Above: In this picture a young premium quality Neolamprologus Sexfasciatus was swimming in one of our aquariums, when one of us snapped this picture.

Comments: When they're mature, these fish have yellow bodies with bold black bars.

Origin: The ancestors of this fish lived in Lake Tanganyika. But now they live in aquariums all over the world.

Maximum Size: In aquariums, they're able to grow to be about 6" long, including their tails, which is a nice big size for aquariums with 80-gallons of water or more.

Females tend to remain a little smaller.

Behaviors: Sexfasciatus are usually rather aggressive fish, and may attack and harass less aggressive fish.

Compatibility: Some recommended tank mates include, Malawi Peacocks, mild tempered Mbunas like the Lemon Yellow Mbuna, and Synodontis Catfish, also Cichlids from Lake Victoria, but probably not most other Cichlids from Lake Tanganyika.

Click here for more about Synodontis Catfish.

Click here to read more about compatible groups of pet fish.

Temperature: Sexfasciatus live best from about 75 to 80-degrees F. with 78 being perhaps ideal.

Click here to learn about aquarium temperature, aquarium thermometers, and aquarium heaters.

Feeding: Premium Fish Food Pellets is the best food for Cichlids to eat. It would be best to feed them small pellets when young, then gradually increase the size, as they grow larger.

In their natural habitat the Sexfasciatus eat small fish but do not require live fish when living in an aquarium.

Click here to learn more about and shop online for premium fish foods.

Water Conditions: These fish do best in water with a pH of 8+ and very high hardness.

Most the water in the US has a lower pH and is not as hard but these fish can adapt to most water down to a pH of 7.5 with less hardness, and so as usual it's best not to try to change the pH or alkalinity.

Click here for a lot more information about aquarium water conditions.

Aquarium Size: Sexfasciatus will eventually need to live in an aquarium with at least 80-gallons of water.

Each Cichlid will need at least 6-gallons of water, and Sexfasciatus live best in an aquarium with some other compatible Cichlids of about the same size.

Decor: Sexfasciatus do not need gravel in their aquarium, and a layer of gravel more than 1/4" thick will usually fill with bits of uneaten food that will contaminate the water.

Click here for more about aquarium gravel.

Live plants are beautiful and improve the water quality, but this fish will usually rip plants up, so most aquariums with Sexfasciatus do not have live plants.

They like a couple of piles of aquarium-safe rocks.

Aquarium Filter: Bio-Wheel Filters are highly recommended. Most 80-gallon aquariums have room along the back for two Penguin 350B Filters, and this is sort of the minimum set up for Sexfasciatus.

Better is a 120, 150, or 200-gallon aquarium with as many Penguin 350B Filters as will fit across the back.

Click here to learn more about aquarium filters.

The addition of Lava Rocks will keep nitrates in the ideal range. Click here to learn more about using Lava Rocks in aquariums.

Life Span: Sexfasciatus can live for several years. Keep the water conditions excellent and feed them premium foods, and they'll most likely breed and produce the next generation of fish for your aquarium.

Gender: Males usually display bolder and brighter colors as they mature. Females usually have duller colors, and smaller bodies.

Breeding: Sexfasciatus are Substrate Spawners. Click here for a lot more about breeding various tropical fish in aquariums.

Popularity: The Sexfasciatus is a popular aquarium Cichlid fish.

Names: Their scientific name for Sexfasciatus is Neolamprologus sexfasciatus.

Variations: There is also a variation that is silver and lacks the yellow, but this other variation may actually be another closely related species.

Click here for a lot more information about keeping and caring for Sexfasciatus, including a picture gallery.

We hope you've enjoyed reading these comments.

DrTom - 11/02/2015