Shell Dwellers
- Thread starter FrAnK3333
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Most shell dwellers are colony fish so they don't do that well on their own. It depends on the species though. The one I am most familiar with is n. multifasciatus and many other shellies have similar requirements (though multies are the smallest and probably one of the least aggressive). Usualy the minnimum requirements are a heated, filtered (obviously and obviously) 10 gallon with sand and (obviously again) shells. The sand is important as most shellies need to dig and will bury some of the shells. Shells are essential because they are 'shell-dwellers' 
It is always best to get more shells than you will have fish and escargot shells like you can buy in your local supermarket (though I personaly wouldn't do so for any other purpose - eating snails... yuck!) will do fine (the fish needs to fit snugly into the shell - usualy a 1.5" or so opening is good). The sand usualy looks better if it is a dark color (especialy with multies) but obviously this isn't necessary. Something that buffers pH, however, is always good in a rift lake tank. The pH should be at least 8 or so and must remain stable. Multies live and breed in colonies with one male and several females. In a small tank (such as a 10 gallon), only one male can live happily - the dominant fish will chase and corner any extra males and these should be removed or they will die. 2-4 females can be kept with the dominant male. Feeding is usualy simple and they aren't fussy eaters. Some shellies can be mixed but in a 10 gallon your options would be limmited. A larger set-up would probably give you a lot more choice and it would be possible to do a half and half shelly and rock-dweller tank or even a community-type tank with small, fast-moving top dwellers and the like. Plants and rocks are usualy safe in shelly tanks (due to their small size) but most plants don't like the high pH anyway and shellies don't care about extra decor - a sand bed that can completely bury the shells provided is what most shellies realy need and they don't stray particularly far from their shell anyway. Multies will willingly breed in your tank as well and many other shellies will too provided they feel comfortable and happy.
Here's a link: http
/www.cichlidae.com/articles/a065.php
It is always best to get more shells than you will have fish and escargot shells like you can buy in your local supermarket (though I personaly wouldn't do so for any other purpose - eating snails... yuck!) will do fine (the fish needs to fit snugly into the shell - usualy a 1.5" or so opening is good). The sand usualy looks better if it is a dark color (especialy with multies) but obviously this isn't necessary. Something that buffers pH, however, is always good in a rift lake tank. The pH should be at least 8 or so and must remain stable. Multies live and breed in colonies with one male and several females. In a small tank (such as a 10 gallon), only one male can live happily - the dominant fish will chase and corner any extra males and these should be removed or they will die. 2-4 females can be kept with the dominant male. Feeding is usualy simple and they aren't fussy eaters. Some shellies can be mixed but in a 10 gallon your options would be limmited. A larger set-up would probably give you a lot more choice and it would be possible to do a half and half shelly and rock-dweller tank or even a community-type tank with small, fast-moving top dwellers and the like. Plants and rocks are usualy safe in shelly tanks (due to their small size) but most plants don't like the high pH anyway and shellies don't care about extra decor - a sand bed that can completely bury the shells provided is what most shellies realy need and they don't stray particularly far from their shell anyway. Multies will willingly breed in your tank as well and many other shellies will too provided they feel comfortable and happy.Here's a link: http
/www.cichlidae.com/articles/a065.phpjust teh danios, the other fish need diffrent water conditions than the shellies. If you really want some Id suggest you get that other tank you want, and ditch the convicts, as a 20 gallon is not a good setup for them even though some places say it is okay, it isnt. Then in the 20 you have now keep the danios and get either
2 pairs of brevis
or
5-6 multiesfacitus
or
1male and 3 females ocellatus
I believe that either of those should work. I recently did alot of resurch on shellies my self because in march I will be odering some, I am just not 100 percent sure about the ocellatus, still doing some resurch on them. I do know that in a 29 gallon you can keep 4 pairs of brevis, and that has the same foot print as the 20 gallon, so you minght be able to get 4 pairs of brevis.
2 pairs of brevis
or
5-6 multiesfacitus
or
1male and 3 females ocellatus
I believe that either of those should work. I recently did alot of resurch on shellies my self because in march I will be odering some, I am just not 100 percent sure about the ocellatus, still doing some resurch on them. I do know that in a 29 gallon you can keep 4 pairs of brevis, and that has the same foot print as the 20 gallon, so you minght be able to get 4 pairs of brevis.
Only 1 problem is my mom. I cant get another tank for a while. With my current stock which is in my 20 gallon long
-3 clown loaches(all 1 inch)
-2 rams
-6 danios
-3 otos
WouldI be pushing it to hard if I added a pair of shellies?
I know that the shellies need a higher ph but Ive heard that 7.5 is alright for shellies. Any ways to up my ph from 7?
-3 clown loaches(all 1 inch)
-2 rams
-6 danios
-3 otos
WouldI be pushing it to hard if I added a pair of shellies?
I know that the shellies need a higher ph but Ive heard that 7.5 is alright for shellies. Any ways to up my ph from 7?
Rams dont like high pH, besides rams are to weak to get along with the tougher shellies. Mixing south american and rift lakes just isn't a very good idea.
Then there is the problem with the loaches and otos (who tend to hang around on the bottom), they would have to compete with the territorial shellies and that wouldn't be to pretty either,
Then there is the problem with the loaches and otos (who tend to hang around on the bottom), they would have to compete with the territorial shellies and that wouldn't be to pretty either,
Vip
Smily this!
make sure you post pics because i might setup the 20g as one as well, but theres alot more things i need to do.
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