{"product_id":"neolamprologus-hecqui-neolamprologus-hecqui","title":"Neolamprologus hecqui | Neolamprologus hecqui","description":"\u003ch2\u003eDescription\u003c\/h2\u003e\u003cp\u003eA shell-associated Neolamprologus with mottled flanks, pale spangling and a surprising amount of attitude for its size. Reaching around 6–8 cm, 'Hecqui' is a characterful pick for a sand-and-shell Tanganyikan tank and breeds happily in shells.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch2\u003eNatural Habitat\u003c\/h2\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003eNeolamprologus hecqui\u003c\/em\u003e lives over the sandy floor of Lake Tanganyika in East Africa, among vast beds of empty Neothauma snail shells. The lake is warm, very hard, highly alkaline and remarkably stable, and these fish spend their whole lives in and around a single shell, which serves as home, fortress and nursery. Fine sand and a good supply of shells are essential to keep them.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch2\u003eAppearance\u003c\/h2\u003e\u003cp\u003eA compact, alert cichlid with a fawn-to-grey body marbled with darker mottling and rows of iridescent blue-green spots along the flanks and fins. Robust and stocky in build, it perches watchfully at the mouth of its shell.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch2\u003eTemperament and Compatibility\u003c\/h2\u003e\u003cp\u003eSmall but highly territorial around its shell cluster, and hefty enough to hold its own. Best kept as a matched pair or a harem of one male to several females with enough sand area to space out territories. Combine with compatible Tanganyikans that use different niches, and avoid crowding the shell bed.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch2\u003eFeeding\u003c\/h2\u003e\u003cp\u003eA micro-predator\/carnivore in nature, feeding on tiny invertebrates and zooplankton. Offer a quality small cichlid pellet plus frozen cyclops, daphnia, baby brine shrimp and finely-chopped meaty foods. Avoid mammal-based foods. Small, frequent feeds suit their tiny mouths best.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch2\u003eCare Requirements\u003c\/h2\u003e\u003cp\u003eProvide a deep bed of fine sand and several empty shells (Neothauma or escargot shells) per fish, in hard, alkaline, stable water: pH 7.8–9.0, high GH and KH, temperature 24–27 °C. Footprint matters more than height. Keep water pristine with regular, carefully matched partial changes; even small pH swings stress shell-dwellers disproportionately.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch2\u003eBreeding\u003c\/h2\u003e\u003cp\u003eA shell-spawner. Females lay and guard their eggs deep inside a shell while the male defends the wider territory; a harem of one male to three or four females works well. Fry emerge around the shells and are easy to raise on baby brine shrimp and powdered foods.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch2\u003eSpecies Information\u003c\/h2\u003e\u003ctable\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eScientific Name\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e\u003cem\u003eNeolamprologus hecqui\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eCommon Name\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eHecq's Shell-Dweller ('Hecqui')\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eOrigin\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eAfrica (Lake Tanganyika)\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eMaximum Size\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eAround 6–8 cm\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eLifespan\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e5–7 years\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eTemperament\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eTerritorial around shell; feisty for its size\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eDifficulty\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eIntermediate\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eMinimum Tank Size\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e60 litres\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eRecommended Tank Size\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e90 litres or more\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eDiet\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eCarnivore (micro-predator)\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eWater Temperature\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e24–27 °C\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003epH Range\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e7.8–9.0\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eGH Range\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e10–20 dGH (hard, alkaline)\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eSalinity\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eNot applicable (freshwater)\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eSuitable For\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eTanganyikan biotope and hard-water setups\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eReef Safe\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eNot applicable\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003ePlant Safe\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eYes\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003c\/table\u003e\u003ch2\u003eSuitable Tank Mates\u003c\/h2\u003e\u003cp\u003eCyprichromis and other mid-water Tanganyikans, Julidochromis, Altolamprologus and other small hard-water species that keep to different zones.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch2\u003eAvoid Keeping With\u003c\/h2\u003e\u003cp\u003eSoft-water community fish, Rift Lake fish needing very different water, large predators, and — in a small shell-dweller tank — boisterous fish that disturb the sand and shell bed.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Nick's Aquarium Oceanarium Terrarium","offers":[{"title":"Small (1-5cm)","offer_id":55232787218723,"sku":null,"price":43.0,"currency_code":"AUD","in_stock":false},{"title":"Medium (5-10cm)","offer_id":55232787251491,"sku":"AA3477","price":48.0,"currency_code":"AUD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0972\/7236\/5347\/files\/Neolamprologus_hecqui_e9ba940f-78fb-4977-ae68-9e9455c00404.jpg?v=1781446531","url":"https:\/\/nicksaquariumoceanariumterrarium.com.au\/products\/neolamprologus-hecqui-neolamprologus-hecqui","provider":"Nicks Aquarium Oceanarium Terrarium","version":"1.0","type":"link"}