Moderate
Compressed Cichlid (Lamprologus compressiceps)
24–27°C · pH 7.8–9 · 80L
£17.99
A striking golden Tanganyikan cichlid with elegant markings and fascinating cave-breeding behavior. Moderate care, semi-aggressive. 23-26C, pH 7.5-8.5.
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. Product-photo provenance and any image-specific limitations are stated on the listing.
Lamprologus calvus
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A striking golden Tanganyikan cichlid with elegant markings and fascinating cave-breeding behavior. Moderate care, semi-aggressive. 23-26C, pH 7.5-8.5.
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. Product-photo provenance and any image-specific limitations are stated on the listing.
24–27°C · pH 7.8–9 · 80L
24–27°C · pH 7.5–9 · 200L
23–26°C · pH 7.5–8.5
23–27°C · pH 7.5–8.5 · 60L
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
The golden colour form of an already elegant species, the Pearly Compressiceps Gold (Lamprologus calvus gold) pairs warm gold tones with the laterally compressed, crevice-hunting shape that makes this Tanganyikan cichlid so distinctive. It reaches around 7cm and carries itself with slow, deliberate grace.
This is a fish for hard, alkaline water and a rocky aquascape full of caves and tight spaces. As a bottom-region carnivore it wedges into crevices to hunt and to feel secure, so the quality of your rockwork directly shapes how settled and visible it will be. Moderate to keep, it rewards a stable, mature tank.
It is semi-aggressive and can become territorial, but its measured nature means clashes are usually about defending a chosen cave rather than open chasing. A well-planned layout with several refuges keeps the peace.
The success of this fish hinges on its rockwork. Build the aquascape around caves and tight crevices it can wedge into, since that security is what brings it out into view and lets it hunt naturally. Keep the water between 23 and 26°C, the pH from 7.5 to 8.5 and hardness across 10 to 25 dGH, all held steady in a mature 120-litre or larger tank.
Feeding follows its carnivorous habits - small meaty prepared and frozen foods suit it well. It is a slow-growing, long-lived cichlid that can reach around eight years, so patience is part of the deal: give it time and a stable home, and its gold colour and deliberate, crevice-hunting character become a genuine focal point.
Keep it with other Tanganyikan cichlids of similar size and temperament in a suitably large tank, Synodontis catfish, and non-aggressive Tanganyikan species that do not compete for the same rock crevices. Avoid large aggressive cichlids, fin-nipping species, overly boisterous community fish, small fish that can be swallowed, and species needing soft, acidic water. All orders are carried by a licensed live-animal courier and supported by our live arrival guarantee.
