Lamprologus ocellatus
Encyclopedia
Lamprologus ocellatus is a type of shell dweller from Lake Tanganyika
. It is a popular aquarium fish due to its small size, appearance, and intelligence. Lamprologus ocellatus are members of the cichlid
family.
Juveniles measure about 6 mm (less than .25 inches) at hatching, while adults grow up to 5 cm (2 in). They range in color from a light brownish color to a gold/yellow color. These fish, like all shell dwellers, live in snail shells. They live in colonies amongst each other and raise their young in the shells.
Male Lamprologus ocellatus are larger, and have a yellow edge on the dorsal fin.
trade. They are not a beginner's species. Instead, they appear in the tanks of more advanced hobbyists who specialize in fish hailing from Lake Tanganyika.
These fish are not considered to be an aggressive species in captivity. However, they will defend the shells that comprise their physical territory. They have even been known to attack the hands of aquarists.
should be between 8.0 and 8.3 at a minimum (Lake Tanganyika's pH ranges between 8.7 and 9.4). Mineral hardness, or kH, should be between 12 and 14. Temperature should be 73-81°F.
Like all Tanganyikans, L. ocellatus are quite sensitive to the nitrogen cycle
. The presence of ammonia
or nitrite
can prove toxic to them. For this reason, good maintenance practices should be used. Adequate filtration
is a necessity.
or daphnia
. New specimens may exhibit a reluctance to eat, and can be most effectively tempted with live food.
In the home aquarium they should be fed according to the same nutritional principles as other African Cichlids. Namely: Tubifex
worms should never be offered, as they can cause fatal systemic bacterial diseases. High protein
diets or diets that exclude vegetable matter should be avoided. The fish should be fed as much as they can consume in five minutes, and overfeeding should be avoided. A weekly fast day can be beneficial, as it allows the intestinal tract to be purged. Finally, Lamprologus ocellatus are similar to other African Cichlids in that their coloring will benefit from a diet containing quantities of beta-carotene
and canthaxanthin
.
, the larger cichlids that hail from neighboring Lake Malawi
. Greatest success will be achieved if tankmates from the natural biotope
of this species are used. Good choices include (but are not limited to) variants of the Julidochromis
, Cyprichromis
and Synodontis
genuses.
Lake Tanganyika
Lake Tanganyika is an African Great Lake. It is estimated to be the second largest freshwater lake in the world by volume, and the second deepest, after Lake Baikal in Siberia; it is also the world's longest freshwater lake...
. It is a popular aquarium fish due to its small size, appearance, and intelligence. Lamprologus ocellatus are members of the cichlid
Cichlid
Cichlids are fishes from the family Cichlidae in the order Perciformes. Cichlids are members of a group known as the Labroidei along with the wrasses , damselfish , and surfperches . This family is both large and diverse. At least 1,300 species have been scientifically described, making it one of...
family.
Juveniles measure about 6 mm (less than .25 inches) at hatching, while adults grow up to 5 cm (2 in). They range in color from a light brownish color to a gold/yellow color. These fish, like all shell dwellers, live in snail shells. They live in colonies amongst each other and raise their young in the shells.
Male Lamprologus ocellatus are larger, and have a yellow edge on the dorsal fin.
Aquarium Care
Lamprologus ocellatus are identified as African Cichlids in the aquariumAquarium
An aquarium is a vivarium consisting of at least one transparent side in which water-dwelling plants or animals are kept. Fishkeepers use aquaria to keep fish, invertebrates, amphibians, marine mammals, turtles, and aquatic plants...
trade. They are not a beginner's species. Instead, they appear in the tanks of more advanced hobbyists who specialize in fish hailing from Lake Tanganyika.
General Tank Requirements
Lamprologus ocellatus can be maintained in aquariums as small as 5 gallons (19 l), although this would severely limit the number of specimens. One empty aquatic snail shell should be provided for each individual, along with a thin layer of silica sand. Sand is not required for these fish to survive in captivity, but it allows them to display natural behavior. Lamprologus ocellatus use propeller-like motions of the tail to bury the shells that they reside in. This cannot be accomplished with heavier and larger-grain gravel.These fish are not considered to be an aggressive species in captivity. However, they will defend the shells that comprise their physical territory. They have even been known to attack the hands of aquarists.
Water Quality
Lamprologus ocellatus require the same water chemistry as other Tanganyikan species. The pHPH
In chemistry, pH is a measure of the acidity or basicity of an aqueous solution. Pure water is said to be neutral, with a pH close to 7.0 at . Solutions with a pH less than 7 are said to be acidic and solutions with a pH greater than 7 are basic or alkaline...
should be between 8.0 and 8.3 at a minimum (Lake Tanganyika's pH ranges between 8.7 and 9.4). Mineral hardness, or kH, should be between 12 and 14. Temperature should be 73-81°F.
Like all Tanganyikans, L. ocellatus are quite sensitive to the nitrogen cycle
Nitrogen cycle
The nitrogen cycle is the process by which nitrogen is converted between its various chemical forms. This transformation can be carried out by both biological and non-biological processes. Important processes in the nitrogen cycle include fixation, mineralization, nitrification, and denitrification...
