View Full Version : Sulawesi Q's
I'm looking into getting some sulawesi snails (preferably tylos) and I'm wondering just what color substrate would best bring out their color? I know in the wild it's kinda black/brown mix. I'm looking at either the yellow or the orange tylos.
And I'm also wanting some sulawesi shrimp (come way later) but my question is, what's the chance they get eaten by some rainbowfish? I've found a place for Telmatherina bonti...
I know both'll need high temps (82-84) and the snail shells need lots of calcium to prevent pitting, but from what I've read their water isn't overly hard so would I have to use a calcium supplement instead of, say, coral sand beneath whatever color works out best?
bettabrat
03-26-2009, 6:13 PM
I wouldn't house them with fish. Those shrimp are crazy expensive I wouldn't want to risk them to become snacks...
lol, that's why I'm planning on having them come waaay later if I get them at all...
hopefully in the next 4 or 5 years they'll be at a thinkable price
msjinkzd
03-26-2009, 6:50 PM
The tylo snails will actually graze on silt substrate so I would go with a more soil type substrate. I have mine in a bare bottom tank because its a holding tank and I need to monitor them. I have the yellow tylos and some sulawesi shrimp. The parameters that are working out are temp 82, pH 8.0-8.2, gh 4, kh 4-6. That is on the higher spectrum for hardness. I drop in calcium pills and veggies sticks as well as zucchini. I also imported some brilliant bee sulawesi shrimp. Just a word of caution, keep in mind these shrimp only get .5"-.75" MAX, they will not be suitable to keep with most fish. They ar emuch to small. I have found in order to do a wc without significant shrimp die-off,I have to drip the new water in very slowly. The snails are much more hardy, I have 5 babies already after one week.
so what type of silty/soil would you recomend? All I've got in the way of soil is amazonia and that stuff'd lower the ph...
I've heard of people rinsing straight topsoil into a kind of gritty/sandy stuff without any mulch or whatver fluffy stuff they add to it to be used in an aquarium, would that work? Otherwise I'll go with either fine black sand or Exo terra riverbed brown sand.
Right now I've only had easier shrimps (amano, ghost, cherry, bamboo) so I'm not ready to go in for the hard to keep sulawesi's yet. I'll get the fish instead. After I've had some experience with other neocardina and cardina I'll think more about it.
stezatois
03-26-2009, 7:11 PM
here is a pic of my sulawesi shrimp on yellow sand if that helps any http://www.aquariacentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=184286&page=4
They do like to dig so a soft substrate is better for them I have not yet managed to get a pic of my blacks on that substrate, but im sure it would really bring out their colour.
huffmagx
03-26-2009, 11:18 PM
Where are you guys getting youe Suluwasi snails/shrimp? I have seen them on Aqua bid and on Planet Inverts but haven't ordered anything yet... I wanted to do some research first. I know I want some Nerites for algae control ( the Candy Horned ones look sooo pretty but they are "out of stock)
Anyone sucessful breeding Nerites out there? I know they are a brackish snail that is acclimated to FW and don't breed in FW but will sometimes lay eggs, any way to hatch those? Or can they be re-acclimated to brackish for breeding? I have so many questions???
Lupin
03-26-2009, 11:19 PM
Huffmagx, where are you located? If in USA, PM msjinkzd. She has Sulawesi snails for sale.
Lupin
03-26-2009, 11:21 PM
Anyone sucessful breeding Nerites out there? I know they are a brackish snail that is acclimated to FW and don't breed in FW but will sometimes lay eggs, any way to hatch those? Or can they be re-acclimated to brackish for breeding? I have so many questions???
European nerites (Theodoxus fluvatialis) and some Vitta usnea have been recorded to breed in FW. The big challenge is providing food for the velligers (larva) as they prefer microalgae or phytoplanktons before reaching snail stage.
huffmagx
03-26-2009, 11:22 PM
Yes I am in the US good old Georgia! I will PM her as you suggested. I have been tempted to order some of her Olive nerites already!! but am trying to hold out for the candy horn's ( they are a bit more expensive but hey... can't take it with you right?)
Thanks for the advice!
Lupin
03-26-2009, 11:24 PM
See this thread.
http://www.aquariacentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=186870
I hope to get my snails through MsJ but it'll be a while before my tank is ready and if she's out I guess I'll either have to find a new source or go through planet inverts, he's supposed to have some tylos in in the next couple weeks. I'd prefer to go the route of ordering from a fellow hobbyist though.
Thanks for the shrimp/snail pics stez! They look pretty good on the yellow sand... hmmm...
And I figured I'll throw in this link, great place for pictures. They were the ones that led the initial sulawesi expedition so far as I've found.
http://www.mimbon.de/fangreisen/indonesien-2008
jamesstill84
03-27-2009, 1:36 PM
You should read the feedback and comments about planet inverts before you order. It turned me away... :(
You should read the feedback and comments about planet inverts before you order. It turned me away... :(
lol, yeah
though I guess it's started to get better, I know a few people that have picked up orders from them in the last few weeks. Still, rather order from a hobbyist than someone with as bad a rep as them, would even prefer it over them if they had a good rep:)
msjinkzd
03-27-2009, 7:51 PM
I plan on keeping them in stock as well as getting new species. i have 6 baby tylos already!