{"product_id":"multies-shell-dwellers","title":"Neolamprologus multifasciatus - Shellies","description":"\u003ch2\u003e\u003cspan style=\"color: #000000;\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eComing soon!\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003e\n\u003cspan style=\"color: #000000;\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eD\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan style=\"color: #000000;\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eescription:\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\n\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"color: #000000;\"\u003eNeolamprologus multifasciatus, also known as Multies, Multi Shell Dwellers, or Shellies, are one of the most captivating nano cichlids available in the hobby. Endemic to the ancient waters of Lake Tanganyika in East Africa, these diminutive fish pack an extraordinary amount of personality into a remarkably small package. Males reach just 4–5 cm in length, while females are even smaller at around 2.5 cm, making them one of the tiniest members of the Cichlidae family.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"color: #000000;\"\u003eAdults display a soft light brown to beige base colouration with a distinctive dark vertical banding pattern across the body. Their bright white or blue iris and black pupil give them a striking, alert expression. Fins are rounded and elegant, pectoral fins are transparent, pelvic fins are wing-shaped with a white leading edge, and the caudal fin features a single light peripheral band. Juveniles share the same light tan colouration but lack the banding and fin highlights of mature adults.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"color: #000000;\"\u003eWhat truly sets Multies apart is their shell-dwelling lifestyle. In the wild, a dominant male establishes a colony by collecting and arranging small gastropod shells, creating a miniature underwater kingdom that houses a harem of females. Each female claims and meticulously maintains her own shell, rarely venturing far from it. This behaviour is fully replicated in the aquarium, making them one of the most interactive and behaviourally rich species you can keep.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"color: #000000;\"\u003eTheir manageable size, relative hardiness, and fascinating social dynamics make them an excellent choice for aquarists looking to explore something truly unique, from curious beginners to seasoned cichlid enthusiasts.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eOur personal favourite shells to use are empty escargot shells, large, tough, and perfectly sized for Multies to spawn in, live in, and most importantly, move around. These fish are dedicated earth movers. They will rearrange their environment entirely to suit themselves, pushing shells across the substrate and burying rival males' shells to eliminate competition and force opposing males to establish territories further away. The result is a tank that can look completely different every time you check in, making them one of the most entertaining and interactive species you can keep.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003e\u003cspan style=\"color: #000000;\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eTemperament:\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"color: #000000;\"\u003eMulties are peaceful within their own colony but highly territorial around their shells. A single dominant male will oversee a group of females, and while intra-colony squabbles are common, they rarely result in injury. Their territorial nature is directed primarily at the substrate level, making tank mate selection important.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"color: #000000;\"\u003eThey can be kept in a community setting, but tank mates must occupy the middle or upper water column to avoid encroaching on shell territories. Species that bottom-dwell or compete for substrate space are not recommended. When kept in a species-only setup, Multies thrive and display their full range of natural behaviours with minimal stress.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003e\u003cspan style=\"color: #000000;\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eDiet:\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"color: #000000;\"\u003eMulties are commonly carnivorous in the wild but have adapted to omnivorous diets in captivity and are relatively easy to feed. In the wild, they forage for small invertebrates, larvae, and organic matter around the shell beds of Lake Tanganyika. In the aquarium, they readily accept high-quality micro pellets such as \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/www.rippleeffectaquatics.com.au\/products\/frenzy-high-protein-fast-growth-fish-food-1mm-sinking-pellets\" target=\"_blank\" title=\"Frenzy Sinking Pellets\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"\u003eFrenzy Sinking 1mm Pellets\u003c\/a\u003e or fine flakes like \u003c\/span\u003e\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/www.rippleeffectaquatics.com.au\/products\/xtreme-community-crave-krill-spirulina-flakes\" target=\"_blank\" title=\"Xtreme Community Crave\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"\u003eXtreme Community Crave\u003c\/a\u003e as a staple diet.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"color: #000000;\"\u003eTo keep them in peak condition, supplement with live or frozen foods such as baby brine shrimp, daphnia, and micro worms. Their small mouths require appropriately sized food, so finely crushed or micro-format foods are essential. In our fish room we still skip a day or two of feeding to encourage healthy digestion, please visit our diet tab for more information.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003e\u003cspan style=\"color: #000000;\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eBreeding Behaviour:\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"color: #000000;\"\u003eNeolamprologus multifasciatus are one of the most rewarding shell-dwelling cichlids to breed in the home aquarium. Once a colony is established, breeding occurs naturally and frequently with minimal intervention. Males will actively court females, displaying and posturing near the shell cluster to assert dominance and attract mates.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"color: #000000;\"\u003eFemales spawn directly inside their chosen shell, depositing eggs in the protected interior where they are fertilised and guarded. Unlike many African cichlids, Multies lack egg spots on their caudal fins, a trait directly linked to their shell-spawning strategy, as the eggs are already well-protected and do not require distraction displays.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"color: #000000;\"\u003eEggs typically hatch within 48–72 hours, with fry remaining inside the shell for several more days before emerging as free-swimming juveniles. Newly hatched fry require very fine foods such as infusoria, \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/www.rippleeffectaquatics.com.au\/products\/xtreme-nice-crumble-naturally-intense-color-enhancer-sinking-crumble-70g\" target=\"_blank\" title=\"Xtreme Nice Crumble\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"\u003eXtreme Nice Crumble\u003c\/a\u003e or fry powder, then\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan style=\"color: #000000;\"\u003e progressing to baby brine shrimp and slighly larger pellet foods such as our smaller \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan style=\"color: #000000;\"\u003e\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/www.rippleeffectaquatics.com.au\/products\/frenzy-high-protein-fast-growth-fish-food-0-5mm-sinking-pellets\" target=\"_blank\" title=\"Frenzy Sinking Pellets\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"\u003eFrenzy Sinking 0.5mm Pellets\u003c\/a\u003e as they grow. The colony will naturally expand over time, providing additional shells encourages females to establish new territories and supports population growth.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"color: #000000;\"\u003eTo encourage breeding, maintain stable, clean water with a slight alkaline pH to replicate Lake Tanganyika conditions, provide an abundance of small shells, and offer a varied, high-quality diet to keep the colony in optimal condition.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Ripple Effect Aquatics","offers":[{"title":"2-3cm","offer_id":47088960602283,"sku":null,"price":20.0,"currency_code":"AUD","in_stock":false}],"url":"https:\/\/www.rippleeffectaquatics.com.au\/products\/multies-shell-dwellers","provider":"Ripple Effect Aquatics","version":"1.0","type":"link"}