Fairy Cichlid

Overview

Fairy Cichlid (Neolamprologus brichardi) is a freshwater aquarium fish for aquariums where the layout leaves enough swimming room and the water stays stable.

Use these values as planning checks, then make sure the aquarium still has room for behavior, group needs, and calm community fish.

Care requirements

With a Beginner – Intermediate care level, Fairy Cichlid is approachable, but it still needs stable water, clean substrate, and a well-planned stocking group.

Plan the aquarium around the group, not just one individual.

With a lifespan of up to 8 years, this is a fish to plan for long term rather than an impulse addition.

Aquarium size and space needs

An aquarium of 200 L or larger can be a reasonable starting point, but it should not be read as permission to overstock.

At up to 9 cm, Fairy Cichlid stays small, but a group still needs room to move, feed, and avoid constant competition.

A group of 6 or more should have enough room for movement and feeding.

Water parameters

The temperature range for this fish is 23 to 26 °C, which fits many tropical freshwater aquariums. Choose other fish with overlapping temperature needs.

The pH range for this fish is 7 to 8. That points to neutral to slightly alkaline water, but stability is more important than sudden corrections.

The GH range for this fish is 15 to 25 dGH. That gives some flexibility, but sudden changes are usually more stressful than a stable value that is slightly imperfect.

Temperament and compatibility

Fairy Cichlid needs more careful companion choice because the temperament data suggests space, boundaries, or similar-sized fish may matter.

If kept in a group of 6 or more, the aquarium should have enough swimming room for the group rather than being planned around a single fish.

Swimming zone and behavior

Because this species is best planned as a group of 6 or more, plan the aquarium around the group rather than a single fish.

Feeding

As an omnivore, Fairy Cichlid should receive a varied diet rather than one repeated food type.

Natural habitat and origin

This profile currently lists the origin as Tanzania. Treat this as a broad regional note rather than a complete habitat description.

Before adding this fish

Use this checklist before treating the profile as a match for an existing aquarium.

• Plan for an aquarium of 200 L or larger.
• Make sure the aquarium has enough open swimming room for the group.
• Choose other fish with overlapping temperature needs.
• Keep pH stable within the listed range instead of making sudden corrections.
• Choose other fish carefully around this temperament.
• Plan for a group of 6 or more.
• Offer a varied diet that matches this species.