Neolamprologus tretocephalus - (No Online Purchases)

Often called the "Poor Man’s Frontosa" or "Trets," Neolamprologus tretocephalus is a striking Tanganyikan cichlid known for its bold black-and-white bars and electric blue fin edges. While they look like miniature Frontosas, their personality is much more aggressive and territorial.

Tank Requirements
Trets are rock-dwellers that also appreciate sandy open spaces. They are powerful swimmers and notoriously territorial.

Minimum Tank Size: 170–200 Litres for a single specimen or a bonded pair. For a community, a 4-foot (200–300 Litres) tank is the recommended minimum to provide enough "buffer room" for other fish.

Substrate:Fine sand (aragonite or coral sand is best to help buffer the pH).

Decor: Extensive rockwork is essential. Create numerous caves and crevices to provide hiding spots and break lines of sight. They are known to excavate sand around their chosen cave.

Lid: Use a tight-fitting lid; they are known jumpers, especially when spooked or during aggressive chases.

Water Parameters
Like all Lake Tanganyika cichlids, they require hard, alkaline water and high stability.

Temperature: 24°C – 27°C

pH: 7.8 – 9.0

Hardness: 10 – 25 dGH

Maintenance: They are sensitive to nitrates. Frequent, moderate water changes (15–20% weekly) are better than large, infrequent ones to maintain stable chemistry.

Diet & Feeding
In the wild, Trets are specialised hunters that feed on molluscs and other invertebrates.

Primary Diet: High-quality carnivorous pellets or flakes.

Treats: Frozen or live foods such as mysis shrimp, krill, and brine shrimp.

Snail Control: They are excellent natural snail-eaters and will actively hunt small snails in the substrate.

Temperament & Compatibility
This is the most challenging aspect of keeping Trets. They are among the most aggressive Neolamprologus species.

Conspecific Aggression: They are extremely intolerant of their own kind. Unless you have a confirmed mated pair, keep only one per tank.

Suitable Tank Mates: Choose robust Tanganyikan species that occupy different niches:

Mid-water: Cyprichromis (to act as dither fish).

Rock-dwellers: Large Julidochromis or Altolamprologus (Calvus/Compressiceps), provided the tank is large enough.

Catfish: Synodontis species are usually ignored and can hold their own.

Species to Avoid: Small shell-dwellers (who may be harassed) or other similarly barred fish (like N. sexfasciatus), which will trigger intense aggression.

Breeding
Trets are bi-parental cave spawners, but they are notoriously difficult to pair up in captivity.

The Pairing Process: It is best to start with a group of 5–6 juveniles and let them pair off naturally. Once a pair forms, the remaining fish must be removed, or the pair will likely kill them.

Weak Bonds: Even bonded pairs have "weak" bonds. If the male becomes too aggressive toward the female between spawns, ensure she has plenty of small crevices he cannot fit into.

Fish Size:

• Grows to 10 - 15 cm

Temperature:

• 24°C – 27°C

Water pH:

• 7.8 – 9.0

Origin:

• Lake Tanganyika (East Africa)