Animal-World > Freshwater Fish > Cichlids - Lake Tanganyika > Daffodil Cichlid

Daffodil Cichlid

Daffodil II Family: Cichlidae

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   One of the most beautiful of the Tanganyikan Cichlids, the Daffodil Cichlid is a great choice for both beginner and advanced aquarists!  

   The Daffodil Cichlid is both elegant and gracious. Not only is it very attractive, but it is hardy, making it ideal for any aquariust to keep. It is moderately easy to care for as long it has the proper sized aquarium and the right tank mates. It will eat a wide variety of aquarium foods and is not shy about swimming out in the open.

   These are a schooling fish that pair off only to breed. The Daffodil Cichlid can be kept in a species tank, or a group of these fish can be kept with other durable species in a good sized aquarium. They may scrap a bit with each other (which keeps them quite busy!) but then they are not inclined to quarrel with others.  They like an aquarium with lots of rock formations and caves for retreating. Plants are not essential though they do not harm them, nor do they burrow.

   Though the Daffodil Cichlids spend a good deal of their time spawning, they are a secretive shelter spawner. You may not even know they have spawned until you see small fry darting about. A pair of Daffodil Cichlids will spawn again and again. The older fry will help protect the younger ones, thus various ages of fry will be present in the same tank. This is an example of "stepped breeding".

For more Information on keeping freshwater fish see:
Guide to a Happy, Healthy Freshwater Aquarium

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Distribution:
   The Daffodil Cichlid was described by Trewavas and Poll in 1952. These fish are endemic to Lake Tanganyika and are found widespread in the southern part of lake. They inhabit rocky coastlines and swim in large schools, but will form monogamous pairs to spawn in caves. They feed on swarms of plankton drifting in the lake water along with microorganisms such as small crustaceans and invertebrates.

Status:
   This species is listed on the IUCN Red List with the status of 'LC', meaning 'Least Concern'.

Description:
   The Daffodil Cichlid is a graceful fish and has a very pleasing coloration. They have a light colored tan body washed with hints of yellow and bluish purple spots. The yellow is stronger along the upper portion of the body and onto the dorsal fin, and around the base of the pectoral fin. There are two vertical crescent shaped bars just behind the eye highlighted with a bit of blue. The dorsal fin is lyre shaped and they develop long flowing filaments on all unpaired fins. The fins are tipped with an icy blue. They have brilliant blue eyes.

Size - Weight:
   The Daffodil Cichlid grows to a length of 4 - 5” (10 -13 cm), generally larger specimens in home aquaria.

Care and feeding:
   They Daffodil Cichlids are omnivorous and will generally eat all kinds of live, fresh, and flake foods. In the wild they will feed on swarms of plankton drifting in the lake water along with microorganisms such as small crustaceans and invertebrates.To keep a good balance give them a high quality flake food or pellet everyday. Regularly supplement these foods with brine shrimp (either live or frozen) or daphnia. Feed 2 to 5 small pinches of food a day in smaller amounts instead of a large quantity once a day.  This will keep the water quality higher over a longer time. A one-day-a-week 'fast' can also be beneficial. Of course, all fish benefit from added vitamins and supplements to their foods.
   For a species only tank, a minimum of 15 gallons (though 20 or 35 gallons is better) is suggested. A larger tank, 50 gallons or more, would be required if mixing with other species. They need good water movement along with very strong and efficient filtration. Provide a sandy to very small sized substrate, and they need a lot of rocks and cave formations. Plants are not essential though they do not harm them, nor do they burrow. Subdued lighting is also preferred.
   Do normal water changes of only 10% to 20% a week, or more frequent depending on the nitrite/ammonia levels and stocking numbers. The Lake Tanganyikan cichlids cannot handle large water changes very well unless the new water chemistry closely matches the water they are in. This inability to tolerate large water changes is due to Lake Tanganyika being very deep and the water tends to stay stable.        

Water Region: Top, Middle, Bottom:
   These fish will swim in all areas of the aquarium.

Acceptable Water Conditions:
   Hardness: 10-20 dGH
   Ph: 8.0 to 8.5, wild caught specimens prefer the higher Ph.
   Temp: 72-77° F (22-25° C)

Lake Tanganyika is the second to largest lake in the world, thus contributing to a low fluctuation in Ph and temperature. Several things all Lake Tanganyikan cichlids need are:

1. Stable temperatures kept within acceptable limits. Anything under 72° F and over 86° F for too long is not tolerated by many of these fish (for ich, a few days at 86° F is acceptable according to one author).
2. Lots of oxygen to survive. Lake Tanganyika is a very oxygen rich lake. Bubblers need to be going day and night, even if there are plants.
3. Avoid overfeeding and overstocking.
4. Do a 10-20% water change weekly.
5. Regularly check nitrates (no more than 25 ppm), Ph (less than 7 is not tolerated), total hardness and carbonate hardness.

Social Behaviors:
   The Daffodil Cichlid is a fairly non-aggressive community fish. They can be kept in a smaller species only tank or in a larger aquarium with other durable fish. However they are avid spawners and breeding pairs will establish a territory and defended it together. This fish is also very protective in defending their fry. They don't burrow or disturb plants.
   If kept in a community type environment, the tank mates need to be much larger with their own established territories. It is best to introduce the Daffodil Cichlid last. Some cichlids they can be kept with are others of their own genus such as the Lemon Cichlid Neolamprologus leleupi and the Cylinder Cichlid Neolamprologus cylindricus. Other species include some of the Altolamprologus genera, such as the White Pearly Calvus and the Compressed Cichlid; and the Julidochromis genera such as Mariner's Julie and the Convict Julie. It is best to avoid housing them with the African cichlids from Lake Malawi or Lake Victoria.

Sexual Differences:
   These fish are difficult to sex. Males are heavier bodied than the females, slightly bigger, and have a slightly larger forehead. Though it is hard to tell, the male also has longer and more pointed dorsal fin and anal fins.

Breeding/Reproduction:
   The Daffodil Cichlids are egg layers and form nuclear families. Considered a monogamous cichlid, they will pair up only during spawning and will school otherwise. The female prefers spawning in caves or sometimes in areas with rocky rubble, and will lay over 100 eggs. Both the parents and older juveniles will care for the young. See the description of monogamous cichlids in Breeding Freshwater Fish.

Availability:
   The Daffodil Cichlid is available from time to time. They are found both online and in fish stores ranging from $8.00 to $30 USD, depending on whether they are juveniles or adults.

Author: Clarice Brough, CFS

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