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No federal permit to keepLamprologus ocellatus
Lamprologus ocellatus
Fishes › Cichlids (Cichliformes) › Cichlidae (Cichlids)
Neolamprologus ocellatus is a species of shell dwelling cichlid endemic to Lake Tanganyika.
Care at a glance
Species-specific aquarium care
- Tank: At least 24 in long and 12 in front to back for one adult (adults commonly reach about 2.3 in / 5.8 cm).
- Water: Freshwater.
- Temperature: 73–77°F (range recorded for this species).
- pH: 8–9.
- Hardness: 9–19 dGH.
- Layout: Uses both the bottom and open water: give open swimming space plus cover near the substrate.
- Diet: Eats a varied diet: mix quality prepared foods with frozen and live foods. FishBase classes it as a carnivore.
Calculated from this species' own FishBase record: tank size from its typical adult length and swimming zone, water values from its recorded ranges. The group guide below fills in general care.
Care guide
Species care notes
- Water: hard, alkaline water, 73–81 °F, pH 7.5–9, 10–25 dGH.
- Behaviour: temperament territorial.
- Difficulty: Easy (Seriously Fish rating).
Short excerpts from the species profile:
- Setup: “The setup should have open areas of sandy substrate to which should be added a good number of empty snail shells (see breeding section below).”
- Diet: “Live and frozen varieties should form the bulk of the diet, although dried foods are usually accepted.”
- Tankmates: “A territorial species that will defend its shell and the small territory around it vigorously.”
From the Seriously Fish profile for this species, which has the full habitat, maintenance, diet, behaviour and breeding write-up 167
Lake Tanganyika cichlids
Applies to most species in this group. Habitat: Rocky reefs, shell beds and sand of Lake Tanganyika. Individual species can differ, so compare with the species numbers above and the linked sources.
Housing & setup
- Use species-specific alkaline-water parameters and stable, well-oxygenated conditions. For N. multifasciatus, Seriously Fish gives pH 7.5–9.0 and general hardness 8–25 dGH.
- Shell-dwellers need beds of empty snail shells; rock-dwellers like Julidochromis need stacked rockwork; Tropheus need large groups and spacious tanks.
Climate & lighting
| Water | 76–81°F |
Diet
- Tropheus moorii needs a vegetable-based staple with small suitable live/frozen supplements. Other Tanganyikans need their own feeding plan; shell-dweller and predator diets differ.
Social life
- Often pair- or colony-forming and territorial; research each genus.
Health watch
- Tropheus are prone to bloat on rich foods; sudden water changes stress Tanganyikans.
Understanding the animal
About this animal
About this animal
It is a popular aquarium fish due to its small size, appearance, and intelligence. Juveniles measure about 6 millimetres (0.24 in) at hatching, while adults grow up to 5.8 centimetres (2.3 in) TL. They range in color from a light brownish color to a gold/yellow color.
Quoted from the Wikipedia article “Neolamprologus ocellatus” (CC BY-SA 4.0) 174
In the wild
In the wild
From this species’ own FishBase record (habitat, bottom type, water and breeding data), not its family. Good care copies these conditions.1
| Where it lives | Lives in freshwater. Uses both the bottom and open water. A dwarf cichlid which lives in Neothauma shells or at least breeds in them. Has been found in small schools and often mixed with L. brevis, with which perhaps the species competes for possession of the shell piles. Is a microfeeder on invertebrates. |
| Water it lives in | Freshwater, 73–77 °F (23–25 °C), pH 8–9, hardness 9–19 dH. |
| Climate | Tropical climate. |
| Behavior to plan for | Breeding: nesters. |
What this means for care
- Keep water within its wild range, 73–77 °F.
Native climate (measured)
Native climate (measured)
| Warm-season highs | about 85°F (up to 90°F in the hottest sampled areas) |
| Cool-season lows | about 59°F (down to 55°F in the coldest sampled areas) |
| Average temperature | 69–79°F across sampled records |
| Relative humidity | 54–73% on average (driest month about 58%) |
| Rainfall | about 1057 mm a year |
Measured at 13 wild occurrence records sampled against WorldClim 2.1 climate data (1970–2000 averages). Air conditions in the range are ecological context, not enclosure settings: microhabitats such as burrows, leaf litter or basking rocks can be cooler, warmer or more humid.
From the sources
From the sources
Quoted from the matching sections of reputable sources for this exact species. Specialist databases are used first; Wikipedia (community-edited, CC BY-SA 4.0) only fills gaps. Other sources are short credited quotes.
| Overview | Neolamprologus ocellatus is a species of shell dwelling cichlid endemic to Lake Tanganyika. It is a popular aquarium fish due to its small size, appearance, and intelligence. Juveniles measure about 6 mm at hatching, while adults grow up to 5.8 cm TL. They range in color from a light brownish color to a gold/yellow color. — Wikipedia (community-edited) |
| Where it lives | Home ranges Population dynamics Growth parameters Max. ages / sizes Length-weight rel. Length-frequencies Mass conversion Recruitment Abundance Life cycle Reproduction Maturity Maturity/Gills rel. — FishBase |
| Wild diet | N. ocellatus are omnivorous, and will accept a wide variety of prepared aquarium foods including: flake, small pellets, frozen foods and live brine shrimp or daphnia. New specimens may exhibit a reluctance to eat, and can be most effectively tempted with live food. In the home aquarium they should be fed according to the same nutritional principles as other African Cichlids. — Wikipedia (community-edited) |
| Reproduction | It is possible to breed N. ocellatus in captivity. Males of this species spawn with more than one female at a time, and do so in or near the females' shells. Eggs are laid inside the shell, and take approximately three days to hatch. — Wikipedia (community-edited) |
| Biology | A dwarf cichlid which lives in Neothauma shells or at least breeds in them. Has been found in small schools and often mixed with L. brevis, with which perhaps the species competes for possession of the shell piles. Is a microfeeder on invertebrates. — FishBase |
Data and studies
The numbers
The numbers
Each bar is what one source reports. Where several sources weigh in, the dashed gold band marks their average.
Adult length
Maximum recorded length. Measured as total length. Fish in home aquariums often stay smaller than wild records.
Water temperature
Range the species tolerates in nature; aim for the middle.
Sources for this sheet
- FishBase (Froese & Pauly, eds.), version 24.07 Peer-reviewed researchThe global scientific database on fishes, maintained by a consortium of research institutions; every value is referenced.
- Seriously Fish species profiles Experienced keeper or breederLong-running aquarium reference written and peer-checked by experienced fishkeepers and ichthyologists; each profile covers habitat, tank size, water, diet, behaviour and breeding.
- Merck Veterinary Manual: Management of aquarium fish Zoo, university or veterinaryThe Merck Veterinary Manual: a standard veterinary reference written and reviewed by veterinary specialists.
- Merck Veterinary Manual: Types and features of aquatic systems Zoo, university or veterinaryThe Merck Veterinary Manual: a standard veterinary reference written and reviewed by veterinary specialists.
- Merck Veterinary Manual: Nutritional diseases of fish Zoo, university or veterinaryThe Merck Veterinary Manual: a standard veterinary reference written and reviewed by veterinary specialists.
- Seriously Fish — Neolamprologus multifasciatus Zoo, university or veterinaryAdded in the 2026 source-checked care-guide review.
- Seriously Fish — Tropheus moorii Zoo, university or veterinaryAdded in the 2026 source-checked care-guide review.
- Wikipedia (species article) Community referenceFree encyclopedia; useful overviews with their own citations. Intro text is quoted under CC BY-SA 4.0.
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