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.
Water Temperature
24 - 27 °C
pH Value
8 - 9
Water type
Freshwater
Tank level
Surface and middle
Adult size
11 cm
Minimum tank volume
>= 100 L
Minimum group
>= 1
GH
12 - 20 dGH
KH
6 - 10 dKH
TDS
240 - 400 ppm
Conductivity
375 - 625 uS/cm
Species description
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.
Care, breeding and tankmates
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.
Geographic Origin and Distribution
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.
Origin
Cosmopolitan or introducedAfrica and Madagascar
Fish profile
- 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.
- Diet
- 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.
- Life expectancy
- 5-8 years
- In captivity, Cyprichromis leptosoma usually lives between 5 and 8 years when kept in suitable conditions. As an active, open-water fish, water parameter stability and stress reduction are crucial factors in ensuring its longevity. Efficient filtration and constant water changes significantly reduce the risk of common diseases.
- Adult size
- 11 cm
- The catalog's scalar value is 11 cm. The FishBase SPECIES table (v25.04 snapshot) source reports a maximum adult measurement of 11 cm for this species, recorded as total length (TL). The taxonomic record consulted is Cyprichromis leptosoma (v25.04); male or unsexed record. These figures are not interchangeable: the first is the profile's editorial reference, whereas the second is a published maximum under a specific measurement convention; differences among sources can reflect sex, population, life stage and measuring method.
- Sex ratio
- 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.
- Feeding frequency
- 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
- 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.
- Flow
- 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.
- Reproduction
- 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.
- Compatibility & tankmates
- 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.
- Tank level
- 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.
Scientific Parameters & Models
FishBase
Window to the official scientific data of the species
Data synced on: 06/15/2026
- Trophic level
- 3.5 ± 0.48 se
- Resilience
- High (less than 15 months)
- Phylogenetic uniqueness (PD50)
- 0.5312
- Bayesian Length-Weight
- a = 0.01445, b = 2.99
- VulnerabilityLow vulnerability (10 / 100)
Image gallery
Licensed images linked to the species or, when marked, to the closest representative taxon.
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