Mpulungu Sardine Cichlid:

• Scientific Name: Cyprichromis leptosoma “Mpulungu”
• Common Names: Blue Flash Cichlid, Neon Cichlid, Utaka (incorrectly, but occasionally used).
• Adult Size: Typically reaches 10–12 cm (approx. 4–5 inches).
• Lifespan: 5–8 years in a well-managed aquarium.
• Temperament: Very peaceful and active. They are a “shoaling” fish that requires the company of their own kind to feel secure and display their best colours. 

• Tank Size: A minimum length of 4 feet (120 cm) is essential. A 240-litre tank is a good starting point for a colony.
• Water Parameters:
  • Temperature: 23–27°C (73–81°F).
  • pH Level: High alkalinity is vital, ideally between 8.0 and 9.0.
  • Hardness: 10–25 dGH.
• Substrate & Decor: Use fine sand at the bottom. While they don’t use caves, some tall rockwork or “standing” slates at the back can provide a sense of security and natural boundaries for territorial males. Leave the entire upper and middle sections open for swimming. 

• Feeding: They have relatively small mouths and prefer feeding from the water column rather than the floor.
• Recommended Foods: High-quality crushed flakes or small floating pellets. They thrive on frozen or live Cyclops, Daphnia, and Artemia (Brine Shrimp).

• Group Size: These must be kept in groups of at least 10–12 individuals. A higher ratio of females to males (e.g., 2 or 3 females per male) helps reduce “shimmering” displays and minor aggression between competing males.
• Tank Mates: They make excellent “dither fish” for other Tanganyikan cichlids. Ideal companions include Shell Dwellers (Neolamprologus multifasciatus) or Rock Dwellers (Julidochromis), as these species occupy different zones of the tank.
• Caution: Avoid keeping them with large, predatory cichlids or highly aggressive species that might see their slender bodies as prey. 

• Breeding Style: They are maternal mouthbrooders, but uniquely, they spawn in mid-water.
• Process: The female catches the eggs in mid-air as they fall, before retreating to the edge of the shoal.
• Incubation: The female will carry the eggs for roughly 3 to 4 weeks. The fry are quite large when released and are often capable of eating crushed flake or baby brine shrimp immediately. 

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