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Signatus shell dweller

Lamprologus signatus

Also known as Neolamprologus signatus

FreshwaterFish

Signatus shell dweller (Lamprologus signatus)

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
Cave spawner · Easy
Rarity
Rare
Family
Cichlidae
Origin
Lake Tanganyika

Overview

The Signatus shell dweller is a tiny, peaceful Tanganyikan that lives in snail shells on the bottom of a small tank. It suits a keeper with a little experience.

Did you know

Male and female Signatus shell dwellers look almost like different fish. You often only see the family resemblance once they share a shell.

Caring for the Signatus shell dweller

Keep Signatus shell dwellers as a pair or a small colony. A pair or trio needs at least 11 gal (40 L), with a bed of fine sand. Give each fish a couple of small snail shells, and a pair will settle in and defend a small patch.

Keep the water hard, alkaline and warm, at 75 to 81°F (24 to 27°C) and a pH of 7.8 to 9.0. Feed small frozen and prepared foods.

Signatus shell dwellers are peaceful and safe with other fish, but they are easily lost among larger or busier tank mates. They do not tolerate crowding by other species. Pairs spar mostly by bluff and posture rather than real fighting.

Males carry crisp vertical pinstripes, while females are plain silver and noticeably smaller. It is a shell-brooding substrate spawner, and pairs spawn inside their shells. Unusually for a Tanganyikan, it is easy to breed once a pair has shells it likes.

Good to know

The Signatus shell dweller, Lamprologus signatus, is a cichlid also listed as Neolamprologus signatus. The male's fine vertical pinstripes are unusual among shell dwellers.

In the wild

The Signatus shell dweller lives in the south of Lake Tanganyika. It is found over deep floors of mud and shell, where it breeds inside empty snail shells.

Weekly picks

Tank mates

The Signatus 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 Signatus shell dweller need?

A Signatus shell dweller needs at least 11 gal (40 L). It spends most of its time in the bottom.

What temperature and pH does a Signatus shell dweller need?

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

What does a Signatus shell dweller eat?

A Signatus shell dweller eats small frozen and prepared foods.

How big does a Signatus shell dweller get?

An adult Signatus shell dweller reaches about 2.2 in (5.5 cm).

How can you tell a male Signatus shell dweller from a female?

Males carry crisp vertical pinstripes. Females are plain silver and noticeably smaller.

How does a Signatus shell dweller breed?

Signatus shell dwellers spawn inside empty snail shells. Unusually for a Tanganyikan, they are easy to breed once a pair has shells it likes.

Related species