Leleupi — a Cichlidae from 中北美洲, territorial; line-of-sight breaks keep the peace. Reaches 7.5–11 cm; a pair claims a territory; give each a defensible cave. 24–26 °C.
Care parameters
Water temperature
24–26 °C
pH
7.5–8
GH hardness
12–15 dGH
Adult length
7.5–11 cm
Minimum tank
145 L
Water layer
Bottom-dwelling
Difficulty
Moderate
Temperament
Territorial; line-of-sight breaks keep the peace
Origin
中北美洲
Species overview
From the waters of 中北美洲 comes Neolamprologus leleupi, a member of the family Cichlidae. Territory is its whole worldview; rocks arranged as walls calm what open water cannot. It lives on the bottom. Adults reach 7.5–11 cm. A pair claims a territory; give each a defensible cave. Strong filtration, hardscape boundaries and a steady routine turn a brawler into a showpiece. Maintain 24–26 °C at pH 7.5–8. A rewarding species for the aquarist who reads before buying.
Native biotope
Habitat
Lakes and slow rivers with structure
Flow
Still to gentle current
Dissolved O₂
Moderate
Aquascape & hardware
Substrate
Sand with rock piles
Hardscape
Stones, caves and broken lines of sight
Plants
Hardy species that tolerate digging
Temperament, diet & tankmates
Schooling
A pair claims a territory; give each a defensible cave
Diet
Omnivore with a protein lean — quality cichlid pellets
Recommended tankmates
Other cichlids of similar size and temperament — Balance aggression across the tank
Avoid keeping with
Delicate planted-tank species — Uprooted and outcompeted