Shell-dwelling Cichlid
Neolamprologus brevis
A pint-sized Tanganyikan cichlid that treats a snail shell like a fortress
About
One of the most accessible shell-dwelling cichlids available in the hobby, Neolamprologus brevis hails from the ancient waters of Lake Tanganyika in East Africa. It is a small fish with a big personality. Adults barely exceed three inches yet defend their chosen snail shells with a ferocity that will surprise anyone who gets a finger too close. The face has a distinctive frog-like, broad-jowled appearance, and vertical barring along the flanks helps separate it from the similar Lamprologus ocellatus. Several color morphs exist, including the popular sunspot and katabe variants. In the wild, brevis is often found in areas where shell accumulations are sparse, so pairs sometimes share a single shell. A behavior that can occasionally show up in a well-managed aquarium too. Territories are tiny, rarely stretching beyond six inches, which means a colony can be maintained in a modest tank as long as shells are plentiful and females outnumber males to keep aggression manageable. Good tankmates include shell-indifferent rock dwellers or open-water species that stay out of the bottom zone entirely. Breeding is one of the real rewards of keeping this species. Females bury their shells until only the entrance is exposed and brood eggs inside, making the whole spawning process fascinating to observe. Intermediate experience is recommended, mainly because of the colony management involved.
Similar species
Other fish you might consider
Good tank mates
Species that tend to coexist peacefully with Shell-dwelling Cichlid
From the same region
Share the same natural habitat. Great for a biotope-themed tank
Frequently asked questions
- How big does the Shell-dwelling Cichlid get?
- The Shell-dwelling Cichlid reaches about 1.5–2.5" as an adult.
- What size tank does the Shell-dwelling Cichlid need?
- A minimum of 11 gallons is recommended for the Shell-dwelling Cichlid.
- What water parameters does the Shell-dwelling Cichlid need?
- The Shell-dwelling Cichlid does best with a temperature of 72–82°F, a pH of 7.5–9, hardness around 8–25 dGH.
- Is the Shell-dwelling Cichlid aggressive?
- The Shell-dwelling Cichlid is semi-aggressive. It can work in a community with careful tankmate choices and enough space.
- What does the Shell-dwelling Cichlid eat?
- The Shell-dwelling Cichlid is an omnivore. It does well on a varied diet of quality flake or pellet plus occasional frozen or live foods.
- How long does the Shell-dwelling Cichlid live?
- With good care, the Shell-dwelling Cichlid typically lives 5-8 years.