Red Tail Sheller Victorian

Haplochromis sp. 'red tail sheller' is an informally named Victorian haplochromine maintained in the hobby under this trade designation. It is noted for sifting through shell substrates in search of invertebrates and displaying a distinctive vivid red colouration on the caudal fin of dominant males. Like many Victorian cichlids it remains conservation-sensitive due to Lake Victoria's ecological pressures.

Water: 23-27°C, pH 7.2-8.5, hard water with crushed coral or similar buffering. Tank: 150L minimum; shell substrate or fine sand with shells for foraging behaviour. Feeding: Omnivore; frozen invertebrates, quality pellets; sifting behaviour with fine substrate. Behaviour: Moderate aggression; territorial, particularly around shell deposits. Compatibility: Victorian species community; best with other mid-sized Victorian haplochromines.