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

These Compressiceps are Wild and collected from the Southern end of Lake Tanganyika.

Their shape is the same as fish in the picture above, but their bodies are darker with metallic gold heads. Very nice and very rare.

Comments: When they're mature, these fish have yellow bodies with faint black vertical 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, males can grow to be about 5" 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 in the range of about 3.5" to 4" long, including their tails.

Behaviors: Compressiceps are usually rather aggressive fish, and may attack and harass less aggressive fish. Males are sometimes mean to females.

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

Click here for more about Synodontis Catfish.

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

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

Feeding: Premium Fish Food Pellets is the best food for these Cichlids to eat.

It's best to feed them small pellets, when they're small, then gradually increase the size of the pellets, as they grow larger.

In their natural habitat Compressiceps eat invertebrates, crustaceans, small shrimps, and small fish but do not require live fish when living in an aquarium.

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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: Compressiceps 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 Compressiceps live best in an aquarium with some other compatible Cichlids of about the same size.