Lemon Cichlid
Neolamprologus leleupi
A brilliant lemon-yellow rock-dwelling cichlid from Lake Tanganyika. Highly aggressive toward conspecifics, it requires dark rocky caves and fine sand to showcase its radiant color.
Water Temperature
23 - 27 °C
pH Value
7.8 - 9
Water type
Freshwater
Tank level
Bottom and middle
Adult size
10 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: Lake Tanganyika. Frequents crevices, deep sheer walls and dark rocky caves between 15 and 40 meters deep (dimly lit).
Taxonomy and Morphology: Lemon Cichlid (Neolamprologus leleupi). Elongated rupicolous cichlid, mouth oriented upwards (like a predator) and large and very mobile eyes to hunt in the dark.
Social Behavior: Malignant and intolerant. It is a solitary stalker: it identifies the weak point of other fish and attacks them, especially conspecifics. It sees yellow conspecifics as death threats and flushes them out of their dens to mutilate them.
Coloration and Sexual Dimorphism: Living light bulb. Presents a blinding solid lemon yellow (or orange yellow) coloration, useful for camouflage (in nature at 30m depth yellow appears invisible gray-green). The lips often have an ice blue outline.
Care, breeding and tankmates
Aquarium Setup: Dark rocks. To enhance the radioactive yellow color, use dark backgrounds, black lava rocks and very fine amber/white sand. Narrow dens are mandatory.
Diet and Feeding: Pure carnivore. Eater of snails, invertebrates and others' eggs. Likes bloodworms and brine shrimp. Administer foods rich in carotene and astaxanthin (or krill) to prevent the yellow from fading.
Water Quality: Sensitive to organic accumulation. Hard, hyper-basic and above all clean water. High nitrates will cause widespread black spots (stress) on its yellow coat, ruining it aesthetically.
Compatibility and Cohabitation: Very bad with its own kind. In 100 cm (40 inches) you can keep ONLY one (or a tested pair, which could still break up). Excellent for color contrast with Frontosa, Altolamprologus or Julidochromis (since they have different patterns and colors).
Aquarium Breeding: Constrictive. If you want to form a pair, insert 6 very young ones and let them kill/select each other as they grow, until the alpha pair remains (which will lay 150 eggs in a cave).
Risks and Diseases: Food/light fading. The Leleupi easily loses its bright yellow, becoming a "dirty mustard" color if kept on a white bottom with dazzling lights (mimetic factor) or if fed with foods poor in crustaceans.
Geographic Origin and Distribution
Lake Tanganyika. Frequents crevices, deep sheer walls and dark rocky caves between 15 and 40 meters deep (dimly lit).
Origin
Africa and Madagascar
Fish profile
- Temperament
- Semi-aggressive
- They are solitary, aggressive, and incredibly active fish that constantly patrol their established territory. They have little tolerance for other fish invading their space and will aggressively defend their chosen caves. Despite their belligerent nature, their stunning color and active behavior make them a striking addition to a dedicated setup.
- Diet
- Omnivore
- They are active micro-predators that forage incessantly among rocks for small invertebrates and crustaceans. In the aquarium, they thrive on high-quality cichlid pellets, krill, and frozen mysis shrimp. Including foods rich in astaxanthin will help enhance and maintain their brilliant yellow coloration.
- Life expectancy
- 8-10 years
- Under optimal aquarium conditions, Neolamprologus leleupi can live for 8 to 10 years. To support this lifespan, pristine water parameters, a high pH, and a well-oxygenated environment are required. A balanced diet containing natural carotenoids helps maintain their vibrant yellow coloration and overall physiological health. Stress reduction through proper rock structures and appropriate stocking densities also contributes significantly to their longevity.
- Adult size
- 10 cm
- The catalog's scalar value is 10 cm. The FishBase SPECIES table (v25.04 snapshot) source reports a maximum adult measurement of 10 cm for this species, recorded as total length (TL). The taxonomic record consulted is Neolamprologus leleupi (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
- Solitary
- They do not form strong, permanent pair bonds and are highly aggressive towards conspecifics. It is best to keep them as a single specimen or allow a pair to form naturally from a group of juveniles. Once a pair is established, all other conspecifics must be removed to avoid fatal conflicts.
- Feeding frequency
- Twice daily
- Feed them small portions once or twice a day to maintain their high activity levels. They will actively scour the rocks for any uneaten food long after feeding time is over. Avoid overfeeding, as excess food will foul the water and quickly lead to health issues.
- Bioload
- This slender cichlid produces a moderate bioload that can be easily handled by adequate filtration. Because they require pristine water conditions to maintain their vibrant yellow coloration and health, heavy biological filtration is necessary. Routine water changes are strictly required to keep nitrate levels low.
- Flow
- Stagnant
- They prefer a moderate water current that keeps the aquarium well-oxygenated. Good flow mimics the natural water movement found along the rocky shores of Lake Tanganyika. The flow should not be overly turbulent, allowing them to swim gracefully around their territories.
- Reproduction
- Oviparous
- They are secretive cave spawners that require tight, narrow crevices to breed successfully. The female lays a small clutch of eggs on the wall or ceiling of the cave, which she then guards fiercely. The male will defend the broader territory around the cave but may eventually turn on the female if the tank is too small.
- Compatibility & tankmates
- They are highly aggressive and territorial, typical of solitary rock-dwelling Tanganyikan cichlids. They can be housed with other robust Tanganyikan species if the tank is very large and provides ample rocky hiding places. Never keep them with small, peaceful fish or shell-dwellers, as they will aggressively hunt them.
- Tank level
- Middle/Bottom
- They are strongly tied to the bottom and lower levels of the aquarium, rarely venturing far from the rockwork. They spend their days weaving in and out of caves, inspecting every crevice for potential food. A tank with extensive rock formations is absolutely essential for their well-being.
Scientific Parameters & Models
FishBase
Window to the official scientific data of the species
Data synced on: 06/15/2026
- Trophic level
- 3.6 ± 0.3 se
- Resilience
- High (less than 15 months)
- Phylogenetic uniqueness (PD50)
- 0.5
- Bayesian Length-Weight
- a = 0.01905, b = 3.01
- VulnerabilityLow vulnerability (10 / 100)
Image gallery
Licensed images linked to the species or, when marked, to the closest representative taxon.
Related species
Recommendations grouped by close relatives, companion choices, and similar care.
