It’s a fact that most of the known and identified shell dwelling cichlids come from Lake Tanganyika in Africa. In fact, when you mention “shellies,” as shell dwelling cichlids are typically referred to, most people immediately think Tanganyikans. However, its sister lake, Malawi, also contains shellie cichlids, though there are fewer of them in the hobby.
One Malawi shellie that has been identified and occasionally appears in the hobby is Metriaclima lanisticola and its variants. Yes, Metriaclima, the same genera that contains the most specious mbuna in the lake.
Recently, two new species of shellies were identified. According to the published article “Descriptions of two new shell-dwelling species of Metriaclima (Cichlidae) from Lake Malaŵi, Africa,” the two species were discovered in the northern end of the lake along the western shore near Ngara and Chilumba. The new named species, shown below, are Metriaclima gallireyae and Metriaclima ngarae. The standard lengths of the holotype specimens came in at 2.1″ and 2.3″, respectively. If you’re interested in the shells these fish were found to occupy, it’s Lanistes nyassanus, a pretty large snail shown in the photo at the top.
Typical of mbuna species, these two new shellies are rather stocky in build, more so than your typical Tanganyikan shellies. They are both foragers, consuming algae found on nearby rocks and empty shells. Females are mouth brooders.
Because they’re similar to lanisticola, I would presume successfully keeping them (if they show up in the hobby) would be as described here by Sam Borstein.
Full Reference: Miller, T. A. ., Konings, A. F. ., & Stauffer, J. R. J. (2021). “Descriptions of two new shell-dwelling species of Metriaclima (Cichlidae) from Lake Malaŵi, Africa.” Zootaxa, 5052(3), 419–432. https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.5052.3.7