Shell Dwelers...

[caino]

Hey, i found £120 today in a box labeld fish that i had been saving but forgottern about, a good find. I am going to buy a clear-sear tank from lfs with it specs of 24" (610mm) x 16" (406mm) x 12" (305mm). Holds 16 gallons (72 litres). Because thats all i have got room for atm. (currenty got a 120 liter community tank and a 5 gal with 1 betta in it. I got a 2ft hole on my desk for some more fish, wanted to try somethin different.

is this size tank alright for keeping shell dwelers?

and if so..

where do i start..?

thanks for any help

Tom

 

[spikeyboy]

Great find .You must have loads of money if you don`t miss £120 That tank would be fine.Iv`e got a breeding group of Neolamprologus Multifasciatus in a 30inch tank.2 males and 4 females,also about 20 fry.I have a fluval 3 internal filter,heater,playsand on the bottom and about 30 escargot ( snail ) shells.Feeding them on blooodworm,brineshrimp,flakes and microworms that i put in for the fry.They are a great fish to watch.

 

[caino]

lol completley the opposit! i had non!

so how many fish could i have? And what would you recomend?
also, where can i get shells from

gonna start building up the stuff over the next 1-3 weeks

 

[hellkef]

lol completley the opposit! i had non!

so how many fish could i have? And what would you recomend?
also, where can i get shells from

gonna start building up the stuff over the next 1-3 weeks

i know some one about 80 miles from staffordshire who breens tangs

 

[caino]

so my shopping list looks a bit like this for the moment:

1 clear-seal tank 24" x 16" x 12" (16 gal) (uk)
1 fluval 3+
1 heater
play sand
snail shells (do they need any particular type??)
and fish, could people give me suggested names, i have done some research and suitabal ones (i think) are Neolamprologus similus, Neolamprologus multifasciatus, Lamprologus meleagris, Lamprologus occelatus. Could any one with experience recomend anymore? or tell me if any of those are unsuitable. Aswell i could use guidence on numbers to have.

Thanks a lot

 

[spikeyboy]

I bought 6 when small in the hope i got a few females,unless you buy a group already breeding.Any of those fish will be ok.I only have exierience with multies.You can use any shells.I just like the look of snail shells.I got mine off Ebay.Do an internet search for escargot shells.

 

[caino]

thanks for all the advice, i have been doing some looking and i will probably go with the multies, ill keep a journell of my first dip into cichlids, and keep you posted on how im getting on with the stuff, its just gona be a problem locating the fish, my lfs doesnt really supply cichlids, just rams and kribs. There is a larger fs i might have to pay a visit to thou, again ill keep you posted!

thanks

Tom!

 

[caino]

Would these be alright as the shells for the fish?

 

[samyboy]

ive got the same tank and use a fluval 2+ its more than capeable

 

[spikeyboy]

They are the ones i`ve got in my tank.They are fine.

 

[caino]

Bit of an update on the whole tank situation lol.

My mum said i couldnt spend any more money on fish , being 16 there aint much you can do, well there was but i didnt fancy getting shouted at lots and lots . But the problem seems to have solved itself as im 17 in 2 weeks, just ordered the snail shells and going to get the tank this weekend, ill set it all up and stuff and aim to get the fish soon after my birthday, i can use mature filter material to do a quick fishles cycle in that time so yea, ill kee you posted!

 

[caino]

haha! just managed to get a rekord 60 (24" x 12" x 14") approx 11 uk galons, 15 us gallons from lfs for £50 wich im chuffed with . Soo i have yet to get the shells, they went off ebay when i was going to order them, and i have got to get some crushed coral sand. But i have put one of the baskets of media from the juwel internel huge big box in between the two in my rekord 120, and i will use an already mature one from the 120 to go into the 60 when i get the fish. If you follow.

I will get some picks as soon as i get round to getting the sand and shells and filling it up . Still trying to source the fish (Neolamprologus multifasciatus), my lfs will let me know if they can get any when they get there next stock list from the company they order from.

just an update on my little cichlid adventure lol, i so wish i could afford and had room for a biggg tank but thats the way it goes

Tom

 

[spikeyboy]

It`s a pity your so far away.I`m selling mine.I`ve got them in the for sale section.

 

[caino]

how come your selling?

 

[spikeyboy]

I need rid of the tank.It was on the kitchen work-top,but my partner had a baby in December and now we need the room for baby things,steriliserstins of food,ect.