Set Up For Shelldweller

[ptyson21]

Is this set up ok for shelldwellers?

 

[matt295]

what shell dwellers are going to be in there? looks nice. would add a few more shells though

 

[ptyson21]

Dunno, just go to the shop n see which ones are nice and wont grow too big for my tank, any suggestions would be good. I have 10 small shells in there.

 

[severum boy]

How big are the shells?
Looks like its going to be a good set up. What are the dimentions of the tank? It may look good with some surface dwellers for added intrest.

 

[ptyson21]

How big are the shells?
Looks like its going to be a good set up. What are the dimentions of the tank? It may look good with some surface dwellers for added intrest.

Ok sounds like a good idea got there aint uch at the top but dont know the difference, suppose shelldwellers go in shell and surface dwellers go at the top, duh? Take it they get along and the tank is big enough? It is a jewel rekord 70l: 61 cm x 46 cm x 31 cm
They are just tiny shells, they are what the guy in the lfs told me to get for them, about 2cms, you can see them at the side of the tank.

 

[matt295]

the bad thing about small shells is that your shelldwellers may not be able to fit in them. if you see some nice ones at the lfs that you like do some research on them before buying them this way you will know a lot about them

 

[stang1]

I use apple snail shells in mine, perfect size for the Multis to get in and out of.
I would be careful with what other fish you keep in there with them. Only keep one species of shell-dweller in the tank.
One of the problems you will find is that most Tanganikyan fish prefer rocks and with a tank that size you are going to struggle. I have a 3ft (48g) tank and added rock to one side of it. Decided to get some Julidochromis Marlieri but found them to be very territorial. They didn't particularly bother the Multis but didn't leave a lot of floor space for them and their shells. Also found that one of the Julidochromis took over the rocks and wouldn't allow the other two in. I came to the conclusion that I needed a bigger tank with a lot more rocks! Sadly, I had to take them back and now keep it as a species only tank.

 

[ptyson21]

the bad thing about small shells is that your shelldwellers may not be able to fit in them. if you see some nice ones at the lfs that you like do some research on them before buying them this way you will know a lot about them

can always buy more shells. Also do you think the will like the rock thing in the middle, it is hollow so they could swim in it, or should i get rid of it coz they might need more floor space?

I use apple snail shells in mine, perfect size for the Multis to get in and out of.
I would be careful with what other fish you keep in there with them. Only keep one species of shell-dweller in the tank.
One of the problems you will find is that most Tanganikyan fish prefer rocks and with a tank that size you are going to struggle. I have a 3ft (48g) tank and added rock to one side of it. Decided to get some Julidochromis Marlieri but found them to be very territorial. They didn't particularly bother the Multis but didn't leave a lot of floor space for them and their shells. Also found that one of the Julidochromis took over the rocks and wouldn't allow the other two in. I came to the conclusion that I needed a bigger tank with a lot more rocks! Sadly, I had to take them back and now keep it as a species only tank.

Was planning on making this a species tank, would that mean shelldwellers only n no surface dwellers?Dont think ill have space for rocks, have a few in the corner, you not think the ornament in the middle will be ok, its hollow?

 

[stang1]

They probably won't bother with it so might be worth taking out. I have about 3 pieces of Tufa Rock in mine and a few large cobbles, other than that it's just shells. They spend most of their time in and around the shells although they do like digging up the substrate under the cobbles!

Here's a picture of mine, ignore the backing. Had planned to hide the join with rock but didn't work out!

This photo you can see where they've landscaped the sand! It was flat and smooth when I set it up!

 

[ptyson21]

They probably won't bother with it so might be worth taking out. I have about 3 pieces of Tufa Rock in mine and a few large cobbles, other than that it's just shells. They spend most of their time in and around the shells although they do like digging up the substrate under the cobbles!

So you reckon it would be best to move it and put some rocks in instead if i can? what u think of plants in the tank? also the fertiliser will be ok under the sand ay?

