Can I keep the Princess of Burundi in a standard community tank?

No. They require highly specific hard, alkaline water (pH 8.0+) that is unsuitable for most common tropical fish like tetras and corydoras. They also become extremely aggressive when breeding, making them a poor choice for a general community setup.

How do I sex a Princess of Burundi?

Sexing is notoriously difficult as both males and females possess the same colouration and finnage. Mature males are generally slightly larger with subtly longer extensions on their dorsal, anal, and caudal fins, but observing breeding behaviour is the only definitive method.

Why are there different sizes of babies in my tank?

This species forms multi-generational colonies. A breeding pair will spawn repeatedly, and rather than driving away their older offspring, they allow them to stay and help protect the newest fry. You are witnessing different batches of their young living together.

Do I need to add special salt to their water?

Yes, unless your tap water is naturally very hard and alkaline. You should use a specialised 'Lake Tanganyika' or 'Rift Lake' cichlid salt and buffer to replicate their natural environment. Do not use standard aquarium salt or marine salt.

Will they dig up my plants?

They are avid diggers and will excavate sand from underneath rocks to build their caves. While they do not typically eat plants, they will easily uproot anything planted near their territory. Hardy epiphytes like Anubias or Java Fern tied to rocks are the best options.

FreshwaterTropicalIntermediate

Princess of Burundi

Neolamprologus brichardi

The Princess of Burundi is a graceful, rock-dwelling cichlid famous for its elegant flowing fins and fascinating multi-generational colony behaviour.

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Ideal Conditions

Temperature: 23 – 27 °C
pH range: 8 – 9
Hardness: 10 – 25 dGH
Adult size: 8 – 11 cm
100L for a species pair; 200L+ for a colony or community: 100 litres+
Lifespan: 8 – 10 years
Diet: Carnivore leaning omnivore; thrives on high-quality cichlid pellets, frozen Mysis shrimp, brine shrimp, and cyclops.
Water flow: moderate
Preferred setup: Abundant rockwork piled to the water surface to create numerous caves, combined with a sandy or aragonite substrate.

About the Princess of Burundi

First imported for the aquarium trade in the 1970s, *Neolamprologus brichardi* quickly earned the moniker 'Fairy Cichlid' due to its delicate, pastel colouration and sweeping lyretail. Endemic to Lake Tanganyika, it inhabits the rocky shorelines where it navigates complex crevices and rubble zones. While they may appear gentle, they are hardy and resolute fish that display some of the most captivating social dynamics in the freshwater hobby.

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Is it right for your tank?

Check Princess of Burundi against a habitat you already keep. We compare water type, temperature, pH, adult size, group needs and everything living there.

Where Princess of Burundi comes from

Native range

Lake Tanganyika, East Africa

Countries / regions

Burundi, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Tanzania, Zambia

Habitat

Rocky shorelines and rubble zones, usually at depths of 5 to 30 metres.

Endemic to Lake Tanganyika, found continuously along the rocky coasts of the northern part of the lake.

Similar species

Daffodil Cichlid
Neolamprologus pulcher
Lemon Cichlid
Neolamprologus leleupi
Cylindricus Cichlid
Neolamprologus cylindricus

We’re adding more full species guides as the catalogue grows.

Compatible tank mates

Reviewed guidance based on this species' recorded traits.

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Slender Cichlids
Cyprichromis leptosoma
Occupies the upper water column and open spaces, avoiding the rock territories claimed by the Princess of Burundi.
Great
Dwarf Petricola
Synodontis lucipinnis
A Tanganyikan native that thrives in the same hard water and generally manages to avoid serious cichlid aggression.
Great
Masked Julie
Julidochromis transcriptus
Shares the same rock-dwelling habitat requirements; only suitable in larger aquariums (200L+) with distinct, separated rock piles.
Compatible with caution
Daffodil Cichlid
Neolamprologus pulcher
Closely related species will compete fiercely for identical territories and carry a high risk of hybridisation.
Not recommended
Neon Tetra
Paracheirodon innesi
Requires soft, acidic water entirely incompatible with the hard, alkaline parameters demanded by Tanganyikan cichlids.
Not recommended

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