Shell Dwellers

Emg

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Jan 16, 2005
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Northeast Connecticut
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I saw my first batch of shell dwellers in a lfs here...I sure do like them ! What a cool looking little fish ! Guess that will be my next tank..lol...species only shellies ! The tank at the store was full of tiny little babies too....if you moved too fast they scooted into their shells...very cute..
 
I wish my LFS got cool things like that. :( The most "exotic" fish the best place in town has are some green killifish and, when asked to order them, rams.

I've always coveted housing several pair of L. meleagrise. Thier spots and fins are just amazing to look at.

meleagris.jpg
 
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Wow seems like cool fish, like they swim around and stuff but when they get scared they swim abck to there shells? and when you buy the fish at your lfs dose the shell come with it? haha
 
They are sooooo cute! What's just one more tank eh? ;)
 
Not much! You can house two pairs in a 10 gal and about 5 in a 20 long (floor space is the most important factor. They're really active and fun to watch.

Mind you keep the tank species specific.
 
They like a high pH right? Are there any other fish that would do well with them?
 
Not really. They're very territorial and very active. Unless you have something upwards of like 50 gallons I wouldn't reccomend mixing them with other fish, and even then I'd be wary.

You'd have to get something about as tough as them, small enough not to try and eat them, but big enough to take a little pushing around.

As for theoretical tank mates.... anything from Lake Malwai would work, and potentially from the other Rift lakes as they are home to very alkaline loving fish (7.8-8.4ph)
 
hmmmmm, might have to find spot for a dedicated 20 g or so somewhere .... :D
 
You can get a dither fish to swim around the top area of the tank. Theyr'e very interesting species of fish that come from Lake Tang. They require a a ph of 8.2 to 9.0. I suggest sand over gravel as gravel does no justice for these cichlids behavior.
 
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