Yellow Head Kekese Cyprichromis (Cyprichromis leptosoma)

Yellow Head Kekese Cyprichromis (Cyprichromis leptosoma) is an open-water Lake Tanganyika cichlid valued for its slim body, active group movement and the yellow-head colour developed by mature males in the Kekese locality form. Unlike many rock-dwelling African cichlids, Cyprichromis spend much of their time in the middle and upper water.

Use the live size selector for current supplied size, stock and price. This species should be planned as a social group rather than a single specimen.

Quick care

• UK trade name: Yellow Head Kekese Cyprichromis
• Scientific name: Cyprichromis leptosoma
• Origin: Lake Tanganyika
• Adult size: around 8–10 cm
• Group: at least 6; larger groups are preferable
• Practical aquarium baseline: around 200 litres or more with useful swimming length
• Temperature: around 24–27°C
• pH: around 7.8–9.0
• Water: hard and alkaline
• Temperament: relatively peaceful for a Tanganyika cichlid
• Diet: small suspended foods and fine cichlid feeds

Open-water aquarium design

Plan the aquarium around swimming space. Use stable rockwork around the sides and lower areas for structure and sight breaks, but leave a broad middle and upper water column open for the group.

Strong mature biological filtration, good surface movement and high oxygen are important. Ammonia and nitrite must remain at zero and nitrate should be controlled through suitable stocking, measured feeding and regular partial water changes.

Water parameters

Maintain hard, alkaline Lake Tanganyika-style water around 24–27°C and pH 7.8–9.0. Test GH and KH if the source water is soft. If remineralisation is needed, use a consistent measured method rather than repeatedly dosing the occupied aquarium.

Stability is more important than chasing one exact pH. Match replacement water carefully during routine maintenance.

Group size and behaviour

Keep at least six, with a larger group preferred in a spacious aquarium. Social stocking helps the fish behave more naturally and lets males display without focusing all attention on one individual.

Provide enough open water that subordinate fish can move away. A small group crowded into a short aquarium can still create social pressure even though the species is generally considered mild.

Feeding

Use fine floating or slow-sinking cichlid foods that remain available in the water column. Cyclops, daphnia, baby Artemia and other small frozen or live foods are useful for variety.

Feed small portions once or twice daily. Large heavy sinking meals are a poor match for an open-water planktivore and can simply accumulate in rockwork.

Tank mates

Suitable companions are calm Lake Tanganyika species that share the same hard alkaline water but occupy different parts of the aquarium. Shell-dwellers and carefully selected rock cichlids can work in a sufficiently large, well-zoned setup.

Avoid highly aggressive Mbuna, large predators and soft-water community fish. Sharing an African origin does not make water, diet and social behaviour automatically compatible.

Breeding

Cyprichromis leptosoma are maternal mouthbrooders. Females carry developing eggs and fry in the mouth and may feed less while holding. A settled group with good water quality and reduced harassment gives breeding females the best chance of completing the brood.

Before ordering

Choose Yellow Head Kekese Cyprichromis if you have a mature hard-water Tanganyika aquarium with enough open swimming length for a proper group. Reconsider if the tank is small, soft and acidic or already dominated by aggressive rock cichlids.

Current size, stock and price are shown by the live product selector so the care description remains accurate when availability changes.