by Pam Chin » Tue Dec 02, 2003 12:56 pm
Dear Paul,
Neolamprologus tetracanthus is a neat fish, I have always liked them! They are very similar to Neolamprologus leleupi or Neolamprologus cylindricus. The are a predator in nature and so they can be a bit brutal on each other, but mainly when a pair is developing, or when trying to claim a territory. They are a substrate spawner, so they can have a ton of fry at one time. An average spawn is probably at least a couple hundred, which is a ton compared to some of the Tanganyikan mouthbrooders where you are overjoyed when you get 10 or more!!
They become sexually mature at 12 - 16 months old. I usually try to get a pair going in a community tank, where they have to defend a territory. I like to let them spawn a couple of times in this community setting to increase their bond. I try to remove the fry just before they start to freeswimming, that is if they spawn in a shell or flower pot. Once I feel like I have a good bond between the pair, then I will remove them into a 56 to 75 liters (15 or 20 gallon) tank by themselves. Providing plenty of cover for the female, who will probably be half the size of the male when fully grown. When they spawn in the tank by themselves I also like to remove the fry or the parents so they are not tempted to eat the babies.
Neolamprologus tetracanthus is found on the sandy shores throughout Lake Tanganyika. It is carnivorous, and will eat anything it finds in the sand such as insect larvae, snails and other fish. Although it is not able to crush the shells of the smaller molluscs it actually sucks the meat out. In the aquarium you can feed black worms, adult or baby brine, pellets and flake. The fry do best on freshly hatched baby brine. Good Luck!.
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