Neolamprologus helianthus SUNFLOWER / HELIANTHUS

The Sunflower Cichlid, also known as the Helianthus Cichlid or Sunflower Lamprologus, are endemic to rocky rubble areas of Kamakonde in the southern portion of Lake Tanganyika in Africa. One of the more aggressive in the genus, Sunflower cichlids have an overall bright yellow-orange color as adults with a dark gill plate pattern. These characters taken together can separate this species from the other seven, including the very common Brichardi (Neolamprologus brichardi), that are included in the “Brichardi complex.” Sunflower cichlids are best kept as a male-female pair, though most specimens are sold at a young age where distinguishing sex is difficult. If interested in maintaining the integrity of your Sunflower cichlid gene pool, avoid mixing this species with any other brichardi species (N. brichardi, crassus, falcicula, gracilis, pulcher, savoryi, and splendens) to prevent hybridization. An adult Sunflower cichlid will grow to approximately 3-1/4″, with females averaging slightly smaller than males. Note: This species is not frequently available.