Scientific Name: Neolamprologus similis

Neolamprologus similis (Zebra Shell Dweller) is a small cichlid from Lake Tanganyika known for its bold vertical zebra-like stripes and fascinating shell-dwelling behavior. These fish live in and around empty snail shells, using them for shelter, breeding, and protection.

They are active and social fish that do best in species tanks or with other peaceful Tanganyikan cichlids. A sandy substrate with plenty of empty shells is essential, allowing them to dig, move shells, and establish small territories.

Care Requirements

Temperature: 75–80°F

pH: 7.8–9.0

Diet: Small pellets, flakes, frozen foods, brine shrimp

Temperament: Semi-aggressive

Max Size: About 1.5 inches

Tank Size: 10 gallons or larger

Notes: Assortment includes a mix of colors and patterns; Exact colors and markings will vary; Stock photo used; fish received may differ. 🐟

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Domestic shipping only! Sorry, we cannot ship to anyone in Hawaii & Washington State.

We ship on Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday via USPS Priority Mail. Once we get your order, we will ship it within 1 to 5 business days. For the safety of the animals, we do not ship aquatic life on Thursday and Friday. We do not want live aquatic animals sitting in USPS warehouse over the weekend. Thank you for your understanding.

Any orders placed before 12:00 PM on Tuesday will be shipped out that same week. orders placed after 12:00 PM on Tuesday will now be processed the following week

Male/Female: Will be picked at random (no custom orders)

Note: color may be slightly off from photo.

We placed a penny at the corner of the tank so you can have an idea of the size of the fish.

Guaranteed to arrive alive you have one hour of delivery to report any death. You must take a picture while the fish is dead in the bag before it’s opened.

Fish’s color might be off first 3 days due to shipping and stressed fish.

we do not refund shipping costs