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Hello,
Yet another breeding question from me... So this time it is Brevis Shell dwellers. Whats the minimum size tank needed for these to breed? The Fry will have teir own tank. But what is the minimum Just for the parents? Thanks.

Chris

If you can get a proven pair a 5 or 5.5g would be fine. Most shellies sold too young to be sexed...buying 6 or so and then letting them grow out and pair up is recommended.

I'd love to have loads of fish but I'll never understand why people want to squish them into the smallest space possible...

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There is water at the bottom of the ocean

Would a 24" x 12" x 12" aquarium be big enough for a pair of Shellies? Only I may be acquiring a second hand one in the near future, and I'm on the lookout for a Cichlid to put in there if the plan materialises. I was thinking first of Anomalochromis thomasi because it's peaceful and drop dead gorgeous in breeding colours, but that species is as rare as the proverbial rocking horse dollop where I am 9sigh). I was also considering small Apistogramma Cichlids, until I realised that the ones I was interested in are likely to be [1] rare, and [2] hideously expensive where I am. Likewise, the other small Cichlid I was interested in, Taeniacara candidi, is probably going to be rarer than iridium where I am - another plan bites the dust. So, Shellies look like being a possibility if I can acquire a large collection of suitable snail shells.


Panda Catfish fan and keeper/breeder since Christmas 2002

Most shellies would do great in a 24" x 12" x 12" tank. N. brevis, multis, etc.

I've bred brevis in 10 gallon tanks with no problems. They have the smallest territorial space of any shellie I know of. Here's an article of mine on them: http://www.cichlid-forum.com/articles/n_brevis.php

As for shells, go to you gormet food store and buy some escargot shells...they're ideal. Or hit the local craft shop and buy some craft shells (must not be shellaced or anything, though) - but with these often sold in batches with only a few good ones amongst a batch of small ones. Also, plain hermit crab shells at the LFS often work, too.

Eric

That size tank would be fine for a pair of brevis or a small colony of multies.

I was fortunate enough to find a proven pair when I was shopping for brevis. Less than one month in mt 5.5g I saw their first batch of fry. They literally haven't stopped since, and I had to set up a 10g as a grow-out tank.

Multies do not like substrate but they do appreciate a lot of shells. I have 50-60 whale eye shells in my 10g multi tank.

With brevis and others such as occies, stapps, etc 2-3 shells per fish is fine.



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There is water at the bottom of the ocean

Therese - do you have sand with your multis? They love fine sand (either play sand or aragonite sand). Mine never stopped digging. I kept them in a 20 long, and two distinct colonies formed. Each group would mark the territory with sand walls.

Eric

I actually have two 10g multi tanks. The first has ~1" of aragonite sand which they moved to the corners of the tank. I don't bother trying to rearrange it anymore, I learned that lesson early on

The second started as a grow-out tank but they're breeding in there now as well. I gave them a very small layer of aragonite yet they move that out of the way, to the opposite end of the tank from where the shells are.

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There is water at the bottom of the ocean

Each group would mark the territory with sand walls.

Do you have a picture of the walls? That sounds so cool.

Chris

No, I don't have any pictures. I haven't kept multis in a few years.

Theresa, it's funny how different fish can be. Maybe it was the dynamic of two groups that kept them constantly moving the sand around.

Eric

This isn't a terrific-quality photo but it gives the general idea. It doesn't give accurate perception though because of the angle I took it from (I didn't want to bother them too much, there are new fry in that area). That pile of crushed coral to the left is just over 2". That may not seem like much but remember these fish are maybe 1.5" long. The two that did this were pretty smart and set it up so that they have 3 shells instead of 1, kind of a shellie-condo



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There is water at the bottom of the ocean

Man, they're just too cute...such spunky attitude in a teeny tiny fish. Must resist setting up that spare 10 gallon tank...or 20 long!

Eric