Zebra Shelldweller (Neolamprologus similis)

Scientific Name(s): Neolamprologus similis, Lamprologus similis

 

Common Name(s): Zebra Shelldweller, Similar Shelldweller, Big-Eyed Multi

 

Family: Cichlidae

 

Species Type: African Cichlids, Lake Tanganyika

 

Maximum Size: 2 inches

 

Life Span: 10 years

 

Natural Habitat: African Lake Tanganyika

 

Minimum Tank Size: 55 gallons

 

Tank Region: All over

 

Possible Tank Mates: Other African Cichlids from Lake Tanganyika

 

Description: As with most of the smaller shellies, requirements are slight: sand, shells, and hard, basic, clean water. Somewhat more aggressive than the "similar" multis, they are better off in pairs for smaller tanks. Larger ones will allow for a colony to form, although it may never be as congenial as a multi colony. The species, although named for its similarity to N. multifasciatus, is impossible to mistake for the multi thanks to a few main differences. Similis appear to have light stripes on a dark body, where multis are the opposite; similis supposedly have larger eyes, hence the common name; and most useful of all, similis have additional stripes on the neck and head, where the multis' stripes cover only the body.

 

Temperature Range 72°F - 80°F

60°F

65°F

70°F

75°F

80°F

85°F

90°F

 

pH Range 7.5 - 8.5

pH 5.0

pH 6.0

pH 7.0

pH 8.0

pH 9.0

 

Hardness 10° - 30°

0°

10°

20°

30°

40°

 

Breeding Information: This shelldweller is fairly easy to breed, but with close-to-wild stock, keep an eye on the hardness and pH; if adult fish aren't breeding, getting conditions a bit closer to those of the Lake is often all it takes. Fry will feed themselves on scraps but also appreciate live foods.

 

Sexing Information: This fish is quite easy to sex at adulthood: males are larger and have a distinctive, if small, nuchal hump.

 

Diet: Carnivorous - does well with frozen or freeze dried foods. Also may accept flake or pellet foods.

 

Temperment: Territorial; Somewhat reclusive but primarily aggressive and territorial.

 

Common Diseases: None specific to species.

 

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Zebra Shelldweller (Neolamprologus similis)