how to set-up a shellies tank?

[CHINABOY1021]

i have a spare 10 g laying around and would like to set it up as a shellies tank.

but i am complete newbie with dward cichlids.

can someone link me to a guide or fill me in on some of the basics?
plus anyone good online fish stores have nice shellies? site?

ph?
hardness important?
temperature?
tank decor?

thanks!

[Molino]

Here's a good link to get you started:
www.cichlidrecipe.com/shellweb/ (http://www.cichlidrecipe.com/shellweb/)

For more information check out the articles at:
www.cichlid-forum.com (http://www.cichlid-forum.com/articles/shelldweller_corner.php)

[ChilDawg]

Since I'm on a different computer, I don't have the link to my thread in Cichlids, but there is one on Shellies and it has all the links that you could ever need...besides the ones that Molino already gave you!

[JamisonBWolsh]

Pretty simple really. you use about 1 inch of sand (not the fake cheap stuff found at some LFS that are extremely sharp). You must also have lots of small shells. I would add a rock or 2 with holes in it to.

I was going to make my 10 gallon tank to a shellie but decided not to. Why? because you would have 3 or 4 females per male and the females hide all the time in the shells. Also, if you start 2 colonies, the 2 males will fight. The tank will be a boring tank if you never see the females IMO.

Why my 10 gallon, this is what I did:

BLACK sand- tahitiona moon- from carib sea.
2 "Holey rocks"- rocks that have LOTS of tunnels running through them.
6 Cardinal tetras
10 khuli's loaches
1 albino bushynose pleco.

This setup is really stunning.

[Skittyfish]

Here's what i have

I used about 15 lbs of live aragonite sand. (about 2-3 inches depth). I have 13 shells of varying sizes. They need at least a hole about the size of a quarter to get in. They also seem to like the bigger shells. I also have some Java fern and Java moss, but they tend to bury it.

I bought mine from http://www.alloddballaquatics.com . He told me that they grow them out in about 8.2 water.

They eat flakes, mini cichlid granules, freeze dried blood worms, and I'm sure more things, that's all I have tried so far. I keep the temp at about 78 degrees F.

I have pics you can click on below.

[CHINABOY1021]

thanks everyone. i think im on the right track now.

hey childawg, when you get time, can you post the links? i would love to read more about shellies

thanks

[Skittyfish]

Go to the search button and type in shellies. It seems we have been discussing them a lot lately and Chilldawg has posted them a lot.

[Molino]

I'm trying to find some shell dwellers myself so thought I'd read up with the links ChilDawg has provided.

ChilDawgs Shell Dweller Links (http://www.aquariacentral.com/forums/showthread.php?threadid=11184&highlight=links)

[Skittyfish]

This is what they have done in one week! (I had to shorten my intake strainer!)http://community.webshots.com/sym/image6/6/41/49/76464149daYHWv_ph.jpg