Common Name: Malawi shell dweller
Metriaclima lanisticola, the Malawi shell dweller, is a unique, small, peaceful Lake Malawi cichlid known for living in empty snail shells (Lanistes nyassanus) on sandy lake bottoms, unlike most rock-dwelling Metriaclima species, feeding on algae and small invertebrates, and is a sought-after, manageable "shellie" for aquarists, often having brownish/bluish hues with vertical barring in males.
Category: Cichlids
Global Region: Africa
Distribution: None