Furcifer (Cyathopharynx furcifer) - Cichlid Fish for Sale UK

True open-water Tanganyikans are scarce in the hobby, and Cyathopharynx furcifer — sold here simply as the Furcifer — is the classic example. Rather than defending a cave, it cruises the mid-levels of the aquarium, and at roughly 21 cm full-grown it needs serious swimming room: 400 litres is the workable minimum on our records, ideally arranged with long, unobstructed lanes at mid-height.

This one is rated for experienced keepers, and the reasons are specific. It is a planktivore, so it expects frequent feeds of suitable foods and must not be outcompeted at mealtimes — its own compatibility notes call for fast, robust tankmates that will not beat it to the food. Its water band is firmly alkaline: pH 8–9 over 10–20 dGH at 22–26 °C, which rules out softer general-community conditions. Day to day it is semi-aggressive, becoming territorial when breeding, and the recorded lifespan runs to about eight years.

Give some thought to where this fish actually lives before you aquascape. The record places it at mid-level, so prioritise open column space over elaborate cave-work, and keep any rock low so the upper layers stay clear for display. Filtration and maintenance should be scoped for a 400-litre alkaline system from the outset — this listing is graded for experienced keepers, and the equipment plan is half of meeting that grade. Done properly, you get up to eight years of one of the lake's most distinctive swimmers.

Keeping Cyathopharynx furcifer

• Experienced-keeper species; semi-aggressive, territorial when spawning
• 21 cm adult length; around 8 years of lifespan
• Alkaline chemistry: pH 8–9, 10–20 dGH, 22–26 °C
• 400-litre minimum with open mid-water swimming space
• Planktivore — frequent feeds; never let it be outcompeted

Stock it alongside other Tanganyikan cichlids of matching size and temperament or fellow open-water species; non-aggressive shell-dwellers can work too, but only in very large tanks. Skip small fish that could be bullied or eaten, highly aggressive cichlids, fin-nippers, soft-water species, and slow or timid fish that change the pace of the tank.

Adding a Furcifer to your collection

Treat this as a destination fish for a dedicated Tanganyika system rather than an impulse buy — the payoff is a swimmer few other lakes-region cichlids can match. We ship UK-wide using a licensed live-animal courier, backed by our live arrival guarantee.