Six-bar Lamprologus
Neolamprologus sexfasciatus
The Six-bar lamprologus features a slender body with six distinctive vertical black bars and vibrant yellow to orange hues on its fins.
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About the Six-bar Lamprologus
This Tanganyikan cichlid wears six bold bars over a pale body, with some locales showing striking gold or white morphs. It prowls the rock-sand intermediate zone and uses powerful throat jaws to crunch snails, so it appreciates hard-alkaline water and solid rockwork with room to establish territory.
Also known as
Quick Facts
Size
6 inches
Temperament
Semi-aggressive
Difficulty
Intermediate
Min Tank Size
53 gallons
Lifespan
8 years
Origin
East Africa (Lake Tanganyika)
Diet
Carnivore - snails and small fish; takes pellets, flakes, and frozen foods
Water Parameters
23-26°C
8-9
15-25 dGH
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This species needs 23-26°C in a 53 gallon tank. Use our heater calculator to find the right wattage.
Calculate heater sizeCare Notes
- Give this 6-inch Tanganyikan cichlid at least 53 gallons with stacked, stable rock piles over sand plus some open lanes to patrol; secure rocks so a charge does not topple the scape.
- Hold hard, alkaline water: 23-26 C, pH 8-9, and 15-25 dGH; aragonite, crushed coral, or a Tanganyika buffer helps keep those values steady.
- Carnivore that crunches snails and small fish in the lake; in the tank it takes quality carnivore pellets, flakes, and frozen foods like mysis, krill, and chopped shrimp.
- It will eat ornamental snails and bite-size tankmates, so skip shrimp, snails, and small fish.
- Tankmates work best when they are robust Lake Tanganyika cichlids of similar size that use different niches; expect semi-aggressive chasing, so break sightlines with rockwork.
- Give each adult a clear territory; crowding ramps up aggression and stress.
- Prioritize stability over chasing exact numbers at every test; avoid sudden pH or hardness swings during water changes.
- Well kept, it can reach about 8 years, so plan the scape and stocking with the long haul in mind.
Compatibility
Good Tankmates
- Julidochromis species of similar size (e.g., J. marlieri, J. regani) - rock-dwelling Tanganyikans that hold narrow territories; provide stacked rockwork to break lines of sight.
- Altolamprologus calvus/compressiceps (similar-sized adults) - slow but sturdy crevice cichlids that do well among vertical rock faces; avoid big size mismatches.
- Neolamprologus leleupi - assertive rock dweller that coexists if each species gets its own cave system and clear territory boundaries.
- Adult Cyprichromis or Paracyprichromis (shoal in a 4 ft+ tank) - midwater dithers that stay out of the rocks; use adults only, as juveniles may be picked off.
- Tanganyikan Synodontis catfish (e.g., S. lucipinnis/'petricola'; S. multipunctatus in larger tanks) - hardy, armored bottom dwellers that ignore cichlid posturing.
- Telmatochromis species (e.g., T. vittatus, T. temporalis) - tough mid-sized Tanganyikan rock/shell associates that hold their own with ample caves.
Avoid
- Small shell dwellers and tiny Tanganyikan species (e.g., N. multifasciatus, N. similis, Lamprologus ocellatus) - likely to be harassed or eaten.
- Ornamental snails and shrimp - prime prey for a snail-crunching carnivore; will be hunted.
- Peaceful community or soft-water fish (tetras, rasboras, gouramis, Apistogramma) - wrong water chemistry and risk of predation/stress.
- Hyper-aggressive African cichlids like Tropheus, Petrochromis, Malawi mbuna, or combative lookalikes such as N. tretocephalus - diet/temperament clashes and escalated territorial fighting.
Neolamprologus sexfasciatus, the Six-bar Lamprologus, is a medium Tanganyikan cichlid reaching about 6 inches. It wears six bold vertical bars on a pale body; some local forms show striking gold or white. Built to crunch snails with powerful throat jaws, it is a semi-aggressive predator suited to hard, alkaline water and solid rockwork. Lifespan is around 8 years with attentive care.
Origin and natural habitat
Endemic to Lake Tanganyika in East Africa, Six-bar Lamprologus patrols the interface between rocky outcrops and open sand. It hunts among crevices and at the base of boulders, taking snails and small fishes. The lake is famously stable, very hard, and alkaline, with high oxygen and clear water.
Replicate the rock-sand transition: stack sturdy caves and ledges, but leave open sand for cruising and territorial displays.
Aquarium setup and water conditions
Give this fish room and rock. A tank of at least 53 US gallons suits a single adult; larger volumes make territory disputes easier to manage if you add other robust Tanganyikan cichlids. Build stable piles of holey rock or similar to create multiple caves and sight breaks, with a base of fine sand or small rounded gravel.
- Temperature: 23-26 C
- pH: 8-9
- Hardness: 15-25 dGH
- Minimum tank size: 53 US gallons
Strong filtration and steady, well-oxygenated water suit this species. Aim for stable chemistry rather than chasing exact numbers. Avoid very soft or acidic conditions.
Secure your rockwork. Territorial chases and digging near cave entrances can topple unstable stacks.
Diet and feeding
A carnivore by nature, Six-bar Lamprologus specializes in snails and will take small fish. In the aquarium it readily accepts high-quality carnivore pellets and cichlid flakes, plus frozen or prepared items.
- Staples: quality carnivore pellets/sticks, cichlid flakes
- Frozen foods: mysis, krill, chopped shrimp, similar meaty items
- Occasional: small snails (it will also consume any pest snails in the tank)
Avoid feeder fish. They add disease risk and poor nutrition. Offer varied prepared and frozen foods instead.
Behaviour and tankmates
This is a semi-aggressive, territorial cichlid that stakes out a cave and the surrounding rock. Expect chasing around boundaries, especially between similarly sized or shaped cichlids. More than one male in limited space tends to escalate conflict.
Choose tankmates from other medium Tanganyikan species of comparable temperament and body size. Avoid bite-sized fishes and invertebrates, which are viewed as food. Very docile or delicate species also fare poorly alongside it.
Predatory by design: small fish and all types of snails are at risk.
Common problems and how to avoid them
- Unstable or soft water: Tanganyikan cichlids react poorly to low hardness or sudden pH swings. Keep it hard and alkaline, and make changes gradually.
- Rockwork injuries: Build on the tank bottom, not on shifting sand, and lock pieces together to prevent collapses.
- Oxygen deficits: Maintain strong surface agitation and avoid letting waste accumulate.
- Mismatched tankmates: Do not mix with small fish or inverts; provide space and multiple caves to diffuse aggression.
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