Sardine Cichlid Cyprichromis leptosoma

The Sardine Cichlid is native to several areas of Lake Tanganyika in East Africa. They are a shoaling species and grow to some 10-12cm (4-5 inches) long. Males usually have yellow tails and breeding males may be pinkish; females have clear tails.

Males will form a "lek" of territories and display to females passing through. If a female accepts, she will spawn and catch the eggs in her mouth. The male has egg-like marks on his anal fin and as the female tries to gather these, he fertilises the eggs in her mouth, which she then carries until the fry hatch and can swim alone.