This fish is also known as a Yellow Cichlid and its Latin name is Neolamprologus Leleupi. It is often mistaken for the Neolamprologus Leloupi, which is also native to Lake Tanganyika.
The natural habitat of the Lemon Cichlid is along the rocky shores of the east and west side of Lake Tanganyika, which is one of the Great Rift Lakes in Africa. It prefers to hide in rocky caves and eats invertebrates found in the substrate.
Traits of the Lemon Cichlid
The Lemon Cichlid is not a large fish with the male growing to approximately five inches and the females to about three inches. It has a streamlined, elongated body with a fan-shaped tail fin.
Its colors can range from dark brown to light yellow to orange-yellow, depending on the darkness of its environment and its diet. Around it’s mouth, there are shades of darker yellow or brown.
The Lemon Cichlid is generally non-aggressive except when spawning or if there are too many of its own kind in the aquarium. The recommended tank mates are other cichlids from Lake Tanganyika such as the Julidochromis Dickfeldi, Lamprologus Calvus, and Julidochromis Ornatus.
Freshwater Aquarium Conditions for the Lemon Cichlid
- Water Temperature should range from 72 to 85 degrees Fahrenheit.
- PH level is recommended at 7.5 to 9.
- Hardness is best at 10 to 20 on the DH scale.
The aquarium should have lots of rockery to make caves and hiding places. The Lemon Cichlid will not disturb plants. Java Fern is an ideal plant for an African Cichlid tank.
The gravel needs to be high in PH so it’s a good idea to add corals or PH buffers to help maintain a high level. Buffers can be bought at any pet store. In order to allow the brilliant light colors of the Lemon Cichlid to show through, a light colored substrate must be used. Dark colored gravel and dim lighting will cause the coloration of this fish to darken.
A good filtration system is needed as well as a bi-weekly water change of at least 10% to 15%. Because the water of Lake Tanganyika is quite stable, only small water changes should be done. The Lemon Cichlid will react adversely to abrupt water changes. This fish also requires water high in oxygen so a bubbler or a power head should be used.
The Lemon Cichlid requires protein in its diet so it should be fed aquatic bugs, brine shrimp, blood worms, white worms, any small live food, freeze dried foods and vegetable matter. This is in addition to flake or freeze dried food. A varied diet will also enhance the color of the Lemon Cichlid.
To stimulate spawning, the parents should be fed a high protein diet for at least two weeks.
Breeding the Lemon Cichlid
To obtain a breeding pair its easiest to buy six or eight fry and let them grow to adults. The males are always larger than the females and the females also tend to have a rounded pelvic fin and more of a slope on their forehead.
The Lemon Cichlid is an egg layer and will search the rockery in the aquarium for an ideal location to do their mating. After the eggs are laid, the fry will be free swimming about 72 hours later. The fry should be fed baby brine shrimp. The parents provide excellent care so the fry do not have to be removed from the aquarium.
With a high protein diet, light colored substrate and bright lighting, the Lemon Cichlid is a very colorful addition to a freshwater aquarium.
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