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Common name
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'Multis'
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Scientific name
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"Lamprologus" multifasciatus
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Synonyms
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Neolamprologus multifasciatus
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Size
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2" (5cm), female smaller.
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Origin
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Lake Tanganyika, East Africa
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Tank setup
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Sand substrate (or very fine gravel), and lots of shells. A few small rocks can be added in the background.
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Compatibility
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Best kept in a group in a small species tank. Alternatively, keep in a larger tank with other Tanganyikan cichlids which are not overly aggressive towards other species, such as Altolamprologus, Julidochromis, etc.
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Temperature
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24-27 oC (75-81 oF)
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Water chemistry
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Hard and alkaline: pH 7.8-9.0, GH 12-20, KH 14-20 ideally, but at least 6.
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Feeding
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Will take most aquarium foods, but small frozen or live foods are ideal.
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Sexing
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Mature males are larger, so size can serve as a rough guide when attempting to select a pair or a balanced group of juveniles.
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Breeding
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Ideally, keep more females than males, the fish may form pairs or harems. Despite their small size, these fish can move vast quantities of substrate around their spawning site, which will centre around the shells. This is an early sign of breeding intent. The first indication that spawning has occurred is likely to be the presence of fry near to the entrance to the chosen shell. The fry are very tiny and will therefore require the smallest of available foods initially.
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Comments
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In the wild, these fish occur where many shells of the Neothauma snails are present. In captivity, any similarly-shaped shells will suffice, such as those from the apple snail. High water quality must be maintained with small, frequent water changes.
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