{"product_id":"xenotilapia-flavippinis-lyamembe-xenotilapia-flavipinnis-lyamembe","title":"Xenotilapia flavipinnis 'Lyamembe' | Xenotilapia flavipinnis 'Lyamembe'","description":"\u003ch2\u003eDescription\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe Lyamembe is a refined, sand-dwelling Tanganyikan cichlid with soft pastel blues and yellow-edged fins, prized among rift lake enthusiasts for its elegant looks and fascinating biparental mouthbrooding behaviour. A peaceful, sociable fish best appreciated in a group over an open sand floor.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eNatural Habitat\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eEndemic to Lake Tanganyika in East Africa, where it forms loose colonies over sandy substrate in open water, sifting sand for small invertebrates.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eAppearance\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eA slender, elongated body in soft pastel blue-grey with yellow-tinged fins, and a more streamlined, less deep-bodied shape than typical rocky-habitat rift lake cichlids.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eTemperament and Compatibility\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003ePeaceful but does best kept in a small group of its own kind, which allows natural pair-bonding and social behaviour; can be slightly nippy or territorial around spawning sites in a crowded tank.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eFeeding\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eA sand-sifting carnivore in the wild — offer small sinking pellets, live or frozen bloodworm, daphnia and brine shrimp so it can forage naturally over the sand.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eCare Requirements\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eGenuinely demanding: this species is very sensitive to declining water quality and needs hard, very alkaline Rift Lake conditions maintained with scrupulous regular water changes, a fine sand substrate for its natural sifting behaviour, and open swimming space.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eBreeding\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAn unusual biparental mouthbrooder for a cichlid — both the male and female take turns holding the eggs and fry in their mouths, sharing parental duties rather than the female carrying the full load alone as in most mouthbrooding cichlids.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eSpecies Information\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003ctable\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eScientific Name\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eXenotilapia flavipinnis 'Lyamembe'\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eCommon Name\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eLyamembe Sand Cichlid\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eOrigin\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eLake Tanganyika, East Africa\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eMaximum Size\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e9-10cm\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\u003ePeaceful, best kept in a group\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eDifficulty\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eAdvanced\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eMinimum Tank Size\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e150L\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eRecommended Tank Size\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e200L+ with a sand floor and open space\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eDiet\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eCarnivore (sand-sifter)\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eWater Temperature\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e25-28°C\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003epH Range\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e7.5-9.0\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eGH Range\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e10-20 dGH (hard)\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\u003eExperienced Tanganyikan cichlid keepers\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\u003eNot typically kept with plants (sand-floor Rift Lake setup); hardy rhizome plants may tolerate the water chemistry\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003c\/table\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eSuitable Tank Mates\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eOther peaceful Tanganyikan sand-dwellers and shell-dwellers of similar size and temperament, sharing the same hard, alkaline water requirements.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eAvoid Keeping With\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAvoid soft-water community fish, aggressive rocky-habitat mbuna, and anything that will outcompete this more delicate species for food or disturb its sand-sifting behaviour.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Nick's Aquarium Oceanarium Terrarium","offers":[{"title":"Small (1-5cm)","offer_id":55232786104611,"sku":"AA3669-S","price":130.95,"currency_code":"AUD","in_stock":false},{"title":"Medium (5-10cm)","offer_id":55232786137379,"sku":"AA3669","price":149.95,"currency_code":"AUD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0972\/7236\/5347\/files\/xenotilapia-flavippinis-lyam-43880401764643.webp?v=1790305827","url":"https:\/\/nicksaquariumoceanariumterrarium.com.au\/products\/xenotilapia-flavippinis-lyamembe-xenotilapia-flavipinnis-lyamembe","provider":"Nicks AOT","version":"1.0","type":"link"}