Neolamprologus furcifer

Alternative names

 * Fork Tailed Lamprologus

Sexing

 * Males have more vibrant colouration. Difficult to breed in captivity.

Tank compatibility

 * Best kept in either a species tank or with other similar-sized African Cichlids. Males are intolerant and territorial to each other. Best to keep no more than one male per tank, unless the tank is very large. They do pair bond, but not very strongly.

Diet

 * Will accept most meaty foods including cichlid pellets as well as live/frozen food such as brine shrimp, krill and bloodworm.

Feeding regime

 * Feed once or twice a day.

Environment Specifics

 * Must be provided with lots of caves in rocks and other hiding places. Must also be kept in hard water.

Behaviour

 * Will spend a lot of time in caves and hiding places, peeking out and defending their territory. Can have odd swimming behaviour such as swimming upside down close to rocks.

Identification

 * An attractive elongate cichlid with, as the common name suggests, a forked caudal fin. Its fins are an ochre yellow in colour. Its body is more of a pale pinkish red with lateral black markings, often forming into vertical bands. Mature fish may also appear dark brown in colour.