Zucht und Mitbewohner
Aquarium Setup: Needs almost exclusively SPACE to swim (minimum 120 cm / 48 inches). Basal rocks on the bottom are tolerated, but the upper half of the tank must be completely empty to allow the school to explode in fast swimming.
Diet and Feeding: Pelagic planktivores. They consume food exclusively in the water column, totally ignoring that on the bottom. Fundamental to provide slow-sinking flakes, Cyclops, daphnia and top-quality brine shrimp.
Water Quality: Hard, alkaline (pH above 8) and pristine water. In addition to chemical stability, they demand a very high oxygen level (circulation pumps must heavily ripple the water surface).
Compatibility and Cohabitation: The "dither fish" (reassuring fish) par excellence for Tanganyika tanks. Perfect companions for Neolamprologus (shell dwellers) or Julidochromis that inhabit the stones on the bottom. Avoid large Frontosas (which eat them overnight).
Aquarium Breeding: Very peculiar mouthbrooders: the female releases and instantly collects the egg (fertilized on the fly) while it falls in the open water column, without touching the bottom. Broods a few fry (10-15) by mouth.
Risks and Diseases: Suicide risk: a sudden noise or a light suddenly turned on makes the school dart in all directions (read: lid closed titanically). They die of wasting from loneliness if not in a school.
Geografische Herkunft und Verbreitung
Endemic to Lake Tanganyika, spread along the entire coast. Inhabits open pelagic waters (high water column), often close to rocky cliffs, forming formidable schools of tens of thousands of individuals.
Ursprung
Kosmopolitisch oder eingeführtAfrika und Madagaskar
Fischprofil
- Temperament
- Semi-aggressive
- They are highly peaceful towards other species and generally ignore fish that live in the rocks below. Intraspecific behavior consists mostly of harmless displaying and sparring among males competing for female attention. They are somewhat skittish and rely on the safety of the school to feel comfortable in the aquarium.
- Diät
- Omnivore
- In the wild, they are specialized zooplankton feeders that snatch tiny morsels from the open water. In the aquarium, they eagerly accept high-quality flakes, micro-pellets, and frozen foods like cyclops, daphnia, and baby brine shrimp. They prefer to feed in the mid-water and will rarely pick food off the substrate.
- Lebenserwartung
- 5-8 years
- Erwachsenengröße
- 11 cm
- Geschlechterverhältnis
- School
- They are a schooling fish and should be kept in groups of at least 10 individuals to feel secure. A ratio with multiple males and females works well, as males will establish small, 3D territories in the water column to display to females. Having more females than males generally helps reduce intraspecific squabbling.
- Fütterungsfrequenz
- Twice daily
- Due to their highly active nature and planktivorous diet, they benefit from frequent, small feedings. Offering food two to three times a day helps sustain their energy levels and mimics their natural feeding habits. Ensure the food particles are small enough to fit their relatively small mouths.
- Bioload
- Low to Medium
- The Slender Cichlid produces a moderate bioload when kept in the requisite large schools. Despite their slender build, their active swimming behavior means they consume a fair amount of food. Strong biological filtration and regular water changes are necessary to maintain the pristine water quality of Lake Tanganyika.
- Fluss
- Stagnant
- They enjoy moderate water flow that simulates the open water currents of the lake. Good flow helps keep food suspended in the water column longer, allowing them to feed naturally. It also provides the high oxygen levels required by these active, constantly moving fish.
- Sprungrisiko
- Yes
- Cyprichromis have a very high risk of jumping, especially when startled, chased, or during the frantic activity of feeding time. Their slender bodies allow them to easily leap out of open tanks or through small gaps in the lid. A tight-fitting glass or mesh cover is absolutely essential to keep them safe.
- Reproduktion
- Oviparous
- They are fascinating open-water maternal mouthbrooders. Spawning occurs entirely in the water column, with the female releasing eggs and immediately turning to catch them in her mouth before they hit the bottom. She will incubate the eggs and fry for about three weeks before releasing large, independent young.
- Kompatibilität & Tankkameraden
- With caution
- This is a very peaceful, schooling cichlid that does excellent in a Lake Tanganyika community tank. They make perfect dither fish for rock-dwelling species like Julidochromis or Neolamprologus, as they occupy the upper water column. Avoid housing them with large, aggressive predators that might see these slender fish as a meal.
- Tankfüllstand
- Top/Middle
- Unlike most cichlids, Cyprichromis are pelagic and almost exclusively occupy the middle to upper levels of the aquarium. They avoid the rocks and substrate, preferring wide-open swimming spaces. This makes them invaluable for adding movement to the upper portions of a Tanganyika biotope tank.
Wissenschaftliche Modelle & Parameter
FishBase
Zugang zu den offiziellen wissenschaftlichen Daten der Art
FishBase v25.04Daten synchronisiert am: 15.06.2026
- Trophäenniveau
- 3,5 ± 0,48 se
- Belastbarkeit
- Hoch (weniger als 15 Monate)
- Phylogenetische Einzigartigkeit (PD50)
- 0.5312
- Bayessche Längen-Gewichts-Beziehung
- a = 0.01445, b = 2.99
- AnfälligkeitGeringe Anfälligkeit (10 / 100)
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