Neolamprologus pulcher "Daffodil Brichardi"

By Tony Jochman

Neolamprologus pulcher is also known as the Princess of Zambia and/or Daffodil.  N. pulcher is found throughout the south-eastern part of Lake Tanganyika. The ground coloration of the body is light yellow. Behind the gills and on the dorsal fin they are brighter yellow and have blue tips on all fins. The only way to determine sexes is by adult size.

They can be housed in a community tank with most species. They are a peaceful fish, but when they are ready to spawn they will take over at least half of the tank. The tank must be decorated with piles of rocks to create many crevices of all sizes. Planting the tank is possible with N. pulcher, although there are no plants in their natural biotope.

As for spawning, mine first spawned in my community tank. They took over my 65 gallon tank so I had to transfer them to a 20 gallon high tank. They started spawning right away after the transfer. They are cave brooders which hides their spawn in narrow rock-crevices. The parental care behavior of this species is unusual because the juveniles grow up in a clan-family. Older siblings participate in the task of caring for the young.

The new fry start eating tiny flake food, and in a community tank, don’t need to be fed separately. They will eat the small particles left over by larger fishes.  There are about 10 – 20 new fry every three weeks or so.  Once they start they just don’t stop.