Cichlids · Neolamprologus

Similis shell-dweller

Neolamprologus similis · Southern Lake Tanganyika (DR Congo, Tanzania): shell beds 10-45 m

Photo: berzentei, Yvonne Turkans, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons

The Similis shell-dweller (Neolamprologus similis) is a freshwater fish from Southern Lake Tanganyika (DR Congo, Tanzania): shell beds 10-45 m, where it lives in lake habitat. Adults reach about 4.5 cm (1.8 in). Keep it at 24–27 °C (75–81 °F) and pH 7.5–9, in calm water. It is territorial and does best in a group of 2 or more. Feed meaty foods: frozen bloodworm, brine shrimp and quality sinking pellets.

At a glance

Water temperature

24–27 °C 75–81 °F

7.5–9 hard, alkaline water

Adult size

4.5 cm 1.8 in

Swims

Bottom mostly on the floor and in caves

Keep together

2 or more a shoal feels safe

Current ≈

Calm still or slow water

Food ≈

Meaty foods

Temperament

Territorial

Where it comes from

Home water

Southern Lake Tanganyika (DR Congo, Tanzania): shell beds 10-45 m

Congo

Lives in lake habitat.

The dot is placed on its home rivers, not an exact collecting site. Map: Natural Earth.

Similis shell-dweller

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Cichlids · Neolamprologus

Hard water. Needs hard, alkaline water, like its rift lake.

Similis shell-dweller

Neolamprologus similis

Southern Lake Tanganyika (DR Congo, Tanzania): shell beds 10-45 m · lake

Temperature: 24–27°C
pH: 7.5–9
Adult size: 1.8 in · 4.5 cm
Flow: Calm
Swims: Bottom
Temperament: Territorial
Diet: Carnivore
Group: 2+

Hard water. Needs hard, alkaline water, like its rift lake.

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Photo: berzentei, Yvonne Turkans, CC BY-SA 3.0

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Sources

We name everyone whose work is on this page. Where sources disagree, we show the best one: a scientific paper first, then aquarium references.

Temperature, ph, adult size, water flow, swim level, group size, temperament, diet, behaviour Seriously Fish: Neolamprologus similis profile Website
Habitat, diet, home range FishBase: Neolamprologus similis summary Website
Photo berzentei, Yvonne Turkans, CC BY-SA 3.0 Wikimedia Commons
Map of rivers and countries Natural Earth public domain map data Map

Know a good source for this fish? Tell us

Tank mates

Checked against a roomy 300 L planted tank with low flow and plenty of caves. Your own tank may change the answer: try it in Your tanks.

Good together

Keep apart

Need different temperatures and need a different pH and will eat the similis shell-dweller

Altum angelfish
Will eat the similis shell-dweller

Angelfish Blood parrot Blue acara Calvus Deep water hap Electric blue hap
Aggressive and will eat the similis shell-dweller

Dovii

In the hobby

Where to find it

No store or breeder we know of has it right now.

Run a store? List the fish you usually have. Breed fish? List your fry.

Tanks with this fish

No shared tanks have this fish yet. Share yours from Your tanks.

From keepers

Notes appear here when a keeper shares a tank with this fish and writes about it.

Questions keepers ask

How big does a Similis shell-dweller get?

About 4.5 cm (1.8 in) as an adult.

What temperature does a Similis shell-dweller need?

24–27 °C (75–81 °F).

What pH does a Similis shell-dweller need?

pH 7.5–9.

Does a Similis shell-dweller need to be kept in a group?

Yes. Keep at least 2.

Is the Similis shell-dweller aggressive?

It is territorial. Give it its own cave or space.

What does a Similis shell-dweller eat?

Feed meaty foods: frozen bloodworm, brine shrimp and quality sinking pellets.

Where does the Similis shell-dweller come from?

Southern Lake Tanganyika (DR Congo, Tanzania): shell beds 10-45 m.

What fish can live with a Similis shell-dweller?

Good tank mates include Candy stripe (L015), Leopard frog (L134), Amano shrimp, Bolivian ram, Bronze corydoras.

All the numbers

Temperature min (°C)	24	Sourced
Temperature max (°C)	27	Sourced
pH min	7.5	Sourced
pH max	9	Sourced
Adult size (cm)	4.5	Sourced
Flow	Low	Estimate
Swim level (top / middle / bottom)	bottom	Sourced
Habitat	lake	Sourced
Smallest happy group	2	Sourced
Temperament	Territorial	Sourced
Diet	Carnivore	Estimate
Behaviour tags	hard_water	Sourced

Some values are estimates from typical hobby ranges and haven't been checked against a source yet.