Multies
Neolamprologus multifasciatus
The smallest Tanganyika cichlid, about 2 inches, living in empty snail shells; a colony carves the sand into tiny fiercely guarded plots.
Key facts
- Body length
- 1.8 in without fins
- Minimum tank
- 13 gallons
- Group
- 2+
- Temperament
- Semi-aggressive
- Care level
- 1 / 5
- Lifespan
- Not well documented
- Diet
- Small pellets, frozen brine shrimp, cyclops and daphnia
- Origin
- Lake Tanganyika, East Africa
- Hardier than58%
- Bigger than24%
- Calmer than28%
Water: their range vs yours
Multies tank mates
- Neon tetraGets along in shared water.Good mates
- Harlequin rasboraGets along in shared water.Good mates
- Fancy guppyGets along in shared water.Good mates
- Panda corydorasGets along in shared water.Good mates
- OtocinclusGets along in shared water.Good mates
- BettaGets along in shared water.Good mates
- Tiger barbGets along in shared water.Good mates
- Amano shrimpGets along in shared water.Good mates
- Black neon tetraGets along in shared water.Good mates
- Black widow tetraGets along in shared water.Good mates
- Blood parrot cichlidGets along in shared water.Good mates
- Bristlenose plecoGets along in shared water.Good mates
- Cherry shrimpShrimplets get eaten.Risky
- AngelfishAngelfish can eat young or small Multies (shell dweller); adults are big enough to be safe.Risky
- Chinese algae eaterChinese algae eater attacks fish with a similar shape or colour: Multies (shell dweller).Risky
- Clown loachClown loach attacks fish with a similar shape or colour: Multies (shell dweller).Risky
- DemasoniDemasoni attacks fish with a similar shape or colour: Multies (shell dweller).Risky
- Golden mbunaGolden mbuna attacks fish with a similar shape or colour: Multies (shell dweller).Risky
- Blue dolphin cichlidBlue dolphin cichlid can eat Multies (shell dweller): prey body depth 1.0 cm ≤ mouth 6.3 cm.Avoid
- Convict cichlidConvict cichlid can eat Multies (shell dweller): prey body depth 1.0 cm ≤ mouth 3.8 cm.Avoid
- Firemouth cichlidFiremouth cichlid can eat Multies (shell dweller): prey body depth 1.0 cm ≤ mouth 3.0 cm.Avoid
- GoldfishGoldfish can eat Multies (shell dweller): prey body depth 1.0 cm ≤ mouth 3.0 cm.Avoid
- Iridescent sharkIridescent shark can eat Multies (shell dweller): prey body depth 1.0 cm ≤ mouth 32.5 cm.Avoid
- Jewel cichlidJewel cichlid can eat Multies (shell dweller): prey body depth 1.0 cm ≤ mouth 3.8 cm.Avoid
How we check
The numbers the tank model uses for multies: water as ideal and tolerated ranges, bioload from adult mass, space, flow and how they act on other species.
- Standard length
- 4.5 cm (SL)
- Adult mass
- 1.37 g
- Bioload at 25 °C
- 1.03 BU
- Min. water
- 40 L net
- Min. footprint
- 45 × 30 cm per pair
- Group
- 2+ (best 6)
- Swims in
- bottom, substrate
- Flow
- low
- Body / fins
- fusiform, normal fins
- Diet type
- micropredator
- Fin nipper
- none
- Sensitive to
- —
Care notes
Multies live in colonies over sand, each fish claiming a shell and a small patch around it. They dig constantly and defend that patch vigorously, even biting a keeper's hand.
A pair can live in a 10-gallon tank with 2 inches or more of sand, and a colony needs more room. Offer more shells than fish and more females than males.
Questions
What size tank does a multies need?
At least 13 gallons (40 litres of water after decor). Adults reach about 1.8 inches without fins.
How many multies should be kept together?
Keep at least 2, ideally 6 or more: fewer feel exposed and hide or turn nippy.
What water do multies need?
77–80 °F, pH 8–8.5 and 8–25 dGH. Multies come from Lake Tanganyika, East Africa.
How long do multies live?
Not well documented with good care.
What fish can live with multies?
Good tank mates include Neon tetra, Harlequin rasbora, Fancy guppy, Panda corydoras and Otocinclus. Each is checked both ways for size, fin nipping, temperament, territory and shared water.