Ocellatus Shell Dweller

• ExerciseModerate

  An active swimmer that appreciates open swimming space.

• GroomingAttentive tank care

  Sensitive to water quality — stay on top of testing and maintenance.

• Living spaceNano-tank friendly

  Happy in a small, stable, well-filtered tank.

• Owner experienceSome experience helps

  A little know-how makes life smoother.

• Commitment5–8 years

  Plan for a long, loving relationship.

Health to watch: Ich (white spot) · Fin rot · Parasites

Lamprologus ocellatus is a Tanganyikan shell dweller reaching about 5 to 6 cm for males and 3 to 4 cm for females, sold in gold, blue and orange-finned forms. Unlike the colonial Multi it is a solitary shell holder: each fish takes one shell, buries it to the angle it prefers and defends the sand around it, and a male will maintain a small harem of females in nearby shells. A pair or a male with two or three females suits a 60 to 80 litre tank at 24-27C, pH 8.0 to 9.0, hard buffered water, with a deep sand bed and several shells per fish. Feed frozen cyclops, baby brine shrimp, daphnia and small pellets. It is peaceful in the sense that it never leaves the bottom to bother anyone, and fierce in the sense that it will charge a fish twenty times its size that crosses over its shell. That combination makes it ideal with an upper-level shoal such as Cyprichromis and a poor match for any other substrate-dwelling species, including a second shell dweller in a small tank.

• How active is a Ocellatus Shell Dweller?

  Moderate. An active swimmer that appreciates open swimming space.

• How much maintenance does a Ocellatus Shell Dweller need?

  Attentive tank care. Sensitive to water quality — stay on top of testing and maintenance.

• What tank size does a Ocellatus Shell Dweller need?

  Nano-tank friendly. Happy in a small, stable, well-filtered tank.

• Is a Ocellatus Shell Dweller a good fit for first-time owners?

  Some experience helps. A little know-how makes life smoother.

• How long do Ocellatus Shell Dweller live?

  5–8 years. Plan for a long, loving relationship.

• What health issues affect the Ocellatus Shell Dweller?

  Keep an eye out for Ich (white spot), Fin rot, Parasites. These are worth raising with your vet, along with any screening they recommend.

Be the first to join this community!