Brichardi Cichlid

The brichardi cichlid is a great example of Lake Tanganyika dwarf cichlids. Also called the Fairy Cichlid, the brichardi are one of the few schooling cichlids in the wild. Brichardi cichlids are easy to breed and very hardy, a great starter small cichlid but very territorial. These pretty little cichlids get their nickname "fairy cichlid" for their wing-like fins and lyre tails, not their behavior.

Quick Facts

Care Guide

Tank setup: Use a sand bottom with rockwork, caves and crevices for spawning sites. Lake Malawi and Lake Tanganyika cichlids need hard, alkaline water; crushed coral or aragonite sand helps hold the pH up.

Feeding: Feed a quality cichlid pellet or flake once or twice a day. They also enjoy frozen foods like brine shrimp.

Tankmates: Tanganyikan cichlids do best with other Tanganyikans of similar size, such as julidochromis, neolamprologus and synodontis catfish. Give each pair its own territory.

Good to know: Brichardi live in family colonies where older young help guard new fry, and the colony grows over time.