"Multies" (Neolamprologus multifasciatus) are the world's smallest cichlids, famous for their unique behavior of living, sleeping, and breeding inside empty snail shells. Native to Lake Tanganyika in East Africa, these "shellies" are highly colonial and can form massive groups in the wild.
Key Characteristics
Size: Extremely small; males reach about 4–5 cm (1.5–2 inches), while females are even smaller at roughly 2.5 cm (1 inch).
Appearance: Tan or silver bodies covered in thin, brown vertical stripes that end just behind the gill plate.
Behavior: They are prolific "aquascapers" that constantly dig and rearrange sand to bury or position their shells.
Social Structure: They live in complex colonies where multiple generations of offspring may coexist in the same area.
Aquarium Care & Setup
Because of their tiny size, Multies are perfect for nano tanks, but they require specific water chemistry to thrive.
Tank Size: A 10-gallon (40L) long tank is often cited as the minimum for a small colony.
Substrate: Fine sand is mandatory for their natural digging and burying behaviors.
Shells: You should provide at least 2–3 shells per fish to reduce aggression. Escargot shells are a popular and affordable choice.
Water Parameters:
pH: 7.5–9.0 (very alkaline).
Hardness: High GH and KH (hard water).
Temperature: 23–28°C (73–82°F).
Diet: Primarily carnivorous; they do well on high-quality cichlid pellets, crushed flakes, and frozen foods like brine shrimp or daphnia.
Breeding
Multies are incredibly easy to breed and often do so without any intervention. Females lay eggs deep inside a shell, which the male then fertilizes. The mother will guard the shell fiercely until the tiny fry begin to emerge and explore the surrounding sand.
SKU: RBM
