Ocellated shell-dweller

Lamprologus ocellatus is a dwarf cichlid (family Cichlidae) endemic to Lake Tanganyika in East Africa, where it is a classic shell-dweller. It has a stout pale body with a metallic sheen and delicate blue and gold edging on the fins, and lives inside empty snail shells scattered across the sandy lake bed. Despite its tiny size it is bold and territorial, defending its chosen shell fiercely against intruders. It can be kept as a pair or harem in a tank with several shells per fish to establish separate territories. It needs a sand-bottomed aquarium with hard, alkaline water matching Tanganyika conditions and plenty of empty snail shells for shelter and breeding. A carnivore, it feeds on small invertebrates, accepting frozen and prepared foods. Females lay eggs inside the shell and guard the fry closely, making it a rewarding beginner-to-intermediate cichlid.