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Brevis shell dweller

Neolamprologus brevis

Also known as Neolamprologus calliurus, Magara shell dweller

FreshwaterFish

Brevis shell dweller (Neolamprologus brevis)
Melanochromis · Public domain

Care at a glance

Temperature
73–81°F
23–27°C
pH
7.5–9.0
Adult size
2.4 in
6 cm
Minimum tank
16 gal
60 L
Temperament
Mostly peaceful
Social behavior
Social
Swim level
Bottom
Difficulty
Medium
Breeding
Cave spawner · Medium
Rarity
Rare
Family
Cichlidae
Origin
Lake Tanganyika

Overview

The Brevis shell dweller is one of the smallest shell-dwelling cichlids, a peaceful bottom fish for a small hard-water tank. It is a step up from the easiest fish.

Did you know

A threatened Brevis shell dweller hides in its shell, backing in so only its face shows. It can also pull sand up to partly bury the opening.

Caring for the Brevis shell dweller

Keep a pair or small group of Brevis shell dwellers in at least 16 gal (60 L), with more shells than fish. Scatter a few empty escargot or snail shells over the sand, and each fish will choose one as its home and spawning site. They are substrate and shell spawners, and breeding them is of medium difficulty.

Keep the water hard and alkaline, at 73 to 81°F (23 to 27°C) and a pH of 7.5 to 9.0. Feed small pellets and flake, plus frozen brine shrimp and bloodworms.

Brevis shell dwellers stay near the bottom around their shells and are peaceful overall. They still defend their patch of sand from anything that comes too close. Choose tank mates that stay up in the water column and leave the sand to them.

Good to know

Neolamprologus brevis belongs to the family Cichlidae, and its wild populations are stable. Unusually for shell dwellers, a pair often shares a single shell rather than each fish keeping its own. The smaller male and the female then both squeeze into the same home.

In the wild

The Brevis shell dweller lives over sand in Lake Tanganyika, where it takes shelter in empty snail shells. The lake is hard and alkaline, with a high mineral content.

Weekly picks

Tank mates

The Brevis shell dweller is a mostly peaceful, social species that keeps to the bottom. These picks share a community profile with it, are safe together in both directions, and overlap on water type, temperature and pH.

Check the full mix in the stocking calculator

Common questions

What size tank does a Brevis shell dweller need?

A Brevis shell dweller needs at least 16 gal (60 L). It spends most of its time in the bottom.

What temperature and pH does a Brevis shell dweller need?

A Brevis shell dweller is comfortable at 73–81°F (23–27°C) with a pH of 7.5–9.0.

What does a Brevis shell dweller eat?

A Brevis shell dweller eats small pellets and flake, plus frozen brine shrimp and bloodworms.

How big does a Brevis shell dweller get?

An adult Brevis shell dweller reaches about 2.4 in (6 cm).

How does a Brevis shell dweller breed?

A Brevis shell dweller is a shell spawner, and each fish picks a shell as its home and spawning site. Breeding it is of medium difficulty.

Related species