shell dwellers

S

Snowgrrl83

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Dec 22, 2005
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Ottawa, ON
Well, I'm still doing some research before I slowly stock my new 65 gallon tank.

I was wondering if anyone had any recommendations for cichlid shell dwellers. Are they very aggressive with bigger fish?? Or will the bigger fish eat them?? --like blood parrots or angelfish?? Any recommendations on which shell dweller to get?

Thanx everyone!
 
Here's a great site for info on shelldwellers. www.shelldwellers.com

Cool fish...my fav would have to be the multis for personality and the fact that you can have a nice size group in a tank, they get along fairly well with each other.

For looks my fav so far is the Stappersi.....but they are more aggressive than the multis and need more room per fish. I have 3 of these in a 15...and I think that's really 1 too many...but they're doing alright.
 
If you are also thinking angelfish, the shelldwellers will not go well in that tank. Angelfish and the other one you mention are soft water cichlids and the shelldwellers need very hard water and their shells will eventualy make soft water hard. Like emg says, check out ALL species of fish you want before going any further.
 
Alright.. thanks for the help everyone...

Ive been reading about shell dwellers. My water is VERY HARD. So hard, I should wear a helmet when I shower. It leaves a white look on glass and other things when it evaporates (calcium buildup?)..Now I don't have a KH or a GH tester but my pH is at 7.8 from the tap. MY angel seems to be doing fine so far.....

My list of fish --
Blue Ram
Angelfish
Blood Parrot
Convict
Pleco
(maybe, eventually a spiny eel?!?!)
... would shell dwellers still do since my water is so hard? what about the ram...would he survive such hard water?...
 
Last edited:
Snowgrrl83 said:
My list of fish --
Blue Ram
Angelfish
Blood Parrot
Convict
Pleco
(maybe, eventually a spiny eel?!?!)
... would shell dwellers still do since my water is so hard? what about the ram...would he survive such hard water?...
Click to expand...

Is that all going in a 10gal?!
 
Uh... read the original first post.. I want to stock my 65 gallon (which is currently cycling with a pleco and a few guppies)..which will eventually be removed...
 
I wouldn't put any shelldwellers in with other fish like angels and blue rams. If anything, some species can be mixed with other african cichlids IF the tank is large enough.

Most of the shellies will murder just about anything else you put in with them...multis are known for this, they hunt as a group from what I have read.

If you want shellies, I'd keep it a species only tank.
 
Thanx for the heads up Emg... awwww...darn, i was getting excited about shellies. Though on the site that you sent me to it said that they could live with larger livebearers (top-mid level swimmers) and plecos (since they are bottom dwellers that can take abuse). Maybe I'll have to try and find out!?!... ish.. hummmmm.... maybe i should just take your word for it... more research is needed!!!
 
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