. The presence of ammonia
Ammonia
Ammonia is a compound of nitrogen and hydrogen with the formula . It is a colourless gas with a characteristic pungent odour. Ammonia contributes significantly to the nutritional needs of terrestrial organisms by serving as a precursor to food and fertilizers. Ammonia, either directly or...
or nitrite
Nitrite
The nitrite ion has the chemical formula NO2−. The anion is symmetric with equal N-O bond lengths and a O-N-O bond angle of ca. 120°. On protonation the unstable weak acid nitrous acid is produced. Nitrite can be oxidised or reduced, with product somewhat dependent on the oxidizing/reducing agent...
can prove toxic to them. For this reason, good maintenance practices should be used. Adequate filtration
Filter (aquarium)
Aquarium filters are critical components of both freshwater and marine aquaria. Aquarium filters remove physical and soluble chemical waste products from aquaria, simplifying maintenance...
is a necessity.
Feeding
L. ocellatus are omivorous, and will accept a wide variety of prepared aquarium foods including: flake, small pellets, frozen foods and live brine shrimpBrine shrimp
Artemia is a genus of aquatic crustaceans known as brine shrimp. Artemia, the only genus in the family Artemiidae, has changed little externally since the Triassic period...
or daphnia
Daphnia
Daphnia are small, planktonic crustaceans, between 0.2 and 5 mm in length. Daphnia are members of the order Cladocera, and are one of the several small aquatic crustaceans commonly called water fleas because of their saltatory swimming style...
. New specimens may exhibit a reluctance to eat, and can be most effectively tempted with live food.
In the home aquarium they should be fed according to the same nutritional principles as other African Cichlids. Namely: Tubifex
Tubifex
Tubifex is a cosmopolitan genus of tubificid Annelids that inhabit the sediments of lakes, rivers and occasionally sewer lines. There are over ten known species of Tubifex, but the number is not certain, as the species are not easily distinguishable from each other.-Food and feeding:Tubifex worms...
worms should never be offered, as they can cause fatal systemic bacterial diseases. High protein
Protein
Proteins are biochemical compounds consisting of one or more polypeptides typically folded into a globular or fibrous form, facilitating a biological function. A polypeptide is a single linear polymer chain of amino acids bonded together by peptide bonds between the carboxyl and amino groups of...
diets or diets that exclude vegetable matter should be avoided. The fish should be fed as much as they can consume in five minutes, and overfeeding should be avoided. A weekly fast day can be beneficial, as it allows the intestinal tract to be purged. Finally, Lamprologus ocellatus are similar to other African Cichlids in that their coloring will benefit from a diet containing quantities of beta-carotene
Beta-carotene
β-Carotene is a strongly-coloured red-orange pigment abundant in plants and fruits. It is an organic compound and chemically is classified as a hydrocarbon and specifically as a terpenoid , reflecting its derivation from isoprene units...
and canthaxanthin
Canthaxanthin
Canthaxanthin is a carotenoid pigment widely distributed in nature. Carotenoids belong to a larger class of phytochemicals known as terpenoids. The chemical formula of canthaxanthin is C40H52O2. It has E number E161g and is approved for use in the EU and USA however it is not approved for usage in...
.
Tankmates
It is critical that L. ocellatus not be kept with more aggressive, predatory or larger tankmates. Due to their tiny size, they would either be eaten or harassed. It is also inappropriate to keep these fish with MbunaMbuna
Mbuna is the common name for a large group of African cichlids from Lake Malawi. The name mbuna means "rockfish" in the language of the Tonga people of Malawi...
, the larger cichlids that hail from neighboring Lake Malawi
Lake Malawi
Lake Malawi , is an African Great Lake and the southernmost lake in the Great Rift Valley system of East Africa. This lake, the third largest in Africa and the eighth largest lake in the world, is located between Malawi, Mozambique, and Tanzania...
. Greatest success will be achieved if tankmates from the natural biotope
Biotope
Biotope is an area of uniform environmental conditions providing a living place for a specific assemblage of plants and animals. Biotope is almost synonymous with the term habitat, but while the subject of a habitat is a species or a population, the subject of a biotope is a biological community.It...
of this species are used. Good choices include (but are not limited to) variants of the Julidochromis
Julidochromis
Julidochromis is a genus of cichlids in the subfamily Pseudocrenilabrinae. They are commonly called julies and are endemic to Lake Tanganyika in eastern Africa. This genus includes at least 5 species, each with a number of subspecies and local variants of uncertain taxonomic status...
, Cyprichromis
Cyprichromis
Cyprichromis is a genus of cichlids with five species. They are also known as the herring cichlids or sardine cichlids since they form large schools in the open water of Lake Tanganyika. Of the known species, only C. microlepidotus has been recorded outside Lake Tanganyika ....
and Synodontis
Synodontis
Synodontis is the largest genus of catfishes of the family Mochokidae. Synodontis are also known as squeakers, due to their ability to make stridulatory sounds through their pectoral fin spines when handled or disturbed. These catfish are small- to medium-sized fish., with many species exhibiting...
genuses.