Neolamprologus ocellatus 'Chaitika'

Neolamprologus ocellatus 'Chaitika' is collected from the sandy shallows of Chaitika Bay in Zambia and is one of the most beginner-accessible shell-dwelling cichlids in the hobby. The body is silver-beige with a warm golden wash on the belly, and the iridescent blue-green 'ocelli' — eye-spots — on the opercula give the fish a playful, cartoonish charm. Females are noticeably smaller than males.

The Chaitika population behaves identically to other ocellatus variants: the male stakes out a shell or small cluster of shells, attracts females to spawn inside them, and defends the territory against rival males and other perceived threats. The species is remarkably bold for its tiny size; a 4 cm male will charge fish ten times his body length without hesitation.

This form thrives in nano and small Tanganyika setups. A 40 L aquarium with fine sand, a handful of Neothauma or escargot shells, and a sponge filter is sufficient for a breeding trio. Regular small water changes and a variety of frozen micro-foods will keep the fish healthy and breeding year-round.

Water: pH 7.8–9.0, GH 10–18, KH 8–14, temperature 24–27 °C; stable and hard. Tank: 40 L; fine sand; 3–5 shells; sponge filter ideal; open sandy floor. Feeding: Frozen Artemia, Cyclops, Daphnia; quality micro pellets; twice daily. Breeding: Shell-spawner; female broods solo; male defends broadly; fry raise on Artemia nauplii. Compatibility: Keep with open-water Tanganyikans; do not mix with other ocellatus or brevis populations.