−14%
Moderate
Fairy Cichlid (Neolamprologus brichardi)
24–27°C · pH 7.5–8.5 · 110L
£8.59£9.99
Pearl-lined Lamprologus tetracanthus, a 5.5cm Tanganyikan carnivore for 80L+ hard-water tanks. Semi-aggressive, territorial when breeding.
Care at a Glance
Scientific Name
Lamprologus tetracanthus
Max Adult Size
up to 20 cm
Lifespan
8 years
Care Level
Moderate
Temperament
Semi-aggressive
Temperature
24–27°C
pH Range
7.8–9
Hardness
10–20 dGH
Minimum Tank
80L
Diet
Carnivore
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 tetracanthus
Pearl-Lined Lamprologus, Fourspined (Lamprologus tetracanthus) - Cichlid Fish for Sale UK
Moderate Care
Semi-Aggressive
£19.99Sold Out
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Pearl-lined Lamprologus tetracanthus, a 5.5cm Tanganyikan carnivore for 80L+ hard-water tanks. Semi-aggressive, territorial when breeding.
Care at a Glance
Scientific Name
Lamprologus tetracanthus
Max Adult Size
up to 20 cm
Lifespan
8 years
Care Level
Moderate
Temperament
Semi-aggressive
Temperature
24–27°C
pH Range
7.8–9
Hardness
10–20 dGH
Minimum Tank
80L
Diet
Carnivore
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.
Similar choices available now
Full Care Guide
Cichlids: Types, Care & Tank Planning
Cichlids are a family of roughly 1,800 accepted species, not one care type. Before buying, identify the exact species and source, then compare adult measurement, usable tank dimensions, social system, territory, tested water, diet and an exit plan. No family-wide minimum tank, water range or tank-mate list is safe.
14 min readRead guide
Water Parameters
Maintain these water conditions for optimal health and vibrant colors
Temperature
24–27°C
24°CIdeal27°C
pH Level
7.8–9
7.8Ideal9
Water Hardness
10–20 dGH
10 dGHIdeal20 dGH
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.
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