Brevis Shell Dweller
Neolamprologus brevis
Cichlidae
About
The brevis shell dweller is one of the smallest cichlids of Lake Tanganyika, a sand-dwelling micropredator that spends its whole life in and around an empty snail shell. Unusually for a shell dweller, a bonded male and female typically share a single Neothauma shell, so it is best kept as a pair rather than a large colony. It defends the small territory around its shell but is otherwise a quiet, endlessly fascinating nano cichlid for hard, alkaline water.
Care
Keep a single bonded pair in hard, alkaline water over fine sand with several empty snail shells to claim. Maintain a stable high pH and hardness, gentle flow, and a secure lid.
Diet
Micropredator that picks zooplankton and small invertebrates from the water column and substrate; feed frozen and live cyclops, daphnia and baby brine shrimp alongside quality micro-granules.
Tankmate compatibility
Gets along with (5)
Possible with care (133)
Avoid (133)
Computed by the AquaSage engine for a spacious reference tank — always check the full verdict for your exact setup in the calculator.
Telling males from females
What works for this species, most reliable first.
- Extended finsStrong · from about 8 months, and later in a suppressed male
On many cichlids and killifish the male's dorsal and anal fins draw out into trailing points as he matures, while the female's stay rounded.
- VentingA hint only · only on a mature fish, easiest when she is in breeding condition
The method breeders use when the answer has to be right. Hold the fish upside down in a wet hand or soft net and look at the two openings ahead of the anal fin. The forward one is the anus; the one behind it is what you are reading.
- Adult sizeA hint only · only across animals of the same age
In many cichlids, catfish and loaches one sex simply grows larger — usually the male, though there are well-known reversals.
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Frequently asked questions
- What tank size does a Brevis Shell Dweller need?
- A Brevis Shell Dweller needs an aquarium of at least 40 litres (10.6 US gallons) with a footprint at least 45 cm (17.7 in) long — for this species, swimming length matters as much as raw volume.
- What water parameters does a Brevis Shell Dweller need?
- Brevis Shell Dweller does best at 23–27 °C (73.4–80.6 °F), pH 7.5–9 and a general hardness of 8–20 °dGH.
- Is the Brevis Shell Dweller suitable for beginners?
- Brevis Shell Dweller sits in the middle of the difficulty scale — manageable for a careful beginner who has done the reading, but it has specific needs worth researching first.