Fairy cichlid
Neolamprologus brichardi
A graceful Tanganyika cichlid with a lyre tail; one pair grows into a family colony that guards its rocks year-round.
Key facts
- Body length
- 3.5 in without fins
- Minimum tank
- 34 gallons
- Group
- 2+
- Temperament
- Semi-aggressive
- Care level
- 1 / 5
- Lifespan
- Not well documented
- Diet
- Small cichlid pellets, frozen brine shrimp, mysis and cyclops
- Origin
- Lake Tanganyika, East Africa
- Hardier than47%
- Bigger than55%
- Calmer than28%
Water: their range vs yours
Fairy cichlid tank mates
- Neon tetraGets along in shared water.Good mates
- Harlequin rasboraGets along in shared water.Good mates
- Fancy guppyGets along in shared water.Good mates
- Panda corydorasGets along in shared water.Good mates
- OtocinclusGets along in shared water.Good mates
- BettaGets along in shared water.Good mates
- AngelfishGets along in shared water.Good mates
- Black neon tetraGets along in shared water.Good mates
- Black widow tetraGets along in shared water.Good mates
- Blood parrot cichlidGets along in shared water.Good mates
- Bristlenose plecoGets along in shared water.Good mates
- Bronze coryGets along in shared water.Good mates
- Cherry shrimpFairy cichlid (Brichardi) eats dwarf shrimp: Cherry shrimp (PROP).Risky
- Tiger barbTiger barb nips fins; Fairy cichlid (Brichardi) is vulnerable (long fins). Risk is reduced: the group is at least the recommended size.Risky
- Amano shrimpFairy cichlid (Brichardi) eats dwarf shrimp: Amano shrimp (PROP).Risky
- Chinese algae eaterChinese algae eater attacks fish with a similar shape or colour: Fairy cichlid (Brichardi).Risky
- Clown loachClown loach attacks fish with a similar shape or colour: Fairy cichlid (Brichardi).Risky
- Convict cichlidConvict cichlid can eat young or small Fairy cichlid (Brichardi); adults are big enough to be safe.Risky
- Blue dolphin cichlidBlue dolphin cichlid can eat Fairy cichlid (Brichardi): prey body depth 1.6 cm ≤ mouth 6.3 cm.Avoid
- Iridescent sharkIridescent shark can eat Fairy cichlid (Brichardi): prey body depth 1.6 cm ≤ mouth 32.5 cm.Avoid
- OscarOscar can eat Fairy cichlid (Brichardi): prey body depth 1.6 cm ≤ mouth 12.3 cm.Avoid
- SeverumSeverum can eat Fairy cichlid (Brichardi): prey body depth 1.6 cm ≤ mouth 5.0 cm.Avoid
- African clawed frogAfrican clawed frog should only be kept in a single-species tank.Avoid
- Marbled crayfishMarbled crayfish should only be kept in a single-species tank.Avoid
How we check
The numbers the tank model uses for fairy cichlids: water as ideal and tolerated ranges, bioload from adult mass, space, flow and how they act on other species.
- Standard length
- 9 cm (TL)
- Adult mass
- 5.60 g
- Bioload at 25 °C
- 3.23 BU
- Min. water
- 108 L net
- Min. footprint
- 120 × 30 cm per pair
- Group
- 2+ (best 2)
- Swims in
- bottom, middle
- Flow
- moderate
- Body / fins
- fusiform, long trailing fins
- Diet type
- omnivore meat
- Fin nipper
- none
- Sensitive to
- —
Care notes
Fairy cichlids, also sold as princess of Burundi, grow to about 3.5 inches. A pair breeds in rock caves, and older young help guard each new brood, so the family becomes a colony.
A colony needs a 4-foot tank of 29 gallons or more with sand and plenty of rocky caves. They defend their territory constantly, so a species tank works best, and they hybridise with the closely related N. pulcher.
Questions
What size tank does a fairy cichlid need?
At least 34 gallons (108 litres of water after decor). Adults reach about 3.5 inches without fins.
How many fairy cichlids should be kept together?
Keep at least 2, ideally 2 or more: fewer feel exposed and hide or turn nippy.
What water do fairy cichlids need?
73–79 °F, pH 8–9 and 9–19 dGH. Fairy cichlids come from Lake Tanganyika, East Africa.
How long do fairy cichlids live?
Not well documented with good care.
What fish can live with fairy cichlids?
Good tank mates include Neon tetra, Harlequin rasbora, Fancy guppy, Panda corydoras and Otocinclus. Each is checked both ways for size, fin nipping, temperament, territory and shared water.