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Encyclopedia / African Cichlids / Lemairii cichlid
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Variations

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Lemairii cichlid

Lamprologus lemairii · Lemairii, Lamprologus lemairii, Lemaire

Predatory and aggressive toward smaller fish; keep only with large tank-mates.

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25 cmAdult size ✓
24–27 °CTemperature ✓
8–9pH ✓
205 LSmallest tank ✓
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Tank mates
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Not recommended
  • Lemairii cichlid eats animals up to about 15 cm. Neon tetra only grows to 2.5 cm.
  • Rift lake cichlids like lemairii cichlid need hard, alkaline water and a busy, cichlid-only tank.
Not recommended
  • Lemairii cichlid eats animals up to about 15 cm. Cardinal tetra only grows to 3 cm.
  • Rift lake cichlids like lemairii cichlid need hard, alkaline water and a busy, cichlid-only tank.
Not recommended
  • Lemairii cichlid eats animals up to about 15 cm. Black neon tetra only grows to 3.2 cm.
  • Rift lake cichlids like lemairii cichlid need hard, alkaline water and a busy, cichlid-only tank.
With conditions
  • Rift lake cichlids like lemairii cichlid need hard, alkaline water and a busy, cichlid-only tank.
  • Only a narrow pH range suits both: exactly 8.
With conditions
  • Rift lake cichlids like lemairii cichlid need hard, alkaline water and a busy, cichlid-only tank.
  • Their pH needs don't quite meet (8–9 vs 6–7.5). Aim between the two and keep it steady.
Compatible
Compatible
Compatible
Compatible
Compatible

10 species in our list are a good match.

Facts checked against sources on 16 Oct 2026. ✓ means a source backs it; ? means no reliable source yet. See sources

Care and water

Hardness ✓10–25 dGH
Group size ✓Can live alone
Temperament ✓Aggressive
Swims at ✓Bottom
Care level ✓Moderate
Diet Carnivore
Lifespan ?Unknown
Size in shops 6–10 cm
Growth Medium

Behavior

Predatory and aggressive toward smaller fish; keep only with large tank-mates.

  • sand
  • cave

Food

Frozen fish, krill and large pellets.

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Male or female

Cannot be sexed by external features.

Health

Common problems. Tap one to see the signs. This is a guide, not a diagnosis.

Breeding

Not bred in captivity (per Seriously Fish); in the wild it spawns in caves.

Full breeding guide, day-by-day plan and simulator →

Where it lives in the wild

RegionLake Tanganyika
Rivers and lakesLake Tanganyika (rocky coasts)
HabitatRocky areas
Native rangeAbout 300 km across
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The story of the lemairii cichlid

A large predatory Lake Tanganyika cichlid that lies motionless on the bottom to ambush fish, its only food in the wild. Named after Charles Lemaire, a Belgian officer and Congo explorer; described by Boulenger in 1899.

Boulenger described this predator in 1899. It is an ambush hunter that lies still among rocks waiting for small fish. Its huge mouth lets it swallow surprisingly large prey.

First described by George A. Boulenger in 1899.

  • It can sit motionless for long periods before striking.
  • Its mouth is very large for its body size.
  • Its mottled colour helps it blend into rocks.

Sources

15 facts checked with sources