Neolamprologus
tretocephalus
(Boulenger 1899)
Habitat
Neolamprlogus tretocephalus is a Tanganyika cichlid from the
northern half of the lake. Reaches a maximal length of 16 cm and can be easily
distingueshed from N. sexfasciatus by counting the black vertical stripes along the body
which are 5 in the first and 6 in the other.
Neolamprlogus tretocephalus lives in the intermediate habitat,which consist of wide
area of scattered rocks over a sandy floor from 5 to 40m deep,shared with:N toae, N
leloupi, Lepidiolamprologus attenuatus, Julidochromis regani and Ophthalmotilapia nasuta.
Feeding habitsThe mouth has strong teeth and the intestine is not more than 30% of TL,which suggest a carnivourus diet made up of crustaceans and small snails found in the sandy floor.This is also confirmed by observations in the lake. Behaviour in the wildNeolamprlogus tretocephalus lives in couples which are quite easily seen searching for snails in the sand or defendig their fry.Generally males defend territory,swimming around and over the spawnig site while females care about fry.
Isolated rocks under which,after a digging work, reproduction
takes place are preferred nesting sites. |
 |
My experience
Tank:
500 litres with a trickle filter,furnished with a great amount of lava rocks reaching the surface.
Species kept:
Neolamprologus tretocephalus (6),Ophthalmotilapia ventralis(2 males 3 females) Cyprichromis "jumbo" from Utinta.
Feeding
Once a day fed with "shrimp mix" prepared as
advised by Ad Konings.(Enjoying Cichlids).
In the entire group of tretocephalus only one pair has been formed with
stabilty;occasionally the male has spawned with another female but with no fry as a
result.
At the first reproduction the fishes were 24-30 months age.The only couple which
succeded in spawning did it 3 times with breaks of about a month.
At 24°C eggs hatch after 4 days,while fry are able to swim and accept Artemia
salina nauplia only 11-12 days after deposition.
In my case spawning took place on the bottom glass of the
tank under a wide heap of rocks, after a real amazing digging work to which both male and
female contributed to.During reproduction sex can be easily distinguished since male is
darker and with a prominet small genital papilla,while female is brighter and with a
bigger genital papilla.
Before spawning adult male courts the female and, with extended fins,leads her to
the breeding site.
After spawning the female takes care about the eggs,while the male chases all the
intruders,with remarkable aggressiveness.
At normal conditions (not in breeding time)shown aggressiveness is low towards
other species,while quite high towards the same species.
At the end I’d like to describe the strange way this cichlids behave to search
for food into the sandy bottom:with the body,inclined at about 45°the fishes sink their
mouth into the sand,filter and expel it through the gills .
Marcello Balzaretti
Bibliography
 | Konings A. (1988) Tanganyika cichlids Verduyn Cichlids& Lake Fish Movies.Zevenhuizen.Holland. |
| Konings A.& Dieckoff H.W. (1992) Tanganyika secrets. Cichlid Press, St Leon-Rot,Germany -Editor: Konings A.(1993)Enjoying Cichlids. |