Neolamprologus similis

Geographical Origin and Habitat: Lake Tanganyika (central and southern areas of the basin). Boundless inhabitant of the desert: its realm consists exclusively of sandy bottoms where endless millennial accumulations of large shells of Neothauma snails (the native Tanganyika shell) lie silent covering the muddy or sandy bottom for several meters of thickness in true "shell cemeteries".

Taxonomy and Morphology: Tiny colonial "Shell-dweller" par excellence. A true Lilliputian of the aquarium: the old males barely touch 4.5 cm (1.8 inches), while the females, very rounded at the belly, barely reach 3 cm (1.2 in). A small but very vigorous body, wide fins, pronounced dorsal spine, large wedge-shaped head to dive into the helical crevices of the shells and huge bulbous and expressive eyes, almost like a periscope, used to spy on dangers.

Social Behavior: Ethology among the most entertaining in aquarium keeping, a comic and chaotic spectacle. The *Similis* live in very tight and noisy stratified communities, in a real fish neighborhood. They spend the whole day swallowing and spitting sand (an aquatic bulldozer) raising dams and selectively burying their beloved shells to the brim, in order to make them safe and accessible only to their own size. At threats, hundreds of individuals disappear instantly and simultaneously inside the calcareous shells retreating to reappear after several minutes with only the iris protruding from the dark hole of the shell inspecting the perimeter.

Coloration and Sexual Dimorphism: Mimetic and fascinating appearance: chamois, ivory or pale warm copper chromatic base (never dark, because of the sand it rests on). It is finely zebrated by dense and regular dark hazelnut or reddish-brown vertical bands. The absolute diagnostic trait to differentiate it from the famous cousin N. multifasciatus is this: in the Similis the dark bands CONTINUE also on the whole head, on the cheek and forehead reaching up above the lip, to the detriment of the belly which remains lighter! They present an imperceptible light blue halo on the edge of the iris and yellowish reflections on the attachment of the pectorals. Often old males tend to darken into brown in established dominance and develop a stockier build. No dimorphism before adult size except for the massive male size in comparison.

Aquarium Setup: Total logistical essentiality: Perfect for Nano-cubes and contained tanks from minimum 60 cm (24 inches) base (50-60 Liters / 15 Gal for a modest colony start). THE MANDATORY LIFETIME LIES IN THE SHELLS and in the SAND: bottom in very sweet quartz sand, rounded and very fine to the touch of several centimeters deep, on which to stuff very generously an expanse and immense jumble of large rounded shells capable for swimming (ideal the large oceanic shells or empty Escargots, in the ratio of at least 3-4 large and robust shells per fish to mitigate intra-specific real estate disputes). Dim lighting and absolute prohibition on sharp edged gravels that would amputate mouths and scrape off their fragile tegument in the desperate excavation work due to the impossibility of lifting heavy pebbles.

Diet and Feeding: Benthic Micro-Predators lurking from the shell. Accept and consume protein minced food assiduously. Dry feeding (small fine and slow carnivore granules, or crumbled for cichlids pushed by the current on the bottom to their quarters) mixed with delicious brine shrimp nauplii, microdaphnia in flakes and ground cyclops to enrich the iridescent tone of the scales.

Water Quality: Rocky alkaline and very hard Tanganyika, the essential foundations. Total hardness skyrocketing (12-25 GH) which preserves intact for years the shell husks from acidifying decalcification in the tank as they are composed of calcium carbonate; the pH will inevitably have to be positioned above 8.0/8.2. Clean waters, very robust filtering that however does not disperse the small colonies and the sand with unpleasantly sweeping impact waves on the ground.

Compatibility and Cohabitation: Inclusion model for thematic micro-ecosystems ('Species Tank') or flanked only by Cyprichromis leptosoma, high altitude sardines of the pelagic zone of Tanganyika with which the exceptional and classic tank pairing is generated, sharing the diametrically opposite vertical space and providing them with predator alert for open sea flights of larvae. The rowdy rock fish (Mbuna and Julidochromis) would intoxicate their carefree breeding brutally bending their quiet into isolation forcing them recluse in the asphyxiation of the den to bites on the delicate caudal fins, or even worse becoming a delicious culinary occasion for a lethal Frontosa or mighty cousin.

Aquarium Breeding: Very prolific colonial species that stages a formidable Polygamous Harem, the paradise of the Tanganyika novice! The mighty Alpha fertilizes many tiny wives each hidden in the deep retreat of their very personal reassuring shell on which the new mother embeds tiny and adhesive pearl-colored eggs in depth to expel the threat awaiting the slow maturation of the yolk sac. Disappeared to the world for weeks, she will rise to the head with microscopic hungry and curious little children protected blindly by the whole multi-generational hive without fear of suffering any act of cannibalism from the mother colony and father who will strenuously shovel the sandy fence against anyone.

Risks and Diseases: Modest but dramatic mortality rate if deprived of the chemical component for decalcifying alkalinity of their osmotic habitats and carbonate refuges which rotting will mash the exhausted hosts' lobes (a filter added with broken coral or shells assists the start of carbonates). Irreversible suffocation of the gills designated for excavation where they are forced to remove sharp or irregular pebbles to build dams tearing tiny blood vessels and the mucous membranes that act as a bacterial screen, paling and getting sick covering themselves with fungal and whitish patinas among the heavy breaths in the tank.