Multie shell dweller

Neolamprologus multifasciatus

Also known as Multifasciatus, Multi cichlid

FreshwaterFish

Multie shell dweller (Neolamprologus multifasciatus) — Richard Andre Ingebrigtsen, Department of Aquatic Biosciences, University of Tromsø, Rex shock at en.wikipedia · Public domain

Care at a glance

Temperature: 75–81°F; 24–27°C
pH: 7.8–8.6
Adult size: 1.8 in; 4.5 cm
Minimum tank: 20 gal; 75 L

Temperament: Mostly peaceful
Social behavior: Social
Swim level: Bottom
Difficulty: Easy
Breeding: Cave spawner · Easy
Rarity: Very common
Family: Cichlidae
Origin: Endemic to Lake Tanganyika

Overview

The Multie shell dweller is a tiny cichlid that lives in a colony on the bottom, with each fish claiming a snail shell. It is easy to keep.

Did you know

Multie shell dwellers are landscapers. A colony digs out the sand around its shells and piles it up at the edges. Over time, the digging slowly shifts the whole shell bed.

Caring for the Multie shell dweller

Start a colony with 6 to 8 fish, several females per male, in a tank of 20 gal (75 L) or larger. Lay a deep, open sand bed of 5 cm or more so they can dig. Pile in plenty of empty snail shells, more shells than fish, since each one wants a shell to call home.

Keep the water warm, hard and alkaline, at 75 to 81°F (24 to 27°C) and a pH of 7.8 to 8.6. Feed small sinking foods and fine pellets, with frozen treats such as cyclops or baby brine shrimp.

Multie shell dwellers are mostly peaceful, but they turn fiercely territorial right around their own shells. They sit at the bottom and rarely stray far from home. Pick tank mates that stay up in the water column and leave the sand bed to the colony.

Females lay their eggs and raise their young inside the empty shells, guarding the brood until the fry swim free. Young from past broods often stick around to help guard the colony. Breeding them is easy.

Good to know

The Multie shell dweller, Neolamprologus multifasciatus, belongs to the family Cichlidae and holds the title of the world's smallest cichlid. Most fish in the trade are tank bred, and a healthy adult can live several years.

In the wild

Multie shell dwellers are endemic to Lake Tanganyika. They live in colonies over open sand flats scattered with empty snail shells.

Weekly picks

Tank mates

The Multie 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 Multie shell dweller need?

A Multie shell dweller needs at least 20 gal (75 L). It spends most of its time in the bottom.

What temperature and pH does a Multie shell dweller need?

A Multie shell dweller is comfortable at 75–81°F (24–27°C) with a pH of 7.8–8.6.

What does a Multie shell dweller eat?

A Multie shell dweller eats small sinking foods and fine pellets. Give it frozen treats as well, such as cyclops or baby brine shrimp.

How big does a Multie shell dweller get?

An adult Multie shell dweller reaches about 1.8 in (4.5 cm).

How does a Multie shell dweller breed?

Multie shell dwellers breed inside empty snail shells, where the female lays her eggs and guards the brood until the fry swim free. Young from earlier broods often stay to help guard the colony. Breeding them is easy.