Fish Profile:neolamprologus meeli

<-- this handsome fellow here is a neolamprologus meeli shell dwelling cichlid from Lake Tanganyika (Lake Tanganyika is the second largest freshwater lake in the world and houses 250 cichlid species most of which live at a depth of 590 ft )  N. Meeli is a somewhat rare shell dweller. all though not very colorful, these fish make a wonderful addition to an African Cichlid/ Tanganyikan tank. these guys lay there eggs in shells and when bearing will avidly guard the shell there brood is in. N. Meelis' as well as most shell dwellers , don't just claim one shell , they claim many. and These guys mate for life. 


 

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This is my mating pair the female is the lighter of the two -------> the male is the darker shown above ^ and with his mate > There names are Eros and Psyche named after the Mythological couple . Eros ( the alternative name for cupid ) is the male and psyche id the female. Meelis' are known to breed well after a couple has established itself , but if stressed will eat their own young. When we purchased Eros and Psyche they had been guarding a shell... soon after they came home they stopped , we had brought the shell home in hopes that the babies would survive. They didn't. Now however, we are once again expecting another brood ,
These fish are very strong and I've watched them pic up a shell 3 times there size and move it to safety. These are some of my very favorite fish in my tank . despite not having very much  color they are very unique and a rather rare find 

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General Information about this species

Water hardness : hard 
PH: 7.5 to 8.5
Behavior: mildly aggressive , very aggressive with presence of eggs or fry 
Size: 4 to 7 cm ( about 2 inches ) 
Water temperature: 73 to 82 degrees Fahrenheit 
Demand in the hobby: low
Price Range : 7.00 ( what i paid for each for mine )