SCIENTIFIC NAME: Lamprologus multifasciatus.

COMMON NAME:Multies,shellies.

ORIGIN: Lake Tanganyika, Africa.

FAMILY: Cichlidae.

SPECIES TYPE: Cichlid

MAXIMUM SIZE: Males 2 Inches, females1.5 inches.

LIFESPAN: 6-8 Years.

HABITAT: Endemic to Lake Tanganyika in depths to about 30 feet. Usually found in empty Neothauma snail shells in colonies. Only found in Niamkolo Bay.

DIET: In the wild they eat small crustaceans, worms and other invertebrates. In the aquarium this diet may be simulated with cyclops, artemia, grindal worms, daphnia and microworms. Will also eat flake foods, bloodworms and krill in the aquarium.

TEMP: 74-82 degrees

PH: 8 medium-hard to hard water 15-25 dgh

TEMPERMENT: Aggressive and highly territorial towards their shells, defending the shells even against much larger fish.

TANK SIZE: Minimum tank size 10 gallons. Best kept in groups of 4-6.

TANK REGION: Bottom

TANK MATES: May be kept with other Tanganyikan cichlids, even if larger. Examples include Neolamprologus lelupi, N. brichardi, Cyprichromis sp., Julidochromis regani and other Julidochromis sp.

FILTRATION AND SETUP: HOB mechanical, canister, and sponge filters may can all be used. Set-up should include fine gravel or sand preferably with a lot of shells. More shells will reduce digging.

COLORATION: They are a light white brownish color with thin brown and white vertical stripes, with blue eyes Fins have a white outline with some white speckles on the tail .

BREEDING: A shell spawner. Lays 4-30 eggs which the male then fertilizes. The female tends to the eggs. Both parents gaurd the eggs and territory vigorously. The eggs hatch in 5 to 7 days and become free swimming in a week (fry may not be seen for up to 3 weeks after spawning). It takes the fry awhile to venture farther than an inch away from the shell. Fry are allowed by the shells when new spawns occur but do not help take care of the new frey. May breed as quickly as every 3 weeks.