|
Name: Neolamprologus multifasciatus |
| Size |
Tank | pH | Temp |
|
Origin: Lake Tanganyika (Africa) |
|
4 cm |
40 L |
8.0 |
28°C |
This small shell-dwelling fish of Lake Tanganyika is supposedly the smallest cichlid in the world. They are easy to maintain in an aquarium, if given a suitable tank with no other fish that can easily make a snack of them. Because they are shell-dwellers, they will need at least 3+ shells per fish. The shells should be various sizes to give the fish as many options as possible. Finally, the substrate should be either sand or very tiny gravel, since multies like to practically bury their shells in little ditches. They will dig all around their shells and move the substrate until they reach the glass. In the wild, they live in sometimes 7 meter deep shellpiles. Mud-caked algae often grows in between the shells, and there is often no substrate in the wild. You should also keep in mind to do your best to prevent disturbing their home, since it stresses them out.
There is no difficulty in breeding multies, as long as the pair is mature, but you will most likely never see them doing it, since they are very secretive. Your only clue is their fry hanging around the mother’s shell. The fry do not need anything special to eat. They seem to be able to find small bits of food on their own.
These fish are not at all picky about any food you give them and will readily take plain fish food. On occasion they will not eat. Usually this is if you drastically rearrange your aquarium, or they are moved. This can be taken care of simply by not feeding them for a few days. These fish are somewhat sensitive to changes in water. Temperature and water chemistry should be the same when you do your water changes. Cleanliness is also important, since these fish require a water change of 20-30% weekly.
I find that these fish, although slightly territorial at times, are not very aggressive towards each other. They will chase off intruders without actually trying to harm them. In fact, they do best in a colony of different sizes and age groups. The younger/smaller fish seem to pack together, while the larger/adults declare their territories. They like a sandy, or extremely fine gravel as a substrate. It seems that one of their favorite pastimes is grabbing a mouthful of the gravel and spitting it into someone else's territory. At times, they will swim clear across the tank to do it, only to return to find someone else doing it to them. They can be quite amusing, at times.
I find that they readily accept flake food. Adult frozen brine shimp are rather large for them, but anything smaller, is usually taken with gusto. Good water quality is a must! I do about a 10-20% water change about twice a week. In addition to the shells, I use finely crushed marine gravel for substrate and small pieces of stacked limestone holey rock to help provide additional cover. I also have a small Anubia nana and Java fern on some of the limestone rocks. They are doing extremely well in the hard alkaline water. The multies are bottom dwellers, and I keep a few male guppies in the tank with them. They occupy the upper half of the tank and everyone gets along fine. The guppies add a little extra color. Their being there wasn't originally planned as a permanant arrangement, but since they got along so well, I let them stay.
The multies are really cool little fish, with a subtle beauty, and are very amusing to watch. They have a very easy-going disposition which, to me, sets them apart from a lot of the other cichlids.
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