Six-bar cichlid
Neolamprologus sexfasciatus is a robust, deep-bodied Tanganyikan cichlid marked by six dark vertical bars, occurring in gold and blue-finned regional morphs. Reaching around 14 cm, it is a powerful predator of the rocky shores, feeding on invertebrates and small fish among the boulders. It is decidedly territorial and aggressive, especially toward conspecifics and similar-shaped rock cichlids, so a spacious tank with heavy rockwork and defensible caves is essential. Keep it as a single fish or an established pair, avoiding crowding of look-alikes. Provide hard, alkaline water and warm, stable conditions with strong filtration to handle its messy carnivorous appetite. Offer meaty foods such as mysis, krill, mussel and quality carnivore pellets, avoiding mammalian meats. Its bold build, striking barring and personable behaviour make it a centrepiece for larger Tanganyika biotopes.
Water parameters
| Temperature | 24 – 27 °C |
|---|---|
| pH | 7.8 – 9 |
| Carbonate hardness (KH) | 10 – 18 °dKH |
| General hardness (GH) | 8 – 20 °dGH |
Tank & stocking
| Minimum tank volume | 250 L |
|---|---|
| Volume budget per individual | 80 L — adds up with tank-mates |
“Minimum tank volume” is a reasonable floor, not an absolute limit. The per-individual budget is used by the Aqua app to estimate how heavily a tank is stocked.
Frequently asked questions
What size aquarium does Six-bar cichlid need?
Provide at least 250 litres to keep Six-bar cichlid in good conditions.
What water parameters does Six-bar cichlid need?
A temperature of 24–27 °C, pH 7.8–9.
Is Six-bar cichlid peaceful or aggressive?
Its temperament is aggressive.
What does Six-bar cichlid eat?
Its diet: carnivore.
How big does Six-bar cichlid get?
Around 14 cm as an adult.
Is Six-bar cichlid suitable for beginners?
Care level: intermediate.
Planning a tank with Six-bar cichlid?
AquaTender turns these parameters into live advice: it checks whether your tank is big enough, how heavily it's stocked, and whether your fish are compatible — then tracks water tests, photos and maintenance for you.
Fish from the same biotope
Report an error on this page
Care data is community-assisted. Spotted something wrong? Let us know — it won't change the page instantly, but it goes to moderation.
Care data is generated and manually reviewed; always cross-check before major decisions. ← Back to the encyclopedia