First time with cichlids :)
- Thread starter b.greene
- Start date
Hey Guys, if I get a 10g tank up and running, how many of these guys should I start with? How many male to female?
Also, can I mix n. multis and l. occelatus (or n. brevis, l. meleagris)
Where do you all get your shells?
Also, can I mix n. multis and l. occelatus (or n. brevis, l. meleagris)
Where do you all get your shells?
I personally would not mix shelldwellers in a 10 gallon...not enough room for territories and not enough shells for all of them.
I also do not like putting them in anything less than 20 gallons mainly because they will easily overpopulate the tank. Also since most shelldwellers other than n. multifasciatus do not naturally form colonies aggression between males can escalate in such a small tank. But if you are able to find new homes for fry it can work. I recommend starting off with a trio of multis.
I have gotten all my shells (escargot) from online but I believe some supermarkets sell them. I also would try whale-eye shells....basically anything that is large enough for the fish to get into.
I also do not like putting them in anything less than 20 gallons mainly because they will easily overpopulate the tank. Also since most shelldwellers other than n. multifasciatus do not naturally form colonies aggression between males can escalate in such a small tank. But if you are able to find new homes for fry it can work. I recommend starting off with a trio of multis.
I have gotten all my shells (escargot) from online but I believe some supermarkets sell them. I also would try whale-eye shells....basically anything that is large enough for the fish to get into.
I agree with the previous poster - I'd stick to one species. I also would not do Occelatus in a 10g, because they are wife-beating little drunkards! :rofl:I find them much more aggresive than multifasciatus.
I wouldn't keep anything from the brichardi or calvus complex, either.. I know, I'm no fun at all, but the brichardi get a bit big for a 10g and breed like bunnies, while the calvus tend to be chemistry-sensitive and might not be great for a beginner.
If you want a little color, you could go with Caudopunctatus. VERY cute little guys, and they have nice yellow fins and an irridescent sheen down their sides. The first time I saw a Caudopunk setup, I had to check and see if they were saltwater fish!
I wouldn't keep anything from the brichardi or calvus complex, either.. I know, I'm no fun at all, but the brichardi get a bit big for a 10g and breed like bunnies, while the calvus tend to be chemistry-sensitive and might not be great for a beginner.
If you want a little color, you could go with Caudopunctatus. VERY cute little guys, and they have nice yellow fins and an irridescent sheen down their sides. The first time I saw a Caudopunk setup, I had to check and see if they were saltwater fish!
It it's of any help, I started with 7 unsexed juvi Multies (Neolamprologus multifasciatus) in a 10 gallon tank with 50 shells. I didn't have any problems with them. Once they started breeding though, I did move them to a 20 long. I don't know, that could have been mostly because I needed the 10 gallon for a shrimp tank. Thinking back, that was the only reason I moved them. LoL. I believe that the more shells you can provide, the more you can keep. Multies for colonies and don't eat their own or other pairs' fry.
i agree with all of above if you are going to do a multi 10gal then just stick to one species and add a crap load of shells the only reason i have some n. mustax fry in with my multi fry 10gal is they would be eaten anywhere else so until they are bigger they will probably go in the 55gal shell dweller tank then, good luck i will let you know in the fall if you can remind me greene and see what i have in stock as multis go..
