Shell-Carrier Lamprologus (Lamprologus callipterus) Care Guide
Lamprologus callipterus is a Lake Tanganyika cichlid in which large males gather empty snail shells into nests where tiny females spawn.
Overview
Lamprologus callipterus is a cichlid endemic to Lake Tanganyika in East Africa. The species is best known for extreme sexual size dimorphism linked to its reproductive strategy: males collect empty snail shells into nests, and the much smaller females spawn inside those shells. Immature males may form roving schools that feed on invertebrates and even juvenile cichlids.
Taxonomy
- Family: Cichlidae
- Genus: Lamprologus
- Scientific name: Lamprologus callipterus
- Described by Boulenger, 1906
Habitat
The species is endemic to Lake Tanganyika, where it moves actively over the bottom in search of crustaceans and other invertebrates. According to FishBase it is a freshwater, benthopelagic fish of tropical waters.
Tank requirements
- Minimum tank volume: 250 L (66 gal)
- Temperature: 24-27 °C (75-81 °F)
- pH: 8.5-9.2
- GH: 12-25 °dGH
- Sandy substrate with many empty snail shells for breeding
- Lifespan: 5-8 years
Provide an open sand bed and a generous supply of empty snail shells, which males arrange into a nest. FishBase reports a wild temperature range of roughly 23-28 °C; the values above follow the verified care record.
Diet
A carnivore. FishBase describes it as a scavenger-predator with a trophic level of about 3.5. In the wild it consumes crustaceans, invertebrates, insect larvae and small fish; in the aquarium it accepts meaty frozen and prepared foods, fed about twice daily.
Compatibility
An aggressive, bottom-oriented species. Males are highly territorial around their shell nests, so it suits spacious Tanganyika setups with open-water companions such as Cyprichromis and rock-dwelling Synodontis. Avoid mbuna, Tropheus and other shell-dwellers that would compete for the same niche.
Breeding
Males reach about 12-15 cm while females stay near 4-5 cm. Wikipedia and FishBase note males collect empty snail shells; females spawn inside a shell within the male's nest and guard the eggs there. This harem-like shell-brooding system is the species' defining trait.
Conservation status
IUCN Red List: Least Concern (assessed 2025), per FishBase.