For the first time, a spectacular aquarium fish with the romantic name Princess Burundi (Neolamprologus brichardi) was described in 1952 by ichthyologist Poll. This beauty was brought to our country in 1972. This fish belongs to the family of Cichlidae, a perciform order. Her homeland is the warm African lake of Tanganyika.
Fish Description
Princess Burundi earned popularity among aquarists not only for her unpretentiousness and endurance, but also for her attractive appearance. The body of this fish is painted in a pleasant pinkish-beige color. On each scale, as well as on the fins, there are small spots of a brick hue. From the eye of the fish to its gills there passes a rather wide black stripe interrupted in one place. Above it is a large bright yellow spot. During spawning, the tail and head of the male turns blue.
The princess of Burundi differs from many other cichlids by its rather unusual fins. Their edges are trimmed with white, and the tips are effectively elongated, because of what they have a lyre-like appearance. Under good conditions, the body length of this fish can reach 9-14 cm.
How to contain
The water in the homeland of the Princess of Burundi, in Lake Tanganyika, is harsh and has a slightly alkaline reaction. In order for the fish to feel comfortable, it is necessary to try to create just such conditions in the aquarium. The most suitable water temperature for this cichlid is + 22 ... + 25 degrees. To stimulate spawning, this indicator is increased to about 28 degrees. Hardness (dH) of water in the aquarium should be 8-20, and acidity (pH) - 7.1-8.6.
The Princess of Burundi does not tolerate a lack of oxygen in the water very well. Therefore, the aquarium must be equipped with a powerful aerator. To determine that the princess is not enough air, you can according to her behavior. With oxygen starvation, these fish begin to swim with their tail up, and, like any other inhabitants of the aquarium, rise closer to the surface of the water.
In addition to the aerator, for this cichlid you need to install a filter (preferably with a filler of marble chips). Keep a couple of these fish in the aquarium is allowed up to 50 liters. This is quite enough for the princesses. However, since this flock of cichlids, it is better to purchase one male and several females and place them in a larger tank - 150-200 liters. In such conditions, it is possible that the owner of the fish will be able to look at their group spawning.
In the aquarium for the Princess of Burundi, it is best to create a rocky landscape. Also, plants should be planted. It can be, for example, wallisneria, camboba, etc. For plants, it is worth using special pots. The fact is that sometimes this cichlid tries to dig green spaces. Replace the water in the aquarium with this fish once a week for 10-25% of the volume.
Princess of Burundi: compatibility with other fish
This beautiful fish is appreciated by aquarists, including for its calm, peaceful disposition. With any other large, not too aggressive fish, she gets along just fine. Very often it is kept together, for example, with Iris and Aterinum. It is allowed to run it in one aquarium and with calm varieties of cichlids. Sometimes these fish are kept even with Guppies and Molly, who also prefer hard, slightly alkaline water. But this is only possible if the aquarium is very large and the fish grew together.
This cichlid is usually aggressive during spawning. During this period, it is advisable to place the fish from the general aquarium in a special one intended for the withdrawal of fry.
Behavior features
The flocks of these cichlids are always based on consanguinity. Moreover, there is a strict hierarchy in them. The core of the pack is a pair of producers. The second step in the hierarchy is occupied by young females helping them in caring for the fry. The next group is ordinary juveniles. And the most disenfranchised members of the pack are fish that have already reached 3-4 months of age. These aquarium inhabitants do not even have their own territory. In nature, they swim in the upper layers of the water and are often attacked by predators.
What to feed
In nature, the Princess of Burundi, the content of which is a relatively simple procedure, feeds on small mollusks, zooplankton and aquatic insects. In an aquarium, she is usually given live food. Also, this fish can eat dry. However, she does this not too willingly. Some aquarists give the Princess of Burundi and finely chopped sea fish. Of course, it is impossible to feed this cichlid in the river. Such meat may contain viruses and bacteria that can cause dangerous diseases in this aquarium inhabitant.
Propagation Features
The puberty in fish Princess Burundi occurs at the age of 8-10 months. In the pre-spawning female, a long genital papilla is noticeable. This fish lays eggs quite often. She is able to spawn about once every 20 days. In this case, the fish most often form pairs, but sometimes they spawn in groups.
The size of the spawning aquarium for the Princess of Burundi should be at least 50 liters. These fish lay eggs either on flat stones or on the inside of the shelters. They take care of her very carefully, not allowing anyone within a radius of 25 cm to reach the future offspring. The fertility of the Princess of Burundi is high. A couple can lay up to 200 eggs at a time. Female mosques in batches of about 30-80 pcs.
How does a fish develop?
Larvae from eggs on the third day hatch. Already after 8-9 days they turn into fry. Such young cichlids should be fed with live dust. It often happens that manufacturers begin to care not only about their offspring, but also about a stranger of the same kind. In the first two days, the fry stay strictly near their mother. Then they begin to sail to bright places in search of food. About 7 days after hatching, their eyes turn blue, and after 14, a white rim appears on the fins.
Parents look after fry for two weeks. After that, young fish begin an independent life.
Interesting Facts
For the first time, 14 fry of this interesting cichlid were brought to the USSR. Unfortunately, at first the Soviet aquarists mistook them for a new variety of Apistogramma. As a result, the fish created inappropriate conditions of detention, which is why almost all fry died. Only three individuals survived.
Some aquarists at first take this cichlid as very shy. The fact is that the Princess of Burundi, at the slightest noise or sudden movements of the owner, instantly hides. However, in reality this is simply a normal reaction to a possible danger. After a few seconds, the fish begin to peek out from behind the shelter and swim to the free space.
As already mentioned, Princess of Burundi (the photo above clearly confirms this), unlike all other lamprologuses, is a schooling school. Moreover, each group of such cyclides has its own rules and orders, which cannot be broken by any individual. All delinquent undisciplined members of the pack are expelled. In this case, the fish severely beat the offender. Very often, females who failed to protect their offspring are also driven out of the pack.
The aquarium fish Princess Burundi generally takes care of the fry very carefully. In nature, protecting the fry, these small cichlids are able to attack even large predatory fish, biting it with their sharp teeth.