Neolamprologus pulcher is a species of cichlid endemic to Lake Tanganyika where it prefers locations with plenty of sedimentation.

Now they are considered the same species, the only difference being that Neolamprologus brichardi has a black stripe running from its eye to its gill cover and a yellow spot just above it, both of which are absent in N.

They are found along the rocky coastlines of the countries of Burundi, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Tanzania, and Zambia.

The variety known as the "daffodil" is very popular and is found along the steep rocky slopes of Kantalamba and Kambwinba.

[4] Daffodil cichlids inhabit rocky coastlines and swim in large schools that often consist of hundreds of fish.

They feed on swarms of plankton drifting in the lake water along with microorganisms such as small crustaceans and invertebrates.

[4] Daffodil cichlids are graceful fish with bodies that are elongated with a continuous dorsal fin.

[4] These fish have a light-colored tan body washed with hints of yellow and bluish-purple spots.

[4] Daffodil cichlids are omnivorous and feed on swarms of plankton in the water column as well as small crustaceans and invertebrates.

[4] The daffodil cichlid inhabits permanent social groups composed of one breeding pair and helpers of both sexes.

[6] Egg size tends to decrease as the number of helpers within groups increases, which suggests that the presence of helpers enables breeder females to strategically reduce their investment per egg in a manner that maximizes breeder fitness.

[7] Experiments show that females do indeed reduce egg size with increasing number of helpers but not when perceived neighbor density is high.

[9] Since daffodil cichlids are a species that uses cooperative breeding, this means that each individual is ranked in terms of social status.

[10] In the absence of breeders, dominant individuals had higher liver glycogen levels and grew the most.

[10] Dominant fish in groups of breeders and helpers had significantly higher plasma cortisol concentrations when paired with subordinates.

[10] These increased levels of cortisol possibly correlate with size determining rank within the dominance hierarchy.

Mature males may compete for fertilization opportunities with females due to the existence of a dominance hierarchy in competitive breeders.

[11] This is an exceptionally high rate of extra-pair paternity among cooperative breeding vertebrates, which suggests that male helpers may have produced these young before being expelled from the territory in response to their reproductive parasitism.

[14] Dominants perform more energetically costly behaviors (e.g. social policing and care) compared with subordinates, supporting the notion that energy expenditure drives liver investment.

The pathway to breeder status varies between males and females as a result of sex differences in the costs of dispersal and inbreeding.

[17] The ratio of 11-ketotestosterone to testosterone, which demonstrates the physiological importance of testosterone conversion to 11-ketotestosterone, has been shown to be positively correlated with submissive behavior in female winners and weakly positively correlated with aggressive behavior in male winners.

When metabolic rates for daffodil cichlids were measured using a respirometer, it was found that pair males invested their energy expenditure almost exclusively in intrafamily agonistic behavior, while pair females shared the investment in territory maintenance and direct brood care.

[19] The considerable energy expenditure involved in territory defense suggests that these costs, in addition to risk, are probably taken into account when doing cost-benefit analyses.

However, in cooperatively breeding species like the daffodil cichlid, the dominant individuals exhibit higher levels of glucocorticoids, which may be a consequence of the demands of maintaining high social rank and suppressing the reproduction of subordinate group members.

[21] Breeders living in a large group also benefit because individuals feed more often, have lower workloads, and enjoy greater reproductive success.

[23] Dominant female breeders perform the most care and also display the highest levels of plasma testosterone compared to other individuals within the social group.

Paradoxically, monogamous males occupy higher-quality territories with more shelter and fewer predators.

Males holding only one territory may provide their mates with significant assets but may not be able to outcompete neighbors for additional breeding positions because of their smaller body size and possibly higher parasite load.

Nitrates levels should be no more than 25 ppm; daffodil cichlids also can't tolerate a pH less than 7.