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Lamprologus kungweensis

Current scientific name per the Catalog of Fishes: Neolamprologus kungweensis

Fishes › Cichlids (Cichliformes) › Cichlidae (Cichlids)

Neolamprologus kungweensis is a species of cichlid endemic to Lake Tanganyika where it is known from the northwestern part of the lake in Kungwe Bay, Kigoma, Tanzania where it can be found living in shells.

Aquarium hobby

Experience: Intermediate

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FamilyCichlids

Adult lengthup to 3.1 in

WaterFreshwater

Care at a glance

Species-specific aquarium care

Tank: At least 24 in long and 12 in front to back for one adult (adults commonly reach about 3.1 in / 8 cm).
Water: Freshwater.
Temperature: 75–79°F (range recorded for this species).
Layout: Uses both the bottom and open water: give open swimming space plus cover near the substrate.

Calculated from this species' own FishBase record: tank size from its typical adult length and swimming zone, water values from its recorded ranges. The group guide below fills in general care.

Care guide

Species care notes

Tank: a base of at least 30 × 12 in (roughly 18 US gallons); space needed is rated “modest tank”.
Water: hard, alkaline water, 73–81 °F, pH 7.5–9, 10–25 dGH.
Behaviour: temperament territorial.
Difficulty: Easy (Seriously Fish rating).

Short excerpts from the species profile:

Setup: “The aquarium should have large open areas of sandy substrate, to which should be added a good number of empty snail shells (see breeding section below).”
Diet: “Live and frozen varieties should form the bulk of the diet.”
Tankmates: “A territorial species that will defend its shell and the small territory around it vigorously.”

From the Seriously Fish profile for this species, which has the full habitat, maintenance, diet, behaviour and breeding write-up 167

Group care guide

Lake Tanganyika cichlids

Applies to most species in this group. Habitat: Rocky reefs, shell beds and sand of Lake Tanganyika. Individual species can differ, so compare with the species numbers above and the linked sources.

Housing & setup

Use species-specific alkaline-water parameters and stable, well-oxygenated conditions. For N. multifasciatus, Seriously Fish gives pH 7.5–9.0 and general hardness 8–25 dGH.
Shell-dwellers need beds of empty snail shells; rock-dwellers like Julidochromis need stacked rockwork; Tropheus need large groups and spacious tanks.

Sources 117 119 164 118 256 273

Climate & lighting

Water

76–81°F

Sources 117 119 164 118 256 273

Diet

Tropheus moorii needs a vegetable-based staple with small suitable live/frozen supplements. Other Tanganyikans need their own feeding plan; shell-dweller and predator diets differ.

Sources 117 119 164 118 256 273

Social life

Often pair- or colony-forming and territorial; research each genus.

Sources 117 119 164 118 256 273

Health watch

Tropheus are prone to bloat on rich foods; sudden water changes stress Tanganyikans.

Sources 117 119 164 118 256 273

Understanding the animal

About this animal

This species reaches a length of 8 centimetres (3.1 in) TL. This species can also be found in the aquarium trade.

Quoted from the Wikipedia article “Neolamprologus kungweensis” (CC BY-SA 4.0) 174

In the wild

From this species’ own FishBase record (habitat, bottom type, water and breeding data), not its family. Good care copies these conditions.¹

Where it lives	Lives in freshwater. Uses both the bottom and open water.
Water it lives in	Freshwater, 75–79 °F (24–26 °C).
Climate	Tropical climate.

What this means for care

Keep water within its wild range, 75–79 °F.

FishBase species summary: Lamprologus kungweensis

Native climate (measured)

Warm-season highs	about 85°F (up to 90°F in the hottest sampled areas)
Cool-season lows	about 59°F (down to 54°F in the coldest sampled areas)
Average temperature	68–79°F across sampled records
Relative humidity	55–72% on average (driest month about 58%)
Rainfall	about 1055 mm a year, with strong wet and dry seasons

Measured at 19 wild occurrence records sampled against WorldClim 2.1 climate data (1970–2000 averages). Air conditions in the range are ecological context, not enclosure settings: microhabitats such as burrows, leaf litter or basking rocks can be cooler, warmer or more humid.

From the sources

Quoted from the matching sections of reputable sources for this exact species. Specialist databases are used first; Wikipedia (community-edited, CC BY-SA 4.0) only fills gaps. Other sources are short credited quotes.

Overview	Neolamprologus kungweensis is a species of cichlid endemic to Lake Tanganyika where it is known from the northwestern part of the lake in Kungwe Bay, Kigoma, Tanzania where it can be found living in shells. This species reaches a length of 8 cm TL. This species can also be found in the aquarium trade. — Wikipedia (community-edited)
Where it lives	Home ranges Population dynamics Growth parameters Max. ages / sizes Length-weight rel. Length-frequencies Mass conversion Recruitment Abundance Life cycle Reproduction Maturity Maturity/Gills rel. — FishBase
Biology	Found mainly over flat muddy bottoms (, 46829 ). At some collection sites a variety of shells were found over the floor in low density (, 52921 ). Presence is given away by numerous holes in the bottom (, 46829 ). — FishBase

Data and studies

The numbers

Each bar is what one source reports. Where several sources weigh in, the dashed gold band marks their average.

Adult length

Average of sources3.1in

FishBase 1643.1

Seriously Fish species profiles 1673.1

Maximum recorded length. Measured as total length. Fish in home aquariums often stay smaller than wild records.

Water temperature

Average of sources74–80°F

FishBase 16475–79

Seriously Fish species profiles 16773–81

Range the species tolerates in nature; aim for the middle.

pH

Reported7.5–9

Seriously Fish species profiles 1677.5–9

Water hardness

Reported10–25dGH

Seriously Fish species profiles 16710–25

Minimum tank footprint

Reported30in

Seriously Fish species profiles 16730

Seriously Fish recommends a tank base of at least 30 × 12 in (about 18 US gallons).

Sources for this sheet

FishBase (Froese & Pauly, eds.), version 24.07 Peer-reviewed researchThe global scientific database on fishes, maintained by a consortium of research institutions; every value is referenced.
Seriously Fish species profiles Experienced keeper or breederLong-running aquarium reference written and peer-checked by experienced fishkeepers and ichthyologists; each profile covers habitat, tank size, water, diet, behaviour and breeding.
Merck Veterinary Manual: Management of aquarium fish Zoo, university or veterinaryThe Merck Veterinary Manual: a standard veterinary reference written and reviewed by veterinary specialists.
Merck Veterinary Manual: Types and features of aquatic systems Zoo, university or veterinaryThe Merck Veterinary Manual: a standard veterinary reference written and reviewed by veterinary specialists.
Merck Veterinary Manual: Nutritional diseases of fish Zoo, university or veterinaryThe Merck Veterinary Manual: a standard veterinary reference written and reviewed by veterinary specialists.
Seriously Fish — Neolamprologus multifasciatus Zoo, university or veterinaryAdded in the 2026 source-checked care-guide review.
Seriously Fish — Tropheus moorii Zoo, university or veterinaryAdded in the 2026 source-checked care-guide review.
Wikipedia (species article) Community referenceFree encyclopedia; useful overviews with their own citations. Intro text is quoted under CC BY-SA 4.0.