Lamprologus ocellatus

The ocellatus is a small shell-dwelling cichlid named after the dark eye-like spot (ocellus) on its gill cover. Males reach 5–6 cm and females around 4 cm. Its body ranges from light brown to golden yellow and is decorated with rows of small dots that shine like pearls; the "Gold" form often seen in the trade is a more yellow-toned local color form.

It is one of the shell dwellers with the most "personality": it stands guard at the entrance of its shell and attacks fish many times its size, and even a hand put into the aquarium. Burying its shell in the sand so that only the opening is exposed, and arranging its nest by carrying sand in its mouth, are behaviors that are a joy to watch.

It lives on the lake's sandy bottoms, in areas where empty Neothauma snail shells accumulate. Each individual takes a shell as its home and often buries it in the sand. Unlike the dense colonies of the multifasciatus, it lives in scattered small groups with more distance between individuals.

• Volume: 54–60 liters for one male and 2–3 females; floor space matters. 100 liters or more for a larger harem or together with other species.
• Shells: at least 2 shells per individual; clean, unpainted snail shells with an opening of 2.5–3 cm. Scatter the shells; the fish buries them itself.
• Substrate: at least 5 cm of fine sand; it digs constantly.
• Water: pH 8–9, hard and stable; a 20–25% water change every week.
• Decor: a few small stones to separate territories; rooted plants may be dug up.

Carnivorous. A fine-grained cichlid granule should be the staple; vary it with frozen cyclops, brine shrimp and mysis. Feed small amounts 1–2 times a day; in a small volume, excess food quickly spoils the water.

Extremely attached to its territory, it defends an area of 20–30 cm around its shell against every intruder. Males can be merciless toward each other; two males are not kept in a small aquarium.

Good companions: in 100 liters or more, Cyprichromis or Paracyprichromis living in the middle to upper water; Julidochromis ornatus or transcriptus in a rocky section.

Avoid: other shell-dwelling cichlids in a small aquarium, other bottom-dwelling cichlids, large and carnivorous fish, shrimp and calm community fish (the ocellatus constantly chases them out of its territory).

The ocellatus is a harem species:

• The most suitable setup is 1 male : 2–3 females; each female claims her own shell within the male's territory.
• It can also be kept as a pair, but a single female may be overwhelmed by the male's attention.
• Breaking lines of sight with stones and spreading the shells over a large area reduces fighting.
• The fry can stay with the parents for a few months; once mature they start being chased and need to be removed.

The female lays her eggs inside the shell and the male fertilizes them at the shell's opening. The female guards the eggs and fry in the shell while the male defends the territory. The fry begin to appear at the opening of the shell after about a week to ten days and are fed newly hatched brine shrimp. During this period the female attacks anything that approaches her shell.

• Hardy; the main risk is soft water and low pH.
• In a small aquarium, overfeeding quickly spoils water quality.
• Fight wounds appear when there are too many males or too few shells.

Males are noticeably larger (5–6 cm) and more colorful; females stay at around 4 cm. Females are more attached to their shells, while the male patrols his territory.