The Fairy Cichlid is known to science as Neolamprologus brichardi. English aquarists christened this particular fish the Fairy Cichlid as they believed the fish to have a strong ethereal appearance. These fish grow to a size of 3.4″ (8.5cm).
These fish are endemic to Lake Tanganyika in the African Rift Valley. The fish in my care are several generations on from original stock, which came to me from two local aquarium retail outlets.
The breeding tank
Although there have been times when as many as four tanks in my fish house have held Fairy Cichlids, in various stages of growth, I am currently down to around 25 young individuals who occupy a 36″x12″x12″ tank. This tank has various slate formations and small mounds of coal as décor. The fish are in their first throes of forming groups.
The pH of this tank is around 7 and for every bucketful of water that is replaced a teaspoon of tonic salt is added. All commercial aquarium fish foods and live brine shrimp are taken with great gusto.
Breeding this species is best accomplished in such a single species environment. What follows is not a general rule but comes from my own experiences with these fish. We start what will, hopefully, become a breeding colony by adding a number of differently sized fish. It will not be long before the dominant males divide the tank area into their own territories (with the weaker lone males seeking refuge away from any potential trouble) and here you will find that females of various sizes join them to form breeding groups.
The Spawn
In order to spawn, a mature pair will force themselves into crevices within the coal mounds. The act of reproduction therefore goes unseen, but you know when this act has taken place as the group become very defensive of their territory.
The fry
When the first group produces fry (for some strange reason the first brood of eggs is usually devoured by the spawning pair) it spurs on the other group(s) to do the same. The fry are tiny and, from the moment you first see them free-swimming, will take microworms and brine shrimps. I learned that more fry survive the quicker they are weaned off these foods and onto crushed flake. Although only a small number of the 60 or so fry produced by a mature pair will survive, enough do so to keep your colony self-perpetuating.
At one time I had three groups of these fish, housed within the same tank, that were all spawning at around the same time and the sight of so many fry was a joy to behold. I have seen fry ‘swap’ family and join another group. On one occasion an albino fry was spotted and removed to a tank on its own. This little beauty reached the half grown point before an accident with a heater prematurely ended its life.
Although it is often only show, all the females within a group will give the appearance that they are looking out for the fry and although their presence can aggravate the adults, particularly when new additions to the group are on their way, a number of these fry remain on the fringes of the group acting as ‘helpers’.
Catching the Fair Cichlid
When attempting to catch the Fairy Cichlid you must always take great care, and be very observant, as they find it very easy to evade capture and ‘go to ground’. It always amazes me how they are able to squeeze into the tightest of ornaments and corners. When really scared they are also very capable leapers.
If you have yet to try your hand at keeping a Rift Valley Cichlid then these little gems make, in my opinion, the perfect introduction to this side of our hobby.
Original publication: July 2004 Ryedale Reporter, Ryedale Aquarist Society, England
Source: Aquarticles (no longer available).
