My Shell Dweller Journey

[gregswimm]

I would take that occie at the top out of the tank, he will be better off in literally anything other than that tank; just bring a shell with him. I have a feeling that it was the 2 occies that killed the other 2. He could very well get sick from the stress and plague the rest of the tank. Do the other 2 occies stick together or are they on opposite ends of the tank? If those 2 did spawn the female may be going in/out of the shell allot and may wiggle in the shell to circulate the water, at least thats what my ornatipinnis do. If they spawned you should see fry by no later than next wk, and that would be the quickest pairing i have ever seen.

Also, I would go talk to the guys at shelldwellers.com and cichlid forum. There should be people there with more experience than I and experience to your specific species of shellie.

Im off to bed, hope everything else goes swimmingly.

 

[Salam]

The other two occies are on separate ends of the tank. I will go up now and watch them and try to take a picture. Good night, should have an update for you later.

 

[Salam]

Ok, it is the two healthy looking occies that are killing them all. So, the one that was hanging by the heater has now moved to the rockwork. I tried nudging him down, but he stayed in the rocks. When I fed them he tried eating, but as soon as he got any closer to the shell beds, the other two attacked him. I mean, like big time. Felt so sorry for this guy. I haven't got a spare tank, so for now I have put him a shell on top of the rockwork and he has settled into that already. The julis came up to him, but they didn't bother about him, so it's definitely not them. Maaan, I am so upset that two boisterous occies can frighten the rest and stress them to death

So upset, I started with six, now I have two healthy but very aggressive ones and one that is scared to death. I really don't know what to do next. I want to keep occies, but I don't want two to kill the rest. And I want fry. I want to watch their behaviour, see how fry grows and so on, but at the moment it looks like I am stuck with two of the same sex (they have exactly the same colouring).

 

[gregswimm]

Ok, it is the two healthy looking occies that are killing them all. So, the one that was hanging by the heater has now moved to the rockwork. I tried nudging him down, but he stayed in the rocks. When I fed them he tried eating, but as soon as he got any closer to the shell beds, the other two attacked him. I mean, like big time. Felt so sorry for this guy. I haven't got a spare tank, so for now I have put him a shell on top of the rockwork and he has settled into that already. The julis came up to him, but they didn't bother about him, so it's definitely not them. Maaan, I am so upset that two boisterous occies can frighten the rest and stress them to death

So upset, I started with six, now I have two healthy but very aggressive ones and one that is scared to death. I really don't know what to do next. I want to keep occies, but I don't want two to kill the rest. And I want fry. I want to watch their behaviour, see how fry grows and so on, but at the moment it looks like I am stuck with two of the same sex (they have exactly the same colouring).

You can use a breeder box or get a bucket with an airstone and do daily/bi-daily water changes on it. I have no idea what is up with your occies. Don't think they paired. Very strange. What are the dimensions of the bottom of your tank and what are the dimensions of that rock?

 

[rifty]

seems very aggressive i have a pair and 2 spare males in one tank smaller than yours i feel really sorry for you as saw how excited you where with the fish hope you get it sorted out have you thought of adding some plants i find it breaks up higher site lines too

 

[Salam]

And the bad news continue. Woke up this morning, turned on the light and the scared little fella was lying dead in the sand

Checked ammonia and nitrite both 0. It can't be the water, the other two occies look healthy, the julis are fine. I am really gutted.

I took a picture, will upload it later. But I can't see anything wrong, it must have been stress and fear and not being allowed to eat.

Gregg, the tank is 36 x 12 and the rockwork takes up about 1/4 of the tank so there is plenty of space. Two pairs would have happily lived there. Now I am left with two who are bullies and don't seem to like each other either. They just stick to their side each.

Rifty, thanks. Yes, I was so excited, made sure it was properly cycled, prepared it all with care and now that.

So, what to do now? Let the two live and see what happens in let's say 2-3 months time? Hoping they might still pair up. Add more now or later? Give up?

 

[Salam]

Here he is

Maybe the fin looks a bit frazzled?! Could be from nipping?

 

[Salam]

Google is not helpful. Looks like others had problems with occies' aggression towards each other. Just read through this, there seem to be quite a few more.

http/cichlid-forum.com/phpBB/viewtopic.php?t=178711&start=0

Don't know what to do now. Don't really want to risk getting new occies and having the same again. Husband says to return them and start with something else (he wants a betta sorority). I am tempted to go with his idea. But it seems like such a shame. *sigh*

 

[gregswimm]

That frayed fin confirms that he died from stress . You may have been very unlucky and got all males .

 

[Salam]

At least I know it's not the water especially after all the care I have taken to make it perfect for them.

So what to do now? Get more and take more possible losses? Get other shell dwellers? Return all and do something totally different with the tank (sorority)?

 

[rifty]

i own a few chilled tangys what about returning the occess and going for multis or caudopunks? or even a comp

 

[gregswimm]

I'm going to suggest the safest most conservative route. I know a colony of 10 multies will do fine in that tank, 4-6 L.ornatipinnis should also be fine. You will need to at minim double your amount of shells for multies. Remember you shouldn't mix species.

 

[Salam]

Yes, I suppose that sounds best. Will speak to the shop I got them from and see if I can return the remaining two and then I shall go for multies or brevis. I find those interesting too. It's the safest way especially after reading that link that I posted where people had several batches of occies until they finally had one successful pair without constant killing.

 

[gregswimm]

I would go with multies, you cannot go wrong with mulites. You won't have to worry about space with them.

 

[Salam]

Will have a look into it. All I have to do is get more shells. I also like the brevis though. It's going to be a manic weekend, but I will return them next week and order whatever I decide to replace them with.