Pearly Ocellatus

Geographic Origin and Biotope: Lake Tanganyika (Southern Congolese shore). Typical inhabitant of the deep sandy bottom. Often associated with L. stappersi, with which it shares a habitat devoid of natural visual barriers but rich in shells (Neothauma).

Taxonomy and Morphology: Pearly Ocellatus / Meleagris (Lamprologus meleagris). Small shell-dwelling Cichlid with a decidedly "pitbull" build: stocky and flattened snout, massive head compared to the body and fin posture often fanned out to intimidate.

Social Behavior: Pugnacious and unyielding. Builds its nest by sinking empty shells into the sand to bury them. The territory is sacred: it will attack by biting fish immensely larger than itself and even the breeder's hands.

Coloration and Sexual Dimorphism: The livery is velvety brown-beige, entirely studded with tiny iridescent light blue-whitish "pearls". The edge of the dorsal fin is white. Males (5 cm / 2 inches) are larger and brighter than females (3.5 cm / 1.4 inches).

Aquarium Setup: Dense river sand bottom (at least 5-7 cm / 2-3 inches thick to allow the burial of the shells). Insert land snail or escargot shells in a 3:1 ratio to the fish. Omit stones, they don't care.

Diet and Feeding: Micro-predator. Particularly likes frozen meaty foods: mysis, brine shrimp, bloodworms. Almost totally ignores vegetable matter. If fed only dry food, the reproductive instinct and coloration go to zero.

Water Quality: Standard Rift values. Fears high nitrates (which cause fin rot) much more than a Ph slightly off target (as long as > 7.5). Requires regular water changes by siphoning the waste that does not enter the filter.

Compatibility and Tankmates: To be kept in community tanks only if very long, so that its bottom territory does not hinder other Cichlids (e.g. Paracyprichromis or Julidochromis that stay on the rocks). Guaranteed lethal aggression towards other shell-dwellers.

Aquarium Reproduction: Harem polygamy. The male controls the shells of several females in a circumscribed radius. Spawning happens in secret inside the shell. After 2 weeks, tiny fry will peek out, coming out only at the slightest sign of safety.

Risks and Diseases: Swim bladder (Bubbles in dry food). Un-soaked flake food swallowed eagerly at the surface can cause fatal air ingestion that irremediably overturns the meleagris.