HomeFreshwater aquarium fishAfrican cichlidsParacyprichromis nigripinnis Paracyprichromis nigripinnis Scientific name: Paracyprichromis nigripinnis Boulenger, 1901 Paracyprichromis nigripinnis is a freshwater fish of the family Cichlidae that grows to about 10 cm (3.9 in). It is moderate to keep and aggressive and needs a tank of at least 75 L (20 US gal), water at 24–27°C (75–81°F) and a pH of 7.5–9.0. Native range: Africa, Endemic to Lake Tanganyika. Eastern shore of the Lake , from KabogoPoint to Kibwe Bay. Like N. leleupi, this species inhabits rocky,shore areas. Paracyprichromis nigripinnis care at a glanceCare levelModerateTemperamentAggressiveAdult size10 cm (3.9 in)Minimum tank75 L (20 US gal)Temperature24–27°C (75–81°F)pH7.5–9.0Hardness8–20 dGH (143–357 ppm)DietOmnivore. Accepts live foods. BiologyGregarious, form schools of several hundreds of fish. Feed on zooplankton that are present in the open water column above the rocky substrate. Females brood their young in the mouth.Source: FishBase, licensed CC BY-NC 4.0. Species factsScientific nameParacyprichromis nigripinnisFamilyCichlidae (Cichlids)OrderPerciformes (Perch-like fish)ClassActinopterygii (Ray-finned fishes)Maximum length11.0EnvironmentFreshwater; benthopelagicClimateTropicalDistributionAfrica: Lake Tanganyika.Conservation status (IUCN)Least Concern (LC)Threat to humansHarmlessUsesAquarium: commercialResilienceHigh, minimum population doubling time less than 15 months (Preliminary K or Fecundity.) More african cichlidsParananochromis caudifasciatusNeolamprologus splendensNeolamprologus multifasciatusNeolamprologus leleupiNeolamprologus buescheriNeolamprologus brichardiSee all african cichlids SourcesTaxonomy, distribution and biology data: FishBase (Froese, R. and D. Pauly, eds.), licensed CC BY-NC 4.0. Aquarium care parameters compiled, checked and converted to metric and imperial units by Guppies.za.net.Last updated 28 September 2026