New 55g Lamprologus ocellatus or Neolamprologus multifasciatus tank

[scottracy]

I would like to establish a cichlid tank with either Neolamprologus multifasciatus or Lamprologus ocellatus. I have been doing alot of searching on the forum and the web but still have several questions. Tap water pH is 8 and the water is hard so I think it will work fine for me. I understand the importance of a sandy substrate and the inclusion of shells (escargot shells?) 2-3 per fish.

QUESTIONS
1. In addition to the sandy substrate and shells, should I have plenty of rocks on hand? Type of rock?
2. How many? I was considering 1 male & 4 female as a start.
3. Should this be a single species tank? What about Synodontis multipunctatus as tank mates?
4. What type of lighting? Do they prefer dim or bright or does it matter? I would assume dim.
5. I am undecided on how to handle the fry.

Thanks for the help.

Scott

 

[SnakeIce]

QUESTIONS
1. In addition to the sandy substrate and shells, should I have plenty of rocks on hand? Type of rock?
2. How many? I was considering 1 male & 4 female as a start.
3. Should this be a single species tank? What about Synodontis multipunctatus as tank mates?
4. What type of lighting? Do they prefer dim or bright or does it matter? I would assume dim.
5. I am undecided on how to handle the fry.

Thanks for the help.

Scott

1 if you were to have some rock I would go with lace rock because it has the holes that might be used by the cavity loveing fish, but with enough shells that is not a nessasary item in the tank.

2 with a tank that big you could get away with two males. the males will claim about a 12" by 24" area(just to give an idea, shells and other things like obstructions like rock may change that. I have a trio of multies(actually wifes tank) in a ten gallon, just to give you an idea of the space for them. granted if given more room they'll take it. but I would have at least 2 females per male if not more.

3 I don't know. I know some fish from the lakes are ok to put with them but couldn't tell you which ones.

4 they don't mind decent lighting, I wouldn't use what would be considered high light for plants but make it so you can see them.

5 fry, multies don't need any special thing done for them other than makeing sure food gets down to the area that the brood shells are in. No predation by parents or siblings is typicly done.
ocelatus on the other hand are abit more canibalistic, maybe not the parents them selves but the older siblings are known to pick younger ones off.

I can't find the web site that is dedicated to the rift lake cichlids that had a genus compatability chart that might give you some ideas as to what else you could keep with your shellies

 

[jonah]

QUESTIONS
1. In addition to the sandy substrate and shells, should I have plenty of rocks on hand? Type of rock?
2. How many? I was considering 1 male & 4 female as a start.
3. Should this be a single species tank? What about Synodontis multipunctatus as tank mates?
4. What type of lighting? Do they prefer dim or bright or does it matter? I would assume dim.
5. I am undecided on how to handle the fry.

1. It won't matter, but I use some limestone in my Tanganyikan tanks. It might make the shellies more secure in their surroundings though.
2. I've only kept multies and brevis, but 1m/4f would be fine for the multies.
3. The catfish would take care of some of your question 5. In a 55g I'd probably look at some kind of Julidochromis for a little variety.
4. My multies are active in any kind of light. They aren't very shy at all, unlike my brevis.

 

[scottracy]

Thanks! That helps. This is a long range project. I will probably make it a LakeTanganyikan community setup with a few compatible species. I found some good literature from http://www.cichlid-forum.com. One suggestion from this forum is listed below.

A sample community for a 55 gallon could be as follows:


3 Neolamprologus cylindricus
3 Julidichromis regani
3-5 Lamprologus ocellatus
3 Telmatochromis vittatus
5 Synodonits petricola (catfish)

What variations if any would you suggest?

Scott

 

[belmont0182]

http://www.shelldwellers.com/