Karilani Herring Cichlid (Cyprichromis microlepidotus)

Karilani Herring Cichlid (Cyprichromis microlepidotus) is a Lake Tanganyika cichlid with a very different lifestyle from most rock-dwelling African cichlids. It spends much of its time in open water and is best appreciated as an active social group in a spacious specialist aquarium.

The Karilani name refers to a locality/trade form within the species. Colour and finnage can vary with sex, age, mood and locality. Use the live option on this page for current supplied size, price and availability.

What you are buying

• Common name: Karilani Herring Cichlid
• Scientific name: Cyprichromis microlepidotus
• Origin: Lake Tanganyika, East Africa
• Adult size: around 11–12 cm
• Temperament: relatively peaceful for a cichlid, but socially active
• Diet: small suspended foods and plankton-style fare
• Care level: intermediate; specialist hard-water aquarium recommended
• Best suited to: established Lake Tanganyika communities with open swimming space

Open-water behaviour and group size

Cyprichromis are open-water cichlids and should not be kept like solitary cave fish. They are more confident and display more natural behaviour in a group. A group of around 10 or more is a practical target for a proper display where aquarium size allows.

Males may display and compete for position, while females and subordinate fish need enough space to move away without being trapped. An undersized group or cramped aquarium can concentrate social pressure on individual fish.

Aquarium size

Our house planning starts around 250 litres for a small specialist group, with 300 litres or more preferred for a larger school and mixed Tanganyika community. Horizontal swimming length and open water are particularly important.

Build rockwork lower down and toward the sides or rear while leaving the middle and upper water column open. This gives the fish secure structure without turning the entire tank into a wall of stone.

Water parameters

This species needs the hard, alkaline conditions associated with Lake Tanganyika. A practical range is around 24–27°C, pH 7.8–9.0 and moderate-to-hard mineral content. Stability matters more than repeatedly adjusting the water to chase one exact number.

Ammonia and nitrite must remain at zero. Keep nitrate controlled with good filtration, sensible feeding and regular water changes. Strong surface movement and reliable oxygenation are important in a warm, well-stocked African cichlid aquarium.

Filtration and aquarium layout

Use mature biological filtration with enough capacity for the full group. External filters or a sump can work well in larger aquariums, provided current is distributed rather than blasting one narrow area.

A sandy substrate and stable rock structures suit the species. Secure all heavy rockwork before adding fish. Hardy plants can be used if they tolerate alkaline water, but planting should not remove the open swimming space that makes Cyprichromis feel at home.

Feeding

In nature, herring cichlids feed largely from small particles and plankton in open water. In the aquarium, offer good-quality small cichlid granules or flakes that remain available in the water column, supported by foods such as cyclops, daphnia and Artemia.

Feed controlled portions once or twice daily rather than large heavy meals. The fish should be able to feed without having to compete with much larger or more aggressive cichlids.

Tank mates

The best companions are Lake Tanganyika species that share the same hard, alkaline water but occupy different parts of the aquarium. Shell-dwellers and suitable rock-dwelling cichlids can work in a sufficiently large, carefully planned tank.

Avoid aggressive species that repeatedly chase the open-water group, and avoid soft-water community fish such as most Amazonian tetras. Similar temperature alone does not make two species compatible if their water chemistry and social behaviour differ.

Mixing fish from different African lakes is not automatically wrong, but it should never be done simply because all are labelled “African cichlids”. Diet, aggression, water chemistry and adult size must all overlap.

Sexing and breeding

Mature males tend to show stronger colour and display behaviour; females are generally more subdued. This is a maternal mouthbrooder. A female carries the developing brood in her mouth and may feed less while holding.

Do not assume a single purchase will provide a breeding pair or a particular sex ratio. A settled social group is the more natural starting point for breeding behaviour.

Acclimation and quarantine

Match temperature and mineral-rich water carefully during acclimation. A separate quarantine aquarium using similar hard, alkaline water is strongly recommended before adding new fish to an established Tanganyika system.

During quarantine, look for strong feeding response, open fins, normal respiration and confident midwater swimming. Correct water quality and social stress before treating unexplained behaviour as disease.

Before ordering

Choose Karilani Herring Cichlids if you can provide a large, mature Lake Tanganyika aquarium with hard alkaline water and enough open space for a social group. Reconsider if the tank is small, soft and acidic, or already dominated by highly aggressive cichlids.

Current supplied size, price and stock are shown by the live option on this page so temporary commercial information does not become stale inside the care guide.