Jayhawk: well, tank size certainly wasn't your problem. My shelldwellers have always been in 10's or 5's (although in a newer reorg they will be going into a 50). Did you ever remove and raise any of the fry?
no, I didn't remove and raise the fry. At first, I kept hoping they'd become better parents and I might make some money at fish club auctions. However, my multis were "muliplying" in my downstairs tanks - so I eventually decided just to let nature take its course in my brevis tank.