 

[severum boy]

The tank will be ok for about 6 adults. This will leave loads of space for babies. I would get bigger shells, say 3-4cm diameter. I would also get more rocks to place at the sides and back of the tank. For surface dwellers, I would look out for 3 (one male and two females) of any Cyprichromis sp. These are Tanganikyan cichlids that dont use the floor of the tank for teratory. A smaller sp. like C. nigripinnis would do well.

I also would take out the plants, it looks less Tanganikyan-like with them in.

 

[stang1]

They probably won't bother with it so might be worth taking out. I have about 3 pieces of Tufa Rock in mine and a few large cobbles, other than that it's just shells. They spend most of their time in and around the shells although they do like digging up the substrate under the cobbles!

So you reckon it would be best to move it and put some rocks in instead if i can? what u think of plants in the tank? also the fertiliser will be ok under the sand ay?

Really not sure on the fertiliser as I've not heard of it used in a shelldweller tank before.
You only need a couple of rocks and that will be fine.
What shelldwellers are you planning on getting?

 

[ptyson21]

[/quote]
Really not sure on the fertiliser as I've not heard of it used in a shelldweller tank before.
You only need a couple of rocks and that will be fine.
What shelldwellers are you planning on getting?
[/quote]
Oh no that aint good, maybe they will try to dig that up too.
I will get some rocks then with holes in the for them. Dunno what ones to get, colourful nice ones, any suggestions?

The tank will be ok for about 6 adults. This will leave loads of space for babies. I would get bigger shells, say 3-4cm diameter. I would also get more rocks to place at the sides and back of the tank. For surface dwellers, I would look out for 3 (one male and two females) of any Cyprichromis sp. These are Tanganikyan cichlids that dont use the floor of the tank for teratory. A smaller sp. like C. nigripinnis would do well.

I also would take out the plants, it looks less Tanganikyan-like with them in.

cool, ill get rocks n n more shells, you know anything about have fertiliser underneath the sand n how it will affect them?ill probably get a pair then another pair later, for money reasons. Then ill also get some surface at a later date. still have a few weeks till ill put them in.

 

[stang1]

I've read up on the C. nigripinnis before and personally, I don't think it's a good idea. A lot of sites recommend keeping them in a group with a recommended tank size of 4ft (75G). t was one fish that I quite liked the look of but decided not to risk it. Not only that but I'm hoping my Multis will breed and there's a good chance that the fry would be eaten by other tank mates.
I have Neolamprologus Multifasciatus which is probably one of the more peaceful shelldwellers. I did try and keep Neolamprologus Ocellatus but they are incredibly aggressive. I put my hand in the tank to move some rock and the male bit me, little beggar! I had him with 3 females (recommended) but he only took a liking to one of them. The other two he chased away and wouldn't let them near any shells. Poor things ended up hiding behind the filter so I took them back which left me with one male and one female.
They actually started breeding and teh female chased the male away if he came near her shell which had the eggs in. All was fine for 5 days and then I noticed that he had chased her behind the filter too. He wouldn't let her near the shell and I lost the eggs. I ended up taking them back to the lfs and getting the Multis instead.

 

[pmdf]

I keep both multifasciatus and occelatus, and I think I prefer the multis too. I had a very similar experience with the occies - quite aggressive little buggers, but they do have irresistable personalities as a plus! I do love that the male has the gall to bite my hand whenever it goes in the tank, whereas bigger fish run and hide in the rocks!

For both the above, I use apple snail shells and Neaothauma tanganyicense shells (their natural habitat from the lake and occasionally available on eBay). Occies need only a shell or two per fish, but multis prefer as many as possible as they naturally live over shell beds that can be feet deep in neothauma shells!

I would also agree that the tank is definitely too small for any Cyprichromis species, which need a minimum of a 4ft length tank, as they're very active swimmers and as a shoaling fish should be kept in groups. The aforementioned C. nigripinnis has actually been reclassified from Cyprichromis to Paracyprichromis, and these are less active fish, but still need at least a 3ft tank and preferably more. At the moment I have a group of ten paracyps in a heavily-filtered 100cm long tank (180 litres) which is working well.