@filialaquatics
Shell dwellers, shell-breeding, and ostracophil are descriptive terms for cichlid fish that use the empty shells of aquatic snails as sites for breeding and shelter. The terms have no taxonomic basis, although most shell-dwelling cichlids are from Lake Tanganyika's lamprologine lineage.
#Ocellatusgold
Habitat
It is found in areas with scattered rocks and open sand around the lake's shoreline, in areas where the substrate is littered with empty snail shells.
Maximum Standard Length
Males to 2.4″ (6cm), females to 1.4″ (3.5cm).
Maintenance
The setup should have open areas of sandy substrate to which should be added a good number of empty snail shells (see breeding section below). More shells should be provided than there are individual fish. The substrate should be at least 2″ deep as this species likes to dig. The water must be hard and alkaline.
Water Conditions
Temperature: 73-81°F (23-27°C)
pH: 7.5-9.0
Hardness: 10-25°H
Aquarium Size
18″ x 12″ x 12″ (45cm x 30cm x 30cm) – 40 liters for a pair or a single male and two or three females. A larger tank is required for a colony.
Diet
Live and frozen varieties should form the bulk of the diet, although dried foods are usually accepted.
#oscellatusgold #shelldwellers #aquascaping #filialaquatics #aquarium #aquariumsetup #cichlid #neolamprologus #multiescichlid
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