Pearl-Lined Lamprologus, Fourspined (Lamprologus tetracanthus) - Cichlid Fish for Sale UK

Rows of pearly spots and lines give the Fourspined Pearl-Lined Lamprologus (Lamprologus tetracanthus) its trade name, and that pattern is the first thing you notice on this small Tanganyikan. The second is the attitude: at just 5.5 cm it carries itself like a far bigger cichlid, patrolling the bottom of the tank with real purpose and missing nothing that happens down there.

Set-up follows the classic Rift Lake recipe. Hard, alkaline water of pH 7.8–9.0 and 10–20 dGH, temperatures of 24–27 °C and a tank of 80 litres or more cover its recorded needs, while a carnivorous diet means meaty foods form the core of feeding. Care is moderate. Day to day it reads as semi-aggressive; the compatibility notes flag that it becomes properly territorial when breeding, so include defendable features along the tank floor from the outset.

Longevity is a quiet selling point — eight years is the recorded lifespan, excellent value from a fish this size and a strong argument for setting the aquarium up correctly the first time.

One further practical point from the record: hardness should not drop below 10 dGH, so keepers in soft-water regions of the UK will want to remineralise rather than run tap water straight into the tank. It is a small extra step, and the same preparation serves any other Rift Lake fish you keep alongside it. With that handled, an 80-litre aquarium delivers everything this species needs for the full eight-year run.

Lamprologus tetracanthus care notes

• Compact bottom-dweller of ~5.5 cm adult size
• pH 7.8–9.0, 10–20 dGH, 24–27 °C
• 80-litre minimum tank
• Carnivore; feed meaty foods
• Semi-aggressive, territorial when breeding; ~8-year lifespan

Sensible tankmates are other small Tanganyikan cichlids of similar temperament, non-aggressive Tanganyikan catfish and snails. Rule out large aggressive cichlids, fin-nipping species, very peaceful slow-moving fish, and small shrimp or other tiny invertebrates that would be treated as food.

Stocking the fourspined form

This species suits keepers building a small-bodied Tanganyika community with personality rather than bulk. Your order travels to any UK address with a licensed live-animal courier, backed by a live arrival guarantee. In short, it is a fish for keepers who actually watch their tanks rather than glance at them.