What are the more popular shell dwellers? How hard are they to keep? I'd love to keep cichlids but I don't have any larger tanks to keep the larger ones. I know some of the shell dwellers can be kept in a 10 gallon tank. But if I ever get any I'd probably keep them in either a 20 gallon.
Anyone here own shell dwellers?
- Thread starter Flower1982
- Start date
I've got the 'Lamprologus' multifasciatus. From the 3 months I've had them, they have been pretty easy to keep. They are really interesting little guys. But from what I have researched they each need there own shells, and the more the merrier.
http://www.cichlid-forum.com/profiles/species.php?id=1749
that site has a picture of them and a brief description of them.
Hope this helps
http://www.cichlid-forum.com/profiles/species.php?id=1749
that site has a picture of them and a brief description of them.
Hope this helps
i have the neolamprologus multifasciatus and neolamprologus brevis i have had mine for over a year now and are doing wonderful, they breed all of the time i have babies and juvies of multi's in a 10gal tank and when i get too many i donate them to my local fish club for BAP points, a normal setup would be a rocky zone on one side of the tank with the other half full of sizable shells for them i usually go with 2 shells per 1 shell dweller fish, there are more shell dwellers available but as for the most the multi's and the brevis are the most common, yeah if you get the chance most def give them a try my multi harem in my 55gal defend their colony very aggressively pretty neat to see a 2inch fish chase a 4inch julidochromis from their colony zone, good luck..
I have several species that I'm breeding. L. multifasciatus, L.ocellatus, L.similis, L.speciousus, L.meliagris and A.compressiceps 'sumbu shell'. Each has their own 20 gal long. The most popular is the Gold ocellatus (L. ocellatus) followed by the pearly ocellatus (L.meliagris) due to thier colorful nature. For a 10 gallon I'd try maybe 3 of these guys with three shell piles in each corner. If the piles are in the same area, they'll fight for space. You can also do L.multifasciatus which will breed easily, L.similis will also do fine but don't have as many babies.
The only shell dweller I would recommend for a 10 are n. multifasciatus, but even then they really should have more room IMO.
Thanks for the info guys. Shell dwellers look so cute lol. If I do set up a shell dweller tank I'll probably use the extra 29 gallon tank i have. Would a 29 gallon tank be ok to use?
half a dozen multies here; they're not doing much of anything; not nearly as exciting as the ocellatus they replaced (i was worried and stressed out about them looking like they would kill each other).
these guys are in a 50 breeder (36x18x18) so there's plenty of room for them to colonize...
these guys are in a 50 breeder (36x18x18) so there's plenty of room for them to colonize...