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No federal permit to keepSimilis Shell Dweller
Neolamprologus similis
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Neolamprologus similis is a shell-dwelling cichlid endemic to Lake Tanganyika in Africa, where it is only known along the shores of the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Tanzania.
Care at a glance
Species-specific aquarium care
- Tank: At least 24 in long and 12 in front to back for one adult (adults commonly reach about 2.0 in / 5 cm).
- Water: Freshwater.
- Temperature: 73–82°F (range recorded for this species).
- pH: 7.4–8.4.
- Hardness: 7–30 dGH.
- Layout: Uses both the bottom and open water: give open swimming space plus cover near the substrate.
- Availability: Rarely or never seen in the aquarium trade; expect to source it from specialists or not at all.
Calculated from this species' own FishBase record: tank size from its typical adult length and swimming zone, water values from its recorded ranges. The group guide below fills in general care.
Care guide
Species care notes
- Water: hard, alkaline water, 75–81 °F, pH 7.5–9, 8–25 dGH.
- Behaviour: temperament territorial.
- Difficulty: Easy (Seriously Fish rating).
Short excerpts from the species profile:
- Setup: “Provide large open areas of fine sand, to which is added plenty of empty snail shells (see breeding section below).”
- Diet: “Live and frozen varieties should form the bulk of the diet.”
- Tankmates: “A territorial species that will defend its shell and surrounding small territory with real venom.”
From the Seriously Fish profile for this species, which has the full habitat, maintenance, diet, behaviour and breeding write-up 167
Lake Tanganyika cichlids
Applies to most species in this group. Habitat: Rocky reefs, shell beds and sand of Lake Tanganyika. Individual species can differ, so compare with the species numbers above and the linked sources.
Housing & setup
- Use species-specific alkaline-water parameters and stable, well-oxygenated conditions. For N. multifasciatus, Seriously Fish gives pH 7.5–9.0 and general hardness 8–25 dGH.
- Shell-dwellers need beds of empty snail shells; rock-dwellers like Julidochromis need stacked rockwork; Tropheus need large groups and spacious tanks.
Climate & lighting
| Water | 76–81°F |
Diet
- Tropheus moorii needs a vegetable-based staple with small suitable live/frozen supplements. Other Tanganyikans need their own feeding plan; shell-dweller and predator diets differ.
Social life
- Often pair- or colony-forming and territorial; research each genus.
Health watch
- Tropheus are prone to bloat on rich foods; sudden water changes stress Tanganyikans.
Understanding the animal
About this animal
About this animal
N. similis is copper-coloured with vertical white stripes running from the head to the base of the tail. It can reach up to 5 centimetres (2.0 in) in total length, and it is a popular freshwater aquarium fish.
Quoted from the Wikipedia article “Neolamprologus similis” (CC BY-SA 4.0) 174
In the wild
In the wild
From this species’ own FishBase record (habitat, bottom type, water and breeding data), not its family. Good care copies these conditions.1
| Where it lives | Lives in freshwater. Uses both the bottom and open water. Associated with large shell beds; also found among rubble of rocky habitats but only at deeper levels (deeper than 25 m); around shell beds species can be found as shallow as 10 metres. |
| Water it lives in | Freshwater, 73–82 °F (23–28 °C), pH 7.4–8.4, hardness 7–30 dH. |
| Climate | Tropical climate. |
What this means for care
- Keep water within its wild range, 73–82 °F.
From the sources
From the sources
Quoted from the matching sections of reputable sources for this exact species. Specialist databases are used first; Wikipedia (community-edited, CC BY-SA 4.0) only fills gaps. Other sources are short credited quotes.
| Overview | Neolamprologus similis is a shell-dwelling cichlid endemic to Lake Tanganyika in Africa, where it is only known along the shores of the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Tanzania. N. similis is copper-coloured with vertical white stripes running from the head to the base of the tail. It can reach up to 5 cm in total length, and it is a popular freshwater aquarium fish. — Wikipedia (community-edited) |
| Where it lives | Home ranges Population dynamics Growth parameters Max. ages / sizes Length-weight rel. Length-frequencies Mass conversion Recruitment Abundance Life cycle Reproduction Maturity Maturity/Gills rel. — FishBase |
| Reproduction | This fish is monomorphic: males and females are not visually different (males are bigger) and form small colonies or harems—depending on available space—in which the male fry are tolerated until they become active competitors of the male. Female fry are not only tolerated but are eventually courted as mates. The females also are objects of interest to neighboring males and may be targets of theft. — Wikipedia (community-edited) |
| Biology | Associated with large shell beds; also found among rubble of rocky habitats but only at deeper levels (deeper than 25 m); around shell beds species can be found as shallow as 10 metres. Maximal depth is 45 metres. Prefers shells to holes created by piling up pebbles and small stones; almost always found in colonies; spawning takes place inside the femal's shell. — FishBase |
Data and studies
The numbers
The numbers
Each bar is what one source reports. Where several sources weigh in, the dashed gold band marks their average.
Adult length
Maximum recorded length. Measured as total length. Fish in home aquariums often stay smaller than wild records.
Water temperature
Range the species tolerates in nature; aim for the middle.
Sources for this sheet
- FishBase (Froese & Pauly, eds.), version 24.07 Peer-reviewed researchThe global scientific database on fishes, maintained by a consortium of research institutions; every value is referenced.
- Seriously Fish species profiles Experienced keeper or breederLong-running aquarium reference written and peer-checked by experienced fishkeepers and ichthyologists; each profile covers habitat, tank size, water, diet, behaviour and breeding.
- Merck Veterinary Manual: Management of aquarium fish Zoo, university or veterinaryThe Merck Veterinary Manual: a standard veterinary reference written and reviewed by veterinary specialists.
- Merck Veterinary Manual: Types and features of aquatic systems Zoo, university or veterinaryThe Merck Veterinary Manual: a standard veterinary reference written and reviewed by veterinary specialists.
- Merck Veterinary Manual: Nutritional diseases of fish Zoo, university or veterinaryThe Merck Veterinary Manual: a standard veterinary reference written and reviewed by veterinary specialists.
- Seriously Fish — Neolamprologus multifasciatus Zoo, university or veterinaryAdded in the 2026 source-checked care-guide review.
- Seriously Fish — Tropheus moorii Zoo, university or veterinaryAdded in the 2026 source-checked care-guide review.
- Wikipedia (species article) Community referenceFree encyclopedia; useful overviews with their own citations. Intro text is quoted under CC BY-SA 4.0.
- iNaturalist (captive observations) Community referenceCommunity observation platform run by the California Academy of Sciences and National Geographic; observations marked captive show animals living in homes, zoos and aquariums.
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