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Encyclopedia / African Cichlids / Princess of Burundi
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Variations

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Princess of Burundi

Neolamprologus brichardi · Brichardi, Fairy cichlid, Lyretail lamprologus, Princess cichlid

Peaceful toward its own kind but defends its cave; keep with other Tanganyikans in a rocky tank.

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9 cmAdult size ✓
23–26 °CTemperature ✓
8–9pH ✓
108 LSmallest tank ✓
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Tank mates
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Not recommended
  • Black skirt tetra nips fins, and Princess of Burundi has long fins.
  • Rift lake cichlids like princess of burundi need hard, alkaline water and a busy, cichlid-only tank.
Not recommended
  • Serpae tetra nips fins, and Princess of Burundi has long fins.
  • Rift lake cichlids like princess of burundi need hard, alkaline water and a busy, cichlid-only tank.
Not recommended
  • Tiger barb nips fins, and Princess of Burundi has long fins.
  • Rift lake cichlids like princess of burundi need hard, alkaline water and a busy, cichlid-only tank.
With conditions
  • Rift lake cichlids like princess of burundi need hard, alkaline water and a busy, cichlid-only tank.
  • Their pH needs don't quite meet (8–9 vs 5–7). Aim between the two and keep it steady.
With conditions
  • Rift lake cichlids like princess of burundi need hard, alkaline water and a busy, cichlid-only tank.
  • Their pH needs don't quite meet (8–9 vs 4.5–7). Aim between the two and keep it steady.
Compatible
Compatible
Compatible
Compatible
Compatible

59 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 ✓9–19 dGH
Group size ✓6 or more
Temperament ✓Semi-aggressive
Swims at ?All levels
Care level ?Easy
Diet Omnivore
Lifespan ?Unknown
Size in shops 3–6 cm
Growth Medium

Behavior

Peaceful toward its own kind but defends its cave; keep with other Tanganyikans in a rocky tank.

  • cave

Food

Cichlid pellets and flakes; add frozen brine shrimp, mysis and krill a few times a week.

Tap a food to see what it is.

Male or female

Not easy to sex; adult males are usually a little larger with longer dorsal and tail-fin extensions.

Health

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

Breeding

Cave spawner (cooperative breeder) · Easy

Cave spawner; the female usually tends the eggs while the male guards the area around the cave. Older young stay in the territory and help defend later broods.

Pairing

Buy a group of 6; one dominant pair forms and older fry help guard the next brood.

Setup

100 L tank with rock caves and slate, hard alkaline water (pH 8-9) and strong filtration. Group does well with the older fry left in.

What starts it

Stable group, good feeding and a cave; they spawn without much encouragement.

Eggs

30-100 eggs laid in a cave, hatching in about 3 days.

Raising the fry

Fry become free swimming in about a week and are guarded by the group. Feed finely ground flake and newly hatched brine shrimp.

Common mistakes
  • Overcrowding with unrelated pairs
  • Large caves that waste space
  • Hard-to-clean tanks leading to poor water
Full breeding guide, day-by-day plan and simulator →

Where it lives in the wild

RegionLake Tanganyika – northern part
Rivers and lakesLake Tanganyika (northern basin, Burundi, Tanzania & DR Congo)
HabitatRocky slopes, often in large colonies
Native rangeAbout 250 km across
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The story of the princess of burundi

A lyretail cichlid from northern Lake Tanganyika with long fin extensions; it lives in family groups where older young help guard the next broods.

Max Poll described this fish in 1974, honouring Pierre Brichard, who exported Tanganyika cichlids from Burundi. It is one of the most studied cichlids because of its unusual family life. Its lyre-shaped tail made it an early Tanganyika favourite.

First described by Max Poll in 1974. Named for Named after Pierre Brichard, a pioneer exporter of Lake Tanganyika fishes.

  • Older offspring help their parents guard and raise younger siblings.
  • It lives in colonies that can include hundreds of fish.
  • Its long white-edged fin tips give it an elegant lyre-tailed look.

Sources

14 facts checked with sources