{"product_id":"neolamprologus-mustax-neolamprologus-mustax","title":"Neolamprologus mustax | Neolamprologus mustax","description":"\u003ch2\u003eDescription\u003c\/h2\u003e\u003cp\u003eA stocky Neolamprologus with a pale 'moustache' marking across the snout and a bold perch-and-watch manner. Understated but hardy, 'Mustax' reaches around 9–10 cm and makes a characterful resident for a rock-based Tanganyikan tank.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch2\u003eNatural Habitat\u003c\/h2\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003eNeolamprologus mustax\u003c\/em\u003e comes from Lake Tanganyika in East Africa, one of the oldest and hardest freshwater lakes on Earth. Its water is warm, highly mineralised, very alkaline and exceptionally stable, and its rocky and sandy shores are carved up into countless small territories. Success with any Tanganyikan depends on recreating that hard, alkaline, rock-solid water chemistry.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch2\u003eAppearance\u003c\/h2\u003e\u003cp\u003eA robust, deep-headed cichlid in fawn-to-yellowish tones, marked by the distinctive pale band across the upper lip and snout that gives it its name, plus fine iridescent speckling on the flanks and fins.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch2\u003eTemperament and Compatibility\u003c\/h2\u003e\u003cp\u003eTerritorial, particularly around its cave and when breeding, but workable in a spacious, well-structured Tanganyikan community. Keep as a pair or with plenty of room and rockwork to define boundaries. Combine with robust tankmates that occupy other zones of the tank.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch2\u003eFeeding\u003c\/h2\u003e\u003cp\u003eA micro-predator\/carnivore in nature, feeding on tiny invertebrates and zooplankton. Offer a quality small cichlid pellet plus frozen cyclops, daphnia, baby brine shrimp and finely-chopped meaty foods. Avoid mammal-based foods. Small, frequent feeds suit their tiny mouths best.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch2\u003eCare Requirements\u003c\/h2\u003e\u003cp\u003eProvide hard, alkaline, very stable water: pH 7.8–9.0, high GH and KH, and a temperature of 24–27 °C. Aquascape with plenty of rockwork to create caves and clear territorial boundaries, over a sand base. Filtration should be efficient and water changes regular but matched carefully for temperature and chemistry, as these fish resent sudden swings.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch2\u003eBreeding\u003c\/h2\u003e\u003cp\u003eA cave spawner. A pair claims and defends a cave, spawns on its inner surfaces and guards the eggs and fry together. Stable, hard, alkaline water and ample caves encourage breeding.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch2\u003eSpecies Information\u003c\/h2\u003e\u003ctable\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eScientific Name\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e\u003cem\u003eNeolamprologus mustax\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eCommon Name\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eMustax Cichlid\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eOrigin\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eAfrica (Lake Tanganyika)\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eMaximum Size\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eAround 9–10 cm\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eLifespan\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e5–8 years\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eTemperament\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eTerritorial around cave\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eDifficulty\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eIntermediate\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eMinimum Tank Size\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e90 litres\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eRecommended Tank Size\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e150 litres or more\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eDiet\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eCarnivore (micro-predator)\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eWater Temperature\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e24–27 °C\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003epH Range\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e7.8–9.0\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eGH Range\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e10–20 dGH (hard, alkaline)\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eSalinity\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eNot applicable (freshwater)\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eSuitable For\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eTanganyikan biotope and hard-water setups\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eReef Safe\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eNot applicable\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003ePlant Safe\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eYes\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003c\/table\u003e\u003ch2\u003eSuitable Tank Mates\u003c\/h2\u003e\u003cp\u003eJulidochromis, Cyprichromis, Altolamprologus and other robust hard-water Tanganyikans that use different areas of the aquarium.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch2\u003eAvoid Keeping With\u003c\/h2\u003e\u003cp\u003eSoft-water community fish, Rift Lake fish needing very different water, large predators, and boisterous fish that disturb the rockwork and territories.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Nick's Aquarium Oceanarium Terrarium","offers":[{"title":"Small (1-5cm)","offer_id":55232785416483,"sku":null,"price":32.5,"currency_code":"AUD","in_stock":false},{"title":"Medium (5-10cm)","offer_id":55232785449251,"sku":"BA8549","price":37.5,"currency_code":"AUD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0972\/7236\/5347\/files\/Neolamprologus_mustax_83c2ae40-3f1d-4848-a6bd-b2de7f19ab91.jpg?v=1781446532","url":"https:\/\/nicksaquariumoceanariumterrarium.com.au\/products\/neolamprologus-mustax-neolamprologus-mustax","provider":"Nicks Aquarium Oceanarium Terrarium","version":"1.0","type":"link"}