Neolamprologus Brevis

Geographic Origin and Biotope: Widely distributed on all the open and desolate sandy margins of the entire Lake Tanganyika, from the deep shores to the surface waters. It specifically inhabits coastal micro-zones where the high concentration of dead shells is however almost totally absent (rare and isolated shells).

Taxonomy and Morphology: Classic exponent of the formidable congregation of the "Shell-dwellers". Despite having a robust kinship, it possesses a stocky, very short, massive phenotype (shape) and a big rocky head in a miniaturized package of only 5 centimeters (2 inches) (males) by 3.5 cm (1.4 in) (females). Features a slightly flattened snout and large watchful eyes.

Social Behavior: Fierce pocket watchdog. Will spend its life constantly stationing or hovering a few inches just above its huge shell partially buried by it in the sand. In addition to shoveling sediments, it has a formidable instinct for lightning-fast retreat: at the threat signal, it instantly engages reverse gear disappearing into the mouth of the shell. The clamorous peculiarity of the Brevis, daughter of the scarcity of shells in its habitat of origin, is that Male and Female of the stable pair SLIP INTO THE EXACT SAME SHELL, enduring a claustrophobic proximity denied to other African shell-dwelling species!

Coloration and Sexual Dimorphism: Pale light sand or shiny chamois base to camouflage with the quartz grains, surmounted by well-impressed beige or bronze vertical bands (often intersecting in a very slight checkerboard in rare morphs). Exhibits very slight brushstrokes of pastel lilac iridescence in the throat or gold spots on the branchial ocelli; a blue thread borders all fins and the anal one shows pink vertical stripes in tension. Dimorphism: the male clearly overhangs the microscopic female in volumetric corpulence, which is recognized almost only at the time of spawning.

Tank Setup: Essential, monastic and ultra-specific, a modest narrow-base tank from 50-60 cm (20-24 inches) with extensive and bare flat panoramas is more than enough. It is ABSOLUTELY MANDATORY the bottom layer of pure and untouched very fine sugar sand of over 5 centimeters (2 inches), generously covered with large empty and sanitized huge snail shells (huge smooth Burgundy Escargots are fine, or native Neothauma shells or giant oceanic soup snails). Avoid sharp pebbles altogether, zero rock backgrounds. Mild light.

Feeding and Diet: Macro Predators stationing of gliding particles. Live for the carnivorous meal (aquatic larvae), absolutely disdaining and rejecting the purest spirulina or massive herbivorous granules. They will accept formidable live brine shrimp that tickles the instinct, fine thawed bloodworms, pulverized cyclops, mysis. Lazied by territorialism they demand perfect sinking on the vicinity of the shell trapdoor to bite lazy and secure.

Water Quality: Hyper-orthodox Tanganyika lake chemistry and purity: petrified waters by alkalinity, hardness pushed to very high values (12-25 GH) without hesitation and pH perennially and inflexibly higher than 8.2 (8.5 ideal). Demanding of a very strong benthic hygiene at the bottom of the tank with breaking recirculations that remove carbon dioxide keeping the oxygen halo in the tank crystalline or they will quickly suffocate from toxic starvation.

Compatibility and Cohabitation: Extreme caliber inclusion model: heavenly pairing exclusively only and uniquely to the masters of pelagic swimming at the surface at very high altitudes (Cyprichromis leptosoma species and suspended cousins). No conspecific shell-dweller in the running and categorically never introduced together with the large Frontosa from which they would be breakfasts. The rowdy rock fish (Malawi Mbuna and Julidochromis) would wear down their precarious isolation brutally bending their defensive quiet to crushed fins.

Aquarium Reproduction: A comical and moving magic for passionate novices (Exclusive Shell Spawners, polygamous or solid). Attracted and fertilized, the little bride of the Brevis slides down to the blind and dark vortex at the last sealed spiral of the shell-house to paper it with tiny 3-millimeter pearls, and the majestic father, although limited by the format, will make a dam by sticking his head into the trapdoor to seal it from enemies while releasing the sperms. Together with the tiny and very numerous dark clones in the brood they will stroll peacefully on a tiny pasture escaping the world in the protected shell of the mother for 2-4 weeks in the absence of supplementary live food in the tank.

Risks and Diseases: Lethality deriving from the reckless sediment management of the ignorant owner. Obstructions from sharp-cut sands will tear the swallowing of essential minerals and scrape the gills leading the brevis to infected bacterial pallor in soft waters (if not added with salts or plaster shells in the filter). Desert the shells and rot from lethal stress deprived of calcified homes.