FishProfiles.com Message Forums

I'm thinking of possibly setting up a 20 gallon long with shell dwellers. The problem is I have no experience with them and have a few questions. Any assistance would be greatly appreciated.

Is a 20 gallon long large enough?

If so what species would be best for this tank and how many?

I believe they require a sand bottom, is this correct?

Will they bother plants if a choose to plant the tank as I would prefer to use live plants if possible?

Again, any assistance would be appreciated.



Last edited by OldTimer at 20-Mar-2005 18:49

---

Water, taken in moderation, cannot hurt anybody. -- Mark Twain

I have no experience with shelldwellers, (or most kinds of fish) but I do know a bit about them. I recken I can help you.

Is a 20 gallon long large enough?

sure

If so what species would be best for this tank?

N. brevis
N. multi
I know for a fact that these fish are ok. In fact they can go in tanks a small as 5 gallons! You could probably have some other species as well.

I believe they require a sand bottom, is this correct?

Yep, or small gravel. It helps if you use crushed coral or something that will raise the ph.

Will they bother plants if a choose to plant the tank as I would prefer to use live plants if possible?

I wouldn't. Most plants can't live in the high ph that these fish enjoy. Plus, they might eat the plants. Personally, I think plants would upset the decor of an African tank by taking attention off the rockwork.

Good luck
- DJ :88)

Is a 20 gallon long large enough?

Absolutely, you can keep almost any shelldweller species in a 20 long.

If so what species would be best for this tank and how many?

If you mean how many species - one. If you mean how many fish - it'll vary quite a bit based on the species you choose. You might want to look around for a species you really like - try [link=http://www.shelldwellers.com]http://www.shelldwellers.com" style="COLOR: #4040FF[/link] or [link=http://www.cichlid-forum.com]http://www.cichlid-forum.com" style="COLOR: #4040FF[/link].

I believe they require a sand bottom, is this correct?

Some species should be kept on sand, yes. The ocellatus group ion particular buries their chosen shells.

Will they bother plants if a choose to plant the tank as I would prefer to use live plants if possible?

They won't eat them, but digging in the area of the plants can uproot them. That doesn't make it impossible by any means; here's my multi tank, for example:


(To be fair, multis prefer deep shellbeds to any kind of substrate, and I've piled the shells thickly enough that they can't dig around the roots effectively).

Other notes on shellies: they need clean, hard, alkaline water, it's best to never cycle with them, and be careful - they're addictive![/font]

-Molly
Visit shelldwellers.com!

Thanks for the info and I should have asked this prior, but are there any other fish that would be suitable as tankmates or is it best to keep this a species tank only?

---

Water, taken in moderation, cannot hurt anybody. -- Mark Twain

Shellies definitely aren't community fish. N. brevis can be kept (when in pairs) with certain fish (swordtails, danios, hard-water topdwellers) but are still better off as a species tank.

In a 20 long, you could certainly have a smaller species of "tough" shellie plus some rocks and a small Julidochromis pair (say J. ornatus or J. dickfeldi).

-Molly
Visit shelldwellers.com!

its better to keep them as a species tank. if you plan on breeding them. and its alot better to keep any of the colony builders like smilis or multis in a species tank. brevis and occis are ok and might/ might not breed depedning on size of the tank when others are present. i made the mistake of keeping Tel. bifrenatus, a some what juli like species with my similis and it ate the baby similis during the frenzy of feeding

If you do consider Julies, look at J. Transcriptus(Smallest in the genus)
Other than that i'm going with little mousling on this one