Lamprologus Leleupi Orange Tanganyikan African Cichlids 5cm
Image for illustration purposes only. Exact colours, patterns, and size may vary between individuals.
Delivered alive, guaranteed
Live fish delivery is £20 per order, delivered Thursday, Friday or Saturday, arriving before 1:00pm on the day you choose at checkout. Packed by aquatic specialists and shipped overnight with a dedicated livestock courier, every fish is covered by our Live Arrival Guarantee with automatic refunds. See How Live Fish Delivery Works for full details.
When will my fish arrive?
| Order placed | Delivery day |
|---|---|
| Up to Monday 11:00am | Thursday (that week) |
| Monday after 11:00am – Tuesday 11:00am | Friday (that week) |
| Tuesday after 11:00am – Wednesday 11:00am | Saturday (that week) |
| Wednesday after 11:00am – Sunday (any time) | Thursday (following week) |
Overview
The Orange Lemon Cichlid, Neolamprologus leleupi, is a compact, torpedo-shaped cichlid in vivid orange-yellow, a colour that stands out against dark rock. It patrols caves and crevices with real personality, chasing off anything that comes too close to its home. Endemic to the rocky shores of southern Lake Tanganyika, it suits keepers with a rocky Tanganyikan set-up who can manage a feisty small cichlid.
- Adult Size: Around 10 cm (4 in); males larger
- Lifespan: 8–10 years
Origin
- Native to: Southern Lake Tanganyika, East Africa (endemic)
- Habitat: Rocky shoreline, caves and crevices, moderate depth
Feeding
- Diet: Carnivorous, takes some vegetable matter
- Preferred Foods: Brine shrimp, mysis, bloodworm, cichlid pellets, spirulina flake, krill
- Feeding Habits: Feed once or twice daily; limit bloodworm and mammal meat, add spirulina for colour
Tank Mates
- Best with: Julidochromis, Altolamprologus, Cyprichromis, Synodontis, larger shell dwellers in big tanks
- Avoid: Other leleupi unless a bonded pair, Mbuna, timid fish
Aggression & Behaviour
- Temperament: Placid to other species; very aggressive to its own kind and look-alikes
- Territoriality: High around its chosen cave
Experience Level
- Difficulty: Intermediate
- Challenges: Pair bonding is difficult; extra conspecifics are harassed or killed
Water Parameters
- Water Type: Freshwater, hard and alkaline
- Temperature: 23–27°C (73–81°F)
- pH: 7.5–9.0
- Hardness: 8–25 dGH
- Flow: Moderate
- Tank Size: Minimum 100 litres for a pair; 200 litres or more in a community
Final Notes
Keep singly or as a proven pair; forming pairs by raising a group and removing the losers needs spare tanks. Sexing is hard, though males grow larger. It is a cave spawner: the female lays up to 150 eggs inside a cave and both parents guard the fry, which take brine shrimp nauplii at once. Orange intensity improves with colour-enhancing foods and dark decor, and settled fish are endlessly watchable.
Please Note
The livestock that is sold on our online site is not held in store at our Birchwood Aquatic Centre shop. Species sold at the Birchwood Aquatic Centre physical store may differ from ones available to order to your door.
Frequently Asked Questions
In insulated boxes designed for live transport, packed by aquatic specialists,
overnight with a licensed live-animal courier, arriving before 1pm.
It is covered by our Live Arrival Guarantee.
Photograph it within 4 hours of delivery, email info@birchwoodaquaticcentre.co.uk with your order number, and the refund is processed automatically. The cover continues for 7 days after arrival.
Wednesday, Thursday, Friday and Saturday. You pick your day at checkout; please choose a day someone is home.
Yes. One basket, one checkout; the fish arrive with the specialist courier and the rest of your order ships as normal.
We can deliver to UK mainland only for live fish.
Follow the five-minute acclimatisation steps in our When Your Fish Arrive guide: float the bags, add tank water gradually, net the fish in, lights low, feed tomorrow.