Multies (Shell Dweller)
Neolamprologus multifasciatus
The reigning 'World's Smallest Aquarium Cichlid' (males max out at 5 cm / 2 inches, females at 1 inch). This mesmerizing fish lives its entire life, breeds, and sleeps exclusively inside large, empty snail shells scattered on the sand. They form massive, complex, multi-generational families and relentlessly bulldoze the sand to engineer perfect 'shell cities'. The ultimate cichlid for small aquariums.
Temperatura da água
24 - 27 °C
Valor de pH
7.8 - 9
Tipo de água
Água doce
Nível do tanque
Parte inferior
Tamanho adulto
4 cm
Volume mínimo do tanque
>= 100 L
Grupo mínimo
>= 1
GH
12 - 20 dGH
KH
6 - 10 dKH
TDS
240 - 400 ppm
Condutividade
375 - 625 uS/cm
Descrição da espécie
Geographical Origin and Habitat: Lake Tanganyika. Forms immense colonies solely in the abyssal sandy plains covered by millions of empty snail shells of the *Neothauma* genus.
Taxonomy and Morphology: Multies (Neolamprologus multifasciatus). One of the SMALLEST Cichlids IN THE WORLD (max 4-4.5 cm / 1.7 inches the male, 2 cm / 0.8 inches the female). It has a wide mouth suited to carrying sand like a bulldozer.
Social Behavior: Formidable social engineers (Shell-dwellers). They form very rigid matriarchal colonies. An alpha male protects a "condominium" of shells each inhabited by a female and her young. They challenge fish 10 times larger by biting their fins.
Coloration and Sexual Dimorphism: Greyish-beige with 15-18 very dense thin vertical bands (Multi-fasciatus) chestnut or black, bright turquoise eyes. Males double the size of females (who are literally as long as a pinky nail).
Cuidado, criação e companheiros de tanque
Aquarium Setup: Colony in 60 cm (24 inches). No rocks (useless). Mandatory at least 5-8 cm (2-3 inches) of coral sand or very fine quartz, and DOZENS of empty snail shells (Escargot or ampullaria shells) thrown on the bottom. They will begin to bury and move them like workers creating huge craters.
Diet and Feeding: Planktonic omnivores. They accept any micro-granule and brine shrimp, darting out of the shell and returning in a millisecond.
Water Quality: Hard and alkaline. Being of minuscule size, they suffer from nitrates. The pH must be very high (8.5), easily maintained by the dissolving calcareous shells and aragonite sand.
Compatibility and Cohabitation: Perfect for the lower levels. If paired with Cyprichromis (which live in mid-water) they will ignore anyone who does not approach the sand. Absolutely do not insert live snails or other bottom cleaners (they would be deprived of their eyes by the rabid bites of the "Multi" females).
Aquarium Breeding: Spectacle of Evolution. A well-fed colony will constantly churn out miniature young (1-2 mm). The older generations will help the females defend the shell area, creating multi-generational families.
Risks and Diseases: Buried alive or crushed. Never lift abruptly or empty the shells out of the water for cleaning: the "Multies", if frightened, get stuck in the internal spiral of the shell (up to the apex) and will not come out for hours, dying suffocated if the shell is kept out of the water or broken.
Origem e distribuição geográfica
Lake Tanganyika. Forms immense colonies solely in the abyssal sandy plains covered by millions of empty snail shells of the *Neothauma* genus.
Origem
África e Madagascar
Perfil de peixe
- Temperamento
- Semi-aggressive
- They are incredibly industrious, spending hours modifying their environment by moving sand mouthful by mouthful. While peaceful towards each other within the colony, they will aggressively nip at the fins of any fish that dares to come too close to their shells. Their complex social interactions are fascinating to observe.
- Dieta
- Omnivore
- They are micro-predators that naturally feed on zooplankton and tiny benthic organisms. In the aquarium, they enthusiastically accept crushed flakes, micro-pellets, and powdered foods. Frequent offerings of live or frozen baby brine shrimp and daphnia are highly recommended to keep the colony healthy and breeding.
- Expectativa de vida
- 5-8 years
- Tamanho adulto
- 4 cm
- Proporção sexual
- Harem
- They naturally form harems where one dominant male will breed with multiple females. It is best to start with a group of six or more to ensure a good mix of males and females. The colony will naturally self-regulate its sex ratio and hierarchy as it grows.
- Frequência de alimentação
- Twice daily
- They should be fed small amounts two to three times daily. Due to their tiny size and high energy levels, frequent small meals are much better than one large one. Ensure the food sinks quickly enough to reach their shells before being swept away by the current.
- Carga biológica
- Low
- Often considered the smallest known cichlid, they produce a very small bioload individually. However, they breed prolifically and form large colonies, which collectively can strain the biological filter over time. Excellent filtration and regular maintenance are required to support a growing colony.
- Fluxo
- Stagnant
- They prefer a gentle to moderate water flow that mimics the deeper, calmer parts of the lake where they reside. Strong currents can easily blow sand into their carefully excavated shells, causing them great distress. A gentle sponge filter or a baffled power filter is ideal.
- Risco de salto
- No
- Reprodução
- Oviparous
- They are highly prolific shell-dwellers that form large, multi-generational colonies. The female lays her eggs deep within an escargot shell, and both parents, along with older siblings, help protect the newly hatched fry. The colony continuously expands as long as there are enough empty shells available.
- Compatibilidade e companheiros de tanque
- Species only
- They are incredibly peaceful for cichlids but fiercely defend their shells from intruders of any size. They do best in a species-only tank where their complex social behaviors can be observed without interruption. If kept in a community, tank mates should be small, peaceful, and stay in the upper water column.
- Nível do tanque
- Bottom
- They are strictly confined to the bottom level of the aquarium. They spend their days relentlessly digging in the sand to bury their shells to their exact liking. They will almost never swim into the mid or upper levels of the tank.
Modelos e parâmetros científicos
FishBase
Acesso aos dados científicos oficiais da espécie
FishBase v25.04Dados sincronizados em: 15/06/2026
- Nível trófico
- 3,4 ± 0,45 se
- Resiliência
- Alta (menos de 15 meses)
- Unicidade filogenética (PD50)
- 0.5
- Relação bayesiana comprimento-peso
- a = 0.01905, b = 3.01
- VulnerabilidadeVulnerabilidade baixa (10 / 100)
Galeria de imagens
Imagens licenciadas vinculadas à espécie ou, quando marcadas, ao táxon representativo mais próximo.
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