The Compressed Cichlid is native to rocky shores of Lake Tanganyika where its laterally-compressed body allows it to swim between rock crevices (for hunting crustaceans and for protection).

They reach 13cm long. When black on white, they can look like their close relative, the Congo Black, but have a slightly more upturned snout. They can also be yellow-bodied. They are substrate spawners.

The Sumbu Shell, also called Sumbu Shelldweller and Sumbu Dwarf Cichlid is a mini version of the Compressed Cichlid above and, as its name indicates, is a shelldweller on the shores of Lake Tanganyika (ie it lives and breeds in empty shells of water snails for protection). Females reach 4-6cm long and males 5-9cm.