Not a very aggressive or territorial fish, a single pair was placed into a 75-gallon community tank full of Tropheus, Cyprichromis and other rock dwelling Lamprologus species, with no ill effects. They rarely involved themselves in other fish's activities and seemed content to just hover over a large pile of rocks. Only briefly during courtship, did the male show some aggression. During this time, the vertical bars appear more pronounced, as the normally bluish body color lightens into a pale sky blue courting garb (shown bottom).
Once the male senses the imminent egg laying of the female, he begins excavating a small pit less than six inches in diameter in a relatively sheltered position. Then with the usual dancing display, lures the gravid female into his newly created temporary nest. The entire courtship period last only one or two days, and the end result is a mouth brooding female carrying over 20 fertilized eggs. It was not necessary to isolate the female after the courtship and within the next few days, the male's attention would lessen. By the end of the week, the male would return to hovering over the rock pile, oblivious to the female's presence.
