Neolamprologus brevis
| Common Names: | Brevis Shell-Dweller |
| Synonyms: | Lamprologus brevis |
| Family: | Cichlidae |
| Category: | Cichlids |
| Distribution: | Africa; Lake Tanganyika, Africa |
| Main Ecosystem: | Rift Lake; Rift Lake |
| Temperament: | Timid; Can hold their own, considering their size, but can be timid if mixed with larger fish. Mix with other small, less aggressive Tanganyikan cichlids. |
| Diet: | Ominvore; Ominvore |
| Care: | Feed with flakes and live foods. Sand or very fine gravel should be used as a substrate, as Brevis love to dig and move their shells. Keep in at least pairs. Hard water and a high pH is a must. |
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| Potential Size: | Male: 5cm (2") Female: 5cm (2") |
| Water Region: | Middle, Bottom; Middle-Bottom |
| Activity: | Diurnal; Diurnal |
| Gender: | This species is the easiest shelldweller to sex accurately. Males of the same ages are larger. Among the striped varieties, males have more and better-defined tail striping. Older males will display longer ventral fins. Given practice, the facial shape is a very safe bet for sexing; the male has a less steep slope from eyes to mouth and a more prominent upper lip, while the female's face is more compressed. |
| Breeding: | Not hard. The pair will share a shell together, selected by the female. The male will only enter the shell after the female. The female will lay from between 10 to 20 eggs, depending on size. The fry stay close to the shell for the first 3 weeks, and are cared for by the parents. |
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| Comments: | A great shell dweller, suitable for beginners and experienced fish keepers. Thanks to James Meehan for submitting this profile. |
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| Markings: | Not Specified |
| Mouth: | Not Specified |
| Tail: | Not Specified |
| Search: | Show similar species Find compatible species |
| Image Credit: | Mez |
| Submitted By: | Adam |
| Contributors: | gnr4ever8794 |
| History: | View changes to this profile |
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