Ocellatus Shell-Dweller (Neolamprologus ocellatus)

Fish in the family Cichlidae. Easy care. Freshwater.

Ocellatus Shell-Dweller

Quick facts

Scientific nameNeolamprologus ocellatus
FamilyCichlidae
Also known asOcellatus, Gold Ocellatus, Ocellatus Gold
Care levelEasy
Reef safetyFreshwater
TemperamentSemi Aggressive
DietCarnivore
Adult size2.5 in
Minimum tank size10 gallons
Water parametersTemp 76-82°F, pH 8.0-9.0, GH 10-20 dGH

Appearance

Compact fish with an eye-spot on the gill cover; gold and pearly-blue forms with metallic flecks and bright fin edging.

Difficulty and care for the Ocellatus Shell-Dweller

Easy

Origin and habitat

Lake Tanganyika, Africa

Keeper notes

Bold single-shell territory holder; pugnacious for its size but harmless to larger fish. Often kept as a single pair per shell.

Log Ocellatus Shell-Dweller in your reef tank

Reef Trak gives you the full record on every species in your tank: acquisition date, source, photos, parameters at time of stocking, and links to maintenance and feeding events. Track Ocellatus Shell-Dweller alongside everything else in your reef.