Lion-headed Lamprologus (Lamprologus Congoensis)

2023 Author: Molly Page | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-11-27 22:49

The lion-headed lamprologus inhabits the river basin. Congo (Africa), especially in the area of waterfalls.

Length up to 15 cm, in an aquarium up to 10 cm. The body is elongated, low, flattened from the sides. The back profile is slightly more curved than the belly. The main body color is light brown or ocher yellow to olive green. The dark edging of the scales creates a mesh pattern. On the side there are 5-7 dark wide transverse stripes, which may disappear. There is a dark spot behind the eyes and on the operculum.

By the period of hatching, the fish become velvety black, and the female is colored more intensely than the male.

Fish are territorial, aggressive, keep close to the ground, moving by jumping from cover to cover, but they can also swim in open water. The male captures the territory in which the females keep, and each forms its own site. A species aquarium is preferable, it is not possible to share it with the fish of the upper layers of water.

There should be at least 2 females for 1 male. Caves made of stones must be installed at the bottom of the aquarium, as lamprologuses like to scoop up the soil from under the stones. Protect plants with strong root systems from erosion.

Water parameters: 24-28 ° С, dH 4-20 °, pH 6.8-7.8, rich in oxygen. Filter.

Food: live, frozen, substitutes.

Spawning in the cave, the female lays up to 300 eggs, protects the cave from other fish, the male protects the territory. The incubation period is 3 days, the fry leave the cave after 10-12 days and are kept for another 4-6 weeks under the protection of their parents. Starter feed: live dust.

Sexual maturity in a lion-headed lamprologus occurs at 7-10 months.