Moderate
Mutondwe Compressiceps (Altolamprologus compressiceps)
23–27°C · pH 7.8–9 · 200L
£18.99
Lamprologus compressiceps, the slim-bodied Compressed Cichlid: a 4cm Tanganyikan carnivore for 80L+ hard-water tanks. Moderate care.
Adult size is the maximum length this species reaches at full maturity (scientific sources). The livestock you receive will be younger and smaller — pick a size variant above for the actual shipping size. Photos are AI-enhanced, so the animal may show subtle colour or marking differences.
Lamprologus compressiceps
Compressed Cichlid bond and breed in male/female pairs — buying a pair gives them the social structure they need.
Lamprologus compressiceps, the slim-bodied Compressed Cichlid: a 4cm Tanganyikan carnivore for 80L+ hard-water tanks. Moderate care.
Adult size is the maximum length this species reaches at full maturity (scientific sources). The livestock you receive will be younger and smaller — pick a size variant above for the actual shipping size. Photos are AI-enhanced, so the animal may show subtle colour or marking differences.
Cichlids are one of the most diverse fish families in the hobby. From tiny apistogrammas to massive oscars, this guide covers the basics of keeping them well.
Maintain these water conditions for optimal health and vibrant colors
Compressed by name and by build, the Compressed Cichlid (Lamprologus compressiceps) is one of Lake Tanganyika's most distinctive small fish. The slim, narrow profile its name describes lets it work tight spaces along the rockwork, and at a recorded 4 cm adult size it ranks among the most compact cichlids we list from the lake — a lot of character in very little water.
Don't let the size tempt you into general-community thinking, though. This is a carnivore with a semi-aggressive streak that can turn territorial, and it wants proper Rift Lake water: 24–27 °C, pH 7.8–9.0 and hardness of 10–20 dGH. An 80-litre aquarium is the recorded minimum, and it spends its time low in the tank, so build the interest — rock piles, caves, crevices — at that level rather than up in the water column. Care is moderate, and the recorded lifespan is a generous eight years.
Reading the record closely, the hardness floor of 10 dGH is as binding as the pH: this is not a fish to trial in soft municipal water and correct later. Prepare the mineral content first, confirm 24–27 °C stability, and only then shortlist tankmates. The order of operations matters with a territorial bottom-dweller, because rearranging an occupied tank means renegotiating boundaries the fish considers settled. An 80-litre system handled this way will hold the species comfortably for its full recorded lifespan.
Match it with other Lake Tanganyika cichlids of similar size and temperament, or non-aggressive Tanganyikan species that share its water requirements. Keep away small peaceful fish that could be bullied or eaten, slow-moving long-finned fish, overly aggressive large cichlids, and community species that need soft, acidic water.
For a nano-scale slice of the lake, few fish offer more character per centimetre than this one. Order today and your Compressed Cichlid ships by licensed live-animal courier under our live arrival guarantee.
23–27°C · pH 7.8–9 · 200L
24–27°C · pH 7.5–9 · 200L
24–27°C · pH 7.5–8.5 · 80L
23–26°C · pH 7.5–8.5 · 75L
24–27°C · pH 7.5–9 · 40L
23–25°C · pH 7.8–8.8 · 120L
18–26°C · pH 6.5–8 · 30L
23–27°C · pH 7.4–8.4 · 500L
20–27°C · pH 6–7 · 54L
23–27°C · pH 7.4–8.4 · 150L
24–28°C · pH 6.5–7.8 · 300L
20–24°C · pH 7–8 · 45L
24–28°C · pH 6.5–7.5 · 2000L
24–28°C · pH 7.5–8.5 · 200L
24–28°C · pH 5.5–7 · 60L
18–25°C · pH 6–8 · 100L
24–28°C · pH 7–8 · 120L
18–28°C · pH 6.5–8 · 20L
24–27°C · pH 7.5–8.8 · 150L
22–26°C · pH 6–7.5 · 60L
24–28°C · pH 7.5–8.5 · 40L
24–28°C · pH 7.5–8.5 · 500L