Help with Lamprologus Brichardi

[Winterlight]

I recently acquired a pair of lamprologus brichardi for my african cichlid tank, and they're prolly the most beginner unfriendly african cichlids i've kept so far (i've got auratus in a separate tank, and unidentified, though commonly seen, kenniyi(sp? i think?) and johannis in the tank the lamprologus are in)

they seemed fine at the shop, but when i brought them home, one of them kept swimming around frantically, then lay around immobile to sink to the bottom of the tank, and after resting for a bit, frantically dashed upwards

it continued for a while before it keeled over, twitched, and died.

the other lamprologus seems fine, for now.

I'm wondering what i can do to prevent this? I'll prolly get another lamprologus soon (they're really pretty! and i've loved them ever since i saw them in a book, just never got a chance to buy them.) and i'm hoping to keep it alive.

[vinz]

Ummmm... probably your water condition. Did you acclimatise them properly before putting them in? I started with them, and I must disagree and say they are quite beginner friendly. No problems whatsover. Unlike some cichlids that have individual territories, Neolamprologus (this should be the correct name) brichardi form colonies. OTOH, of the 4 Neolamprologus leluepi I started with, 1 jumped, and 2 had to given back to the shop for credit because they fought so much.

So far the ones I have are really tough. I seldom change their water (once every month or longer) and I've not lost a single one due to that. I've only lost them to fights or jumping. They've even bred several times and brought up 2 broods to maturity.

[Winterlight]

Thanks vinz,

I'll get getting a nother two brichardi today - i'm beginning to think it was an isolated incident. the other one is doing beautifully well, although I'll be transferring it to a non-malawian tank perhaps in a couple weeks or so, because someone's offered to give me a couple of julies. i might go around looking for lelupis too : )

thank you!

[Mez]

kenniyi(sp? i think?) and johannis in the tank the lamprologus are in)

Melanochromis johanni and Pseudotropheus lombardoi (kenyii) should not be in with Brichardi!
Brichardi are peaceful, slightly territorial, lombardoi and johanii are nasty!

[Winterlight]

I've since found out that the fish in the tank weren't johannis nor kennyis, as i was told by the uncle, but labidochromis caeruleus. : )

[Mez]

Ah, ok, yellow labs.