Aquarist Atlas
↑ Collection form of Neolamprologus cylindricus

Neolamprologus cylindricus "Cape Mpimbwe"Cylindricus cichlid

Neolamprologus cylindricus (Cape Mpimbwe, Chituta Bay, Izinga, Izinga Island, Kafungi, Kalambo Lodge, Kasanga, Kasola Island, Katili, Kerenge Island, Kipili, Lupita Island, Mtosi, Mvuna Island, Nkondwe Island, Silaf Rocks)

Cape Mpimbwe — KAYP m-PEEM-bweh (approx.)

The fish

How this cichlid is built, and everything about how it lives, eats and breeds, is shared with the species — this page doesn't repeat it.

Read the full Neolamprologus cylindricus account →

Specific to Cape Mpimbwe

  • Collection locality & coordinates
  • Local coloration — best judged from the living-fish photo
  • Kept as a single-provenance line, never crossed with other collection points

Care facts below are the species' — shared with Neolamprologus cylindricus.

IUCNLEAST CONCERN · 2025
CARESNOT LISTED
Genus type speciesNeolamprologus tetracanthusdescribed as Lamprologus tetracanthus Boulenger 1899
Scientific size4 in10.4 cm total length
Temperature73–82 °F23–28 °C
pH7–9alkaline
Habitat waterhard · 600–690 µS/cmLake Tanganyika
Depth0–33 ft0–10 m
DietMicro-carnivore; feeds on invertebrates including shrimps and crustaceans taken from rock biocover and crevices.
BreedingCave substrate spawner.~tens of eggs (genus-typical)
Sexual dimorphismYesMales larger with slightly more produced dorsal and anal fin tips; ripe females show a rounder belly; sexing by appearance is unreliable — venting is recommended.
PhotographsSee photosGoogle Images →

The Cape Mpimbwe population

Neolamprologus cylindricus "Cape Mpimbwe" is the Cape Mpimbwe population of Neolamprologus cylindricus, a geographic colour form from the Tanzania coast of Lake Tanganyika in the north-central part of the lake. It is the same species as Neolamprologus cylindricus, distinguished by its collection locality and local coloration; aquarists keep and breed it as a discrete, provenance-labelled line.

Colour reference: living Cape Mpimbwe fish at tanganyika.si →

About the species

Neolamprologus cylindricus is a small, boldly barred rock-dwelling cichlid found only along the southeastern shore of Lake Tanganyika. Its cigar-shaped body and chain of crisp dark bands make it one of the most instantly recognizable of the lake's lamprologines. In the wild it is a secretive crevice predator; in the aquarium it is a hardy but pugnaciously territorial fish best kept as a single bonded pair.

Full Neolamprologus cylindricus account →

Sources

  1. tanganyika.si — Neolamprologus cylindricus "Cape Mpimbwe"
  2. FishBase — Neolamprologus cylindricus
  3. Eschmeyer's Catalog of Fishes — Neolamprologus cylindricus (species record)
  4. Eschmeyer's Catalog of Fishes — Staeck & Seegers 1986 reference record
  5. Staeck, W. & Seegers, L. 1986. Neolamprologus cylindricus spec. nov. (original description, DATZ 39(10):448–451)
  6. Aibara, Takahashi & Nakaya 2005. Neolamprologus cancellatus, a new cichlid from Lake Tanganyika (Ichthyological Research 52)
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