Missing Shellies?

[JStrider]

I purchased some shellies (multis) friday evening.  We didnt make an exact count on how many were in there... but it looked like 8 or 9 mostly juviniles with some a little bit bigger.  Most of them we moved by just picking up al lthe shells they were hiding in and moving them into a bucket with some tank water.  Then drove home and equalized the temperatures and moved them over to the new tank, again just moving the shells.

The first 3 were out and exploring some that evening, since then 2 more have come out.  

But now a couple days later there are still only 5 showing up, and I havn't seen any others, not even peaking out of a shell...

I'm wondering if perhaps during the moving into the bucket and the rocking of the shells in the bottom of the bucket on the drive home, if maybe they got really scared and worked their way too far into the shells and got stuck?

or maybe they just dont feel like coming out yet?

anyone with more experience with these guys have any ideas?

[h0nkzz]

Re: Missing Shellies?

what kind of shellies are they & what kinda of shells are used ?
I would guess that they're out when you're not watching and hide back in before you can see it.

[JStrider]

Re: Missing Shellies?

they are multis... meant to post that above...

and there are a variety of shells in there... not sure what all the types are...  several of the ones with the shiney gold inside... I think gold turbos maybe...  then some white with blackishbrown "spikes" poking out around it... and other types... I could take a picture or look them up this evening if its important...

[h0nkzz]

Re: Missing Shellies?

type of shells are really important IMO, I had shellies & calvus stuck and died in shells before. some shells are worse than others.

[JStrider]

Re: Missing Shellies?

I'll do my best to pick out the shells I think I have... I'm at work right now so I might miss some or get them wrong since I cant look at the tank and compare...

THink I have some of:

http://www.cichlidbreeding.com/proddetail.php?prod=4delph

I know I have a few

http://www.cichlidbreeding.com/proddetail.php?prod=3goldturbo

and

http://www.cichlidbreeding.com/proddetail.php?prod=silvermouthturbo

and some like this, except white and the spikes are blackish brown  http://www.cichlidbreeding.com/prodd...d=rapanashells

I think I have a couple of these... but am not sure... it does look familiar tho...

http://www.cichlidbreeding.com/proddetail.php?prod=japanesesnail

I'm sure I didnt get all of the types I have in that list...

[Zulaab]

Re: Missing Shellies?

I love my Japanese breeding shells.

[JStrider]

Re: Missing Shellies?

I think I might try what this link says to get them out of the shells...

http://www.cichlid-forum.com/articles/unshelling_shellies.php

of course that will only work if they are just hiding... if they are dead/stuck I still wont have any way of telling...

maybe doing what the article says, then using a bright flashlight to see thru the shell might work on some thinner walled shells...


guess I'll also keep an extra close eye on the ammonia/nitrite/nitrate in case I have to do water changes to keep up with a few fish decomposing...

[CichlidFan]

Re: Missing Shellies?

Interesting article, keep me posted on your efforts to find/free the missing shellies... :)

CF

[fishlady]

Re: Missing Shellies?

they will hide for days....give them a chance to settle and they will come out and surprise you....don't worry....
i used to own some ...... :wink:

[JStrider]

Re: Missing Shellies?

haha yah...

I was thinking after I posted...

If I was a scared little fish I probably wouldnt be any less scared because someone lifted up my home and set it upsidedown way up high...

I'll give them a little while to come around...

I'll just keep an eye on the water parameters...

[jughead]

Re: Missing Shellies?

escargot shells=easy to find,the flashlight trick works,and i've never had a fish get stuck in one(that i know of)

[JStrider]

Re: Missing Shellies?

last night I picked up a shell I saw one of them go into and shined a light at it... I was definitely seeing light thru the shell.  But I couldnt tell where the fish was, even though I know he was in there...

so the flashlight method has potential...

Jughead, I've read that the escargot shells work well... I'll have to poke around some of the grocery stores looking for them.

[h0nkzz]

Re: Missing Shellies?

i dont think anyone has had any luck looking for them locally. but by all means try ... let us know where if you find them  

[jughead]

Re: Missing Shellies?

i always got shells at the original antones near downtown,its been a couple of years though

[Fire_chair]

Re: Missing Shellies?

Specks sells escargot shells.