▷ Snail cichlids in the aquarium | All information and details

General data:

Food and feeding for Neolamprologus

Neolamprologus do not belong to the so-called growth eaters. Normal flake and granulated food can be given. A particularly high proportion of plants is not necessary. From time to time some frozen food should be given, e.g. B. black mosquito larvae, white mosquito larvae or daphnia. Red mosquito larvae and Tubifex are often discouraged because they are said to come from dirty water and could therefore contain pollutants or bacteria.

Lamprologus snailfish breeding and breeding

Some Lamprologus use tubes to breed.

Lamprologus kungweensis spawn in burrows. Snail shells and burrows are also used for brooding. Apparently tubes are preferred with increasing age of the animals. Possibly the size of the preferred burrows depends on the size of the animals. Snail cichlids such as L. signatus from Lake Tanganyika are said to use tubular depressions in the substrate.

Which water values ​​snail cichlids need

The pH should be at least 7.5, preferably 8. The carbonate hardness should be 10 – 15 °dKH. The exact, optimal values ​​differ somewhat depending on the species.

Why snail cichlids change colour

Snail cichlids change color depending on their mood. For example, a dark color can be a sign of fear, territorial defense or showing off. Blackening is usually a sign of fear or panic.
Some species adapt to the environment or lose their color if they are not fed appropriately.

How many snail shells are needed

More than 2 snail shells are needed for each pair of snail cichlids, because the animals like to choose from several shells. The houses are simply placed together in the aquarium. The fish then distribute the houses themselves. Sometimes the houses are completely buried and a new house pushed in the same place. In some species, a pair moves into a common house, in other species each animal needs its own house.

Which snail shells are suitable

The snail genus Neothauma lives in the habitat of the snail cichlids. Housings are difficult to obtain commercially. Reliable and effective breeding in the aquarium is not yet possible. When housings are commercially available, they are correspondingly expensive.

However, other large housings can also be used. Snail cichlids prefer rounded shells.

There are e.g. B. all similar sized snail shells can be used. Suitable snail shells are Roman snail shells and some apple snail shells. Roman snail shells are smaller than Neothauma shells.

Vineyard snails are e.g. B. in supermarkets and delicatessens. Either to eat or also empty houses to garnish and stuff. The empty houses are boiled and can then be used. Inexpensive, empty snail shells, shells, etc. are sometimes also available in the decoration departments of hardware stores, etc.

If the casings disintegrate over time, they must be replaced with new casings.

Neolamprologus tetracanthus

Neolamprologus tetracanthus grow to about 20 centimeters in size. Neolamprologus tetracanthus «Zambia» is the «yellow» geovariant. The animals are relatively aggressive. Two males share z. B. each half of a 375 liter tank. Other cichlids are also being driven out of the area. Neolamprologus tetracanthus appears to be similarly aggressive as Neolamprologus brichardi, but also cross-species.

Which fish from Lake Tanganyika eat snails?