Signatus shell dweller

Lamprologus signatus

Also known as Neolamprologus signatus

FreshwaterFish

Care at a glance

Temperature: 75–81°F (24–27°C)
pH: 7.8–9.0
Adult size: 2.2 in (5.5 cm)
Minimum tank: 11 gal (40 L)
Temperament: Mostly peaceful
Social behavior: Social
Swim level: Bottom
Difficulty: Medium
Breeding: Easy
Rarity: Rare
Origin: Lake Tanganyika
Family: Cichlidae

Overview

The signatus shellie is a tiny Tanganyikan best kept as a pair or a small colony in its own species tank, since it is easily lost among larger or busier fish. Give each fish a couple of small snail shells on a sandy floor; pairs settle into their shells and defend a small patch, sparring mostly by bluff and posture rather than by real fighting. It is peaceful but does not tolerate crowding by other species. Feed small frozen and prepared foods. A tank of around 40 liters is enough for a pair or trio.

In the wild

Lamprologus signatus lives over deep mud-and-shell floors in the south of Lake Tanganyika, breeding inside empty snail shells. Recreate it with a bed of fine sand, a scatter of small snail shells, and the lake's hard, alkaline, warm water at pH 7.8-9.0 and 24-27 C.

Good to know

Lamprologus signatus is a cichlid of only about 5.5 centimeters. Males carry fine vertical pinstripes that are unusual among shell dwellers, while females are plain and smaller. It is a shell-brooding substrate spawner, and unusually for a Tanganyikan it is easy to breed once a pair has shells they like.

Did you know

The two sexes look almost like different fish. Males are marked with crisp vertical pinstripes while females are plain silver and noticeably smaller, and you often only see the family resemblance once they share a shell.

Tank mates

Signatus shell dweller is a mostly peaceful, social species that keeps to the bottom. These picks match on water type, temperature, pH, size and temperament.