Lamprologus Meleagris

VTwinFanatic said:

I just purchased a few of these awesome shellies. They are in a 24 gal Nano. I was wondering if there was any other cichlids that I could put in there that stay small and wouldnt pick off the little ones when they started breeding....my guess and gut feeling is NO, but I just thought I'd ask.

Click to expand...

I think rams could work, but i'm not so sure.

Actually, rams are not a good idea.....rams are ok with other fish that aren't overly aggressive...they can dish it out but they don't take it very well....and Stapps/meleagris will give it to them good ! Also rams prefer softer water while the shellies are a hard water fish...though each are usually pretty adaptable....


I have 3 adult stapps in a 15 gallon and a 20 hex full of 18 juvies which are ready to go to the lfs as soon as I can get them there. It's probably not a very good idea to put much of anything else in there with them, but if you want to give it a try, find something that's pretty hardy and spends most of it's time mid level to surface.

The one thing about the stapps that I don't like is with their aggressive nature and territory requirements, you can't have very many of them per tank...and, there aren't many other fish you can put in with them that I know of, though I have never tried. I have that 15 gallon and those 3 stapps are the only living things in there. But....they are an awsome little fish !!!