Location: Found in Lake Tanganyika (type locality: Moba, Zaire). The "Kigoma" variant is a specific geographical population.
Biotope: They live in deep waters (30–45 meters) over muddy bottoms. Unlike many other shell-dwellers, they often use smaller gastropod shells (like Paramelania and Lavigeria) rather than the common Neothauma shells.
Extreme Dimorphism: There is a significant size difference between sexes. Males reach about 9 cm, while females are much smaller at approximately 3 cm.
Appearance: They are noted for intensely ornamented fins and a complete edging pattern around the tail (caudal) fin.
Setup: A minimum of a 100-liter tank is recommended. The setup should include a fine sand substrate and plenty of small snail shells.
Social Structure: Best kept in a harem (one male with 3–4 females). Because the male is too large to fit in the small shells used by females, he guards the territory from the outside.
Diet: Carnivorous, feeding on small invertebrates, zooplankton, and crustaceans.
Breeding: Spawning occurs inside the female's shell. Because the male cannot enter the shell, he fertilizes the eggs by releasing milt at the entrance. Clutches are small, typically 10–20 fry.
Aggression: Males are aggressive toward other males of the same species. They are generally peaceful toward other species, except when defending their shell territory.