WTB Shell Dwellers

[Liz]

Hey Mike,

I keep thinking that I would really enjoy a group that would dig, rearrange, and squabble, but with no blood shed. No axe murderers ya know.

If you want to breed them I would go with only a pair, since this is not really your aim I would try to add more than a pair and it seems that you would probably be happier with something like multis that seem to do better in a colony

[mnemenoi]

Multies are great and their antics never get old. They do well with tankmates as well if chosen correctly. Ours are housed with a pair of goby cichlids, a small school of cyps, and a pair of petricolas. We had a tiny frontosa in there, but once the multis and cyps started breeding we needed to rehome him. Another cool option with a Tanganyikan biotope tank would be one of the tang spiny eels and it would certainly steal any unwanted fry...

[eklikewhoa]

Multies are great and their antics never get old. They do well with tankmates as well if chosen correctly. Ours are housed with a pair of goby cichlids, a small school of cyps, and a pair of petricolas. We had a tiny frontosa in there, but once the multis and cyps started breeding we needed to rehome him. Another cool option with a Tanganyikan biotope tank would be one of the tang spiny eels and it would certainly steal any unwanted fry...

I found mastacembelus plagiostomus pop up on an import list which is awesome! I'm glad I waited till monday to try and order the elipsifer cause I would have been pissed finding this. Now to go about ordering some.

[mnemenoi]

That is super pimp, can not wait to see them in your tank. Might just have to bring a six pack to hang out and watch your fishes...

[TangoMIke]

Liz
A group of shellies grown up together in a tank would be fine together. You would see the squabbles but most likely not any blood. I would suggest some dithers in the tank with them. This will spread out aggression and make them feel more secure. There are a lot of good options out there. I would just take my time do your research and look at pictures.
Mike
.

[Liz]

How many multies would I start off with? And what would be best with them in the 10 gallon? I LOVE eels.

Multies are great and their antics never get old. They do well with tankmates as well if chosen correctly. Ours are housed with a pair of goby cichlids, a small school of cyps, and a pair of petricolas. We had a tiny frontosa in there, but once the multis and cyps started breeding we needed to rehome him. Another cool option with a Tanganyikan biotope tank would be one of the tang spiny eels and it would certainly steal any unwanted fry...

[Liz]

Do you think I could leave my female betta with them? I am planning on moving her but it would be nice if she could stay and I wouldn't have to set up another tank.

Liz
A group of shellies grown up together in a tank would be fine together. You would see the squabbles but most likely not any blood. I would suggest some dithers in the tank with them. This will spread out aggression and make them feel more secure. There are a lot of good options out there. I would just take my time do your research and look at pictures.
Mike
.

[aquabee]

Dither for shellies need to be awful fast to escape if they're chased away from a territory or a spawn. I have a feeling that betta may get shredded. :(

[Liz]

Thanks Aquabee. I will move her. I'd be broken if she gets killed.

Dither for shellies need to be awful fast to escape if they're chased away from a territory or a spawn. I have a feeling that betta may get shredded. :(

[mnemenoi]

We started with 4 and winnowed it down to 3 (1M/2F) and they have bred 3-5 times since we added them about 4 months ago. As to additional tankmates, your femal betta should be fine. The shellies have their little territories, but outside of those anyone else is fine usually. If you were wanting to stick with tanganyikans, a sumbu should work as the grow slow and would likely stick to any rockwork. You could use a Petricola in the rockwork or one of the smaller tang. spiny eels. If you had plans to move them up to a larger tank then you could add a bit more as a grow out tank, but if thats the largest you'll ever get then possibly consider keeping anything as a grow out and either trade/sell it once it gets larger and reaquire smaller specimens.

[mnemenoi]

Bee has had some success with blue eyes and White clouds in a smaller tank if I am correct....

I use cyprichromis, but mine are in a 30 gallon and they'd need more room then a 10

[aquabee]

You're right Roy, I keep mine with blue eyed forktails (furcatus rainbows) and had kept white clouds before that. The forktails are gorgeous and do beautifully in alkaline water too.

[Liz]

Are you selling any of your little guys?

Iv got baby multies raising up. They are diggers tho! Lol, in 24 hrs they'll rearrange ur whole tank. Shells are a must tho. For a 10 gallon id say go with something one the smaller size
Multie-brevis-melagris-ocellatus-similis or even some red fin caudopunctatus would be cool.

[Liz]

I just got an email from Daves and he said that he doesn't have any multies and hasn't been able to get them as easily lately. That figures.

[Liz]

Ohmygosh, goby cichlids? I've never had a goby anything but I've always loved watching them and I think they're some of the cutest creatures alive. I would definitely love to have some gobies with the shellies. What kind?

Thanks!

Multies are great and their antics never get old. They do well with tankmates as well if chosen correctly. Ours are housed with a pair of goby cichlids, a small school of cyps, and a pair of petricolas. We had a tiny frontosa in there, but once the multis and cyps started breeding we needed to rehome him. Another cool option with a Tanganyikan biotope tank would be one of the tang spiny eels and it would certainly steal any unwanted fry...