Fasciatus Shell Dweller
Altolamprologus fasciatus
Parameter dashboard
24-27 °C
8-9
15 cm
Care guide
Altolamprologus fasciatus is a predatory cichlid endemic to Lake Tanganyika in East Africa. It has an unusual build: a laterally compressed, armoured body and a large mouth that let it wedge into rock crevices and strike at prey. Females stay much smaller than the 15 centimetre males and breed inside empty snail shells, which is the source of the shell dweller trade name, even though this fish is not a true dwarf shell-dweller like the smaller Neolamprologus species.
This is an ambush carnivore rather than a community omnivore. In the lake it preys on shrimp and young cichlids, and in the aquarium it should share space only with Tanganyikan fish too large to swallow; small fish, fry, and dwarf shrimp will be eaten. It is otherwise slow-moving and not especially aggressive toward tankmates its own size, so it combines well with robust Tanganyikans such as Julidochromis or larger Neolamprologus. Feed meaty foods: frozen mysis, krill, and good-quality pellets suit it.
Lake Tanganyika is hard and alkaline, so keep this fish at a high pH around 8 to 9, moderate to high hardness, and 24 to 27 degrees Celsius, in a 150 litre or larger tank built from rock piles with scattered snail shells. Breeding follows the wild strategy: a female adopts a shell, lays inside it, and guards the entrance, while the larger male defends the surrounding territory. Because the female fits where the male cannot, the pair naturally divides the work. Given shells and stable hard water, a settled pair will spawn and produce small batches of well-hidden fry.
Sources
- en.wikipedia.org — https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Altolamprologus_fasciatus
- fishbase.se — https://www.fishbase.se/summary/Altolamprologus-fasciatus.html
Further reading on identification and aquarium care.
Tankmate compatibility (sample)
Pairwise screening against other species in the database (prioritizing the same family when data is available).
Review first (12)
Caution or avoid from automated rules — confirm before mixing.
| Species | Assessment | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Bluegray mbuna Melanochromis johannii Caution | Caution | close relatives, and one of them is territorial, so both claim the same kind of space Open pair in Compare → |
| Cockatoo cichlid Apistogramma cacatuoides Caution | Caution | Fish 2x+ larger may eat smaller tankmates · Species with non-overlapping pH ranges may not thrive together · close relatives, and one of them is territorial, so both claim the same kind of space Open pair in Compare → |
| Demon eartheater Satanoperca jurupari Caution | Caution | Species with non-overlapping pH ranges may not thrive together · close relatives, and one of them is territorial, so both claim the same kind of space Open pair in Compare → |
| Freshwater angelfish Pterophyllum scalare Caution | Caution | Multiple territorial species in the same swim layer cause stress · Species with non-overlapping pH ranges may not thrive together · close relatives, and one of them is territorial, so both claim the same kind of space Open pair in Compare → |
| Gold Cap Caudopunctatus Neolamprologus caudopunctatus Caution | Caution | Fish 2x+ larger may eat smaller tankmates · the two share only a narrow band of temperature, so one of them sits at the edge of its range · close relatives, and one of them is territorial, so both claim the same kind of space Open pair in Compare → |
| Gold severum Heros efasciatus Caution | Caution | Fish 2x+ larger may eat smaller tankmates · Multiple territorial species in the same swim layer cause stress · Species with non-overlapping pH ranges may not thrive together · close relatives, and one of them is territorial, so both claim the same kind of space Open pair in Compare → |
| Haitian cichlid Nandopsis haitiensis Caution | Caution | Species with non-overlapping pH ranges may not thrive together · close relatives, and one of them is territorial, so both claim the same kind of space Open pair in Compare → |
| Humphead cichlid Cyphotilapia frontosa Caution | Caution | Multiple territorial species in the same swim layer cause stress · close relatives, and one of them is territorial, so both claim the same kind of space Open pair in Compare → |
| Jewelfish Hemichromis bimaculatus Caution | Caution | Species with non-overlapping pH ranges may not thrive together · close relatives, and one of them is territorial, so both claim the same kind of space Open pair in Compare → |
| Multies Neolamprologus multifasciatus Caution | Caution | Fish 2x+ larger may eat smaller tankmates · Multiple territorial species in the same swim layer cause stress · close relatives, and one of them is territorial, so both claim the same kind of space Open pair in Compare → |
| Redstriped eartheater Geophagus surinamensis Caution | Caution | Species with non-overlapping pH ranges may not thrive together · close relatives, and one of them is territorial, so both claim the same kind of space Open pair in Compare → |
| Rio Grande cichlid Herichthys cyanoguttatus Caution | Caution | Multiple territorial species in the same swim layer cause stress · Species with non-overlapping pH ranges may not thrive together · close relatives, and one of them is territorial, so both claim the same kind of space Open pair in Compare → |
Same rule engine as Compare. Not a substitute for observation, tank size, or acclimation.
Related species
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