Care
The Red-lined Fairy Cichlid is known from the shallow, precipitous rocky habitat at Lunangwa Bay, south-western Lake Tanganyika. Here, these elegant fish form large shoals (hundreds of fish) which forage for food together, although when of breeding age, they form monogamous pairs.
The aquarium that houses this species should be at least 4ft long, with a good amount of filtration, water movement and oxygenation. The best choice of substrate would be coral sand or aragonite, which will help to keep the water hard and alkaline. Rocks should be used to create small outcrops and plenty of caves, ensuring that there are ample visual barriers. Red-lined Fairy Cichlids can be somewhat aggressive towards one another in the confines of the home aquarium, so broken lines of sight amongst the decor will help. These cichlids can be maintained in a species-only aquarium or as part of a Tanganyikan community with robust fish of similar size and temperament. However, if a breeding pair forms within the group, they can become much more territorially aggressive, and it is often best to move them to a tank of their own at this stage. Combining Red-lined Fairy Cichlids with other species does not always work in the long run, as their breeding strategy of producing large numbers with generations of juveniles defending their burgeoning family and ever-growing home territory, will eventually leave no room for outsiders. Red-lined Fairy Cichlids are intolerant of poor water conditions, so ensure small partial water changes are carried out on a frequent basis.
This species is currently considered to be a form of N. pulcher can be told apart from others in the closely related 'brichardi complex' by the presence of two curved dark markings on each gill cover and lines along the flanks. As they readily hybridise, these different forms should never be housed together.
Feeding
Flake, green flake, slow-sinking pellets/granules, frozen foods such as vitamin-enriched brineshrimp, Mysis shrimp, chopped krill, mosquito larvae etc.
Breeding
Neolamprologus are cave spawning species. The bond these fish form when breeding is strong and is retained during brood care and subsequent spawns. In the wild, spawning occurs in the females' preferred cave. The same process frequently occurs in the home aquarium, with the ripe female leading the chosen male from his territory to her cave. Other times, the pair may be seen excavating a cave from scratch. The female then deposits her eggs (averaging around 100) on the sides of the cave, the male immediately swimming over them and fertilising with his sperm. It is not always obvious when these fish have spawned, as oftentimes they are very secretive and the cave may be hidden from view. Once spawning has finished, the female will tend to the eggs, with the male fish guarding the perimeter of the cave. The eggs should hatch within 3-4 days (temperature dependent), with the fry becoming free swimming some 7-10 days later. The young can be started off on a diet of freshly hatched brineshrimp (Artemia nauplii) and finely powdered first foods. Brood care is fairly prolonged, and the immature offspring may then help in guarding the subsequent generation of fry, coexisting within the same aquarium and forming a nuclear family. The cycle continues as the adults spawn again, and it is possible to have several generations living together.
