Neolamprologus multifasciatus Breeding Guide

How to breed the shell-dwelling Neolamprologus multifasciatus: a colony with snail shells, harem structure, in-shell spawning, and fry care.

Overview

Neolamprologus multifasciatus is probably the smallest known cichlid, with wild fish around 3 cm; it is endemic to Lake Tanganyika, where it lives in colonies over beds of empty snail shells. It is a shell brooder that breeds readily in a colony, making it one of the easiest Tanganyikan cichlids to spawn.

Sexing

Adult males are considerably larger than females, with slightly more intense colour and a reddish tint to the upper part of the dorsal fin. Sexing young fish is difficult and is often confirmed only once a colony establishes itself.

Conditioning

These fish form colonies of typically one to a few males with several females and assorted juveniles. Keeping several females per male, each with her own shell, spreads out aggression and supports natural colony breeding.

Breeding Setup

Use a sandy substrate and provide plenty of empty snail shells, such as escargot shells, since the females lay their eggs inside them. Space the shells out to reduce male aggression. Maintain hard, alkaline water at around 25-27 C (about 77-80 F) and pH 8.0-8.5.

Spawning Behavior & Trigger

A female buries and tends a shell, then displays at its entrance. When a male responds, she enters and deposits eggs inside; as she exits, the male releases sperm that her movements draw into the shell to fertilise the eggs. Brood sizes are small, on the order of a handful of eggs per shell.

Egg & Fry Care

Eggs hatch in roughly 24 hours and fry become free-swimming after about 6-7 days, then begin exploring around the shell. The female provides the brood care, covering the entrance and fanning the eggs; fry are gradually pushed out into the colony as they grow. In a colony, multiple females may be raising broods at the same time.

Common Challenges

Too few shells force fish to compete and increase aggression. Because broods are small and fry stay near the sand, fine sediment and over-vigorous filtration can dislodge or harm the young.