Daffodil cichlid

The daffodil cichlid is a colour form of Neolamprologus pulcher from the rocky northern shores of Lake Tanganyika, prized for its pale body, yellow-flushed unpaired fins and delicate blue facial markings with lyre-shaped tail extensions. It is famous as a cooperative breeder: adults form pairs that hold a rocky territory, and older offspring stay to help defend the site and tend later broods, so a colony develops fascinating social behaviour. Give a spacious tank with substantial rockwork forming caves and a sandy floor. It is territorial around the nest but otherwise relatively peaceful, tolerating dither fish such as Cyprichromis in the open water. Water must be hard, alkaline and warm with strong buffering. Feed a varied carnivorous diet of frozen mysis, cyclops, brine shrimp and quality pellets. Keep an established pair or an intact family group rather than mixing unrelated adults, which can trigger disputes.