# Extremely Small Clutch Size and Juvenile Survival in a Social Cichlid of an African Great Lake

## TL;DR

This paper studies a cichlid fish with unusually small egg clutches and high juvenile survival, revealing a unique slow life history among fish.

## Contribution

The study documents an extreme case of small clutch size and high juvenile survival in a cichlid, expanding understanding of fish life-history strategies.

## Key findings

- Neolamprologus buescheri has clutch sizes of 1–7 eggs (median 3), much smaller than typical fish.
- Over 50% of juveniles survive within two months, a high rate for fish.
- The species exhibits slow growth, long parental care, and deep-water habitat use.

## Abstract

Neolamprologus buescheri
, a cooperatively breeding cichlid fish endemic to Lake Tanganyika, exhibits one of the slowest life histories documented among teleost fish. With remarkably small clutch sizes ranging from one to seven eggs (median = 3) and exceptionally high juvenile survival rates of over 50% within two months, this species deviates significantly from typical fish reproductive patterns. Its slow somatic growth, prolonged parental care, and occupation of deep‐water habitats place it at the extreme end of the fast–slow life‐history continuum among fish.

Neolamprologus buescheri
, a cooperatively breeding cichlid fish endemic to Lake Tanganyika, exhibits one of the slowest life histories documented among teleost fish. With remarkably small clutch sizes ranging from one to seven eggs (median = 3) and exceptionally high juvenile survival rates of over 50% within two months, this species deviates significantly from typical fish reproductive patterns.