TankBud

Shell thief cichlid

Lamprologus callipterus

Also known as Callipterus cichlid, Shell-collecting lamprologus

FreshwaterFish

Shell thief cichlid (Lamprologus callipterus)

Care at a glance

Temperature
75–81°F
24–27°C
pH
7.8–9.0
Adult size
5.1 in
13 cm
Minimum tank
79 gal
300 L
Temperament
Aggressive
Social behavior
Social
Tankmates
With caution
Swim level
Bottom
Difficulty
Medium
Breeding
Cave spawner · Medium
Rarity
Rare
Family
Cichlidae
Origin
Lake Tanganyika

Overview

The shell thief cichlid is an aggressive Tanganyika cichlid kept as a colony over a bed of empty snail shells. It is best kept by someone past the beginner stage.

Did you know

Male shell thief cichlids steal shells as well as collect them. A male can raid a rival's nest and carry off a shell in his mouth to add to his pile. Sometimes a female is still tucked inside the shell he takes.

Caring for the shell thief cichlid

Keep the shell thief cichlid as a colony of one dominant male and a large harem of much smaller females. A group needs at least 79 gal (300 L), with room for a proper shell bed and the roaming this fish does. Lay a large, sandy floor and heap empty snail shells over it for the male to collect and defend.

Give it hard, strongly alkaline, warm water, at 75 to 81°F (24 to 27°C) and a pH of 7.8 to 9.0. Feed meaty frozen foods and quality pellets.

The shell thief cichlid is aggressive and will bully, so keep only robust tank mates. Males are more than ten times the weight of the tiny females. The females stay small enough to breed inside the shells the male gathers. Breeding is of medium difficulty.

Good to know

The shell thief cichlid, Lamprologus callipterus, is also sold as the callipterus cichlid or shell-collecting lamprologus. It shows one of the most extreme size differences between the sexes of any vertebrate.

In the wild

The shell thief cichlid works the shell beds of Lake Tanganyika. It moves over the bottom in roving groups, gathering empty snail shells.

Common questions

What size tank does a shell thief cichlid need?

A shell thief cichlid needs at least 79 gal (300 L). It spends most of its time in the bottom.

What temperature and pH does a shell thief cichlid need?

A shell thief cichlid is comfortable at 75–81°F (24–27°C) with a pH of 7.8–9.0.

What does a shell thief cichlid eat?

A shell thief cichlid eats meaty frozen foods and quality pellets.

How big does a shell thief cichlid get?

An adult shell thief cichlid reaches about 5.1 in (13 cm).

How can you tell a male shell thief cichlid from a female?

Males are far bigger, at more than ten times the weight of the tiny females.

How does a shell thief cichlid breed?

Shell thief cichlid females breed inside the empty snail shells the male gathers, and they stay small enough to fit. Breeding is of medium difficulty.

Related species