I have a 10 gallon with biowheel filter, 50 w heater, lights, etc. So What is the best shell dweller for me? Looking for under 4 inches. Give me their requirements to live(i already have high ph-8.8). I am looking for more info on these cool fish. If you guys give me the go im going to get a colony...by the way..how many shell dwellers should i have? Thanks
Dan M
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The "multi" or Neolamprologus multifasciatus is one of the easiest shellie to keep and breed in a ten gallon tank. If you can find them, Nelamprologus sp. "minutus" would also fit in a ten. An inch of crushed coral sand, a dozen Neothauma, whale eye, or escargot snail shells are all the decoration you want in the tank. Any rocks, caves, or castles take away from the open flatland these fish prefer. Find a sponge prefilter for your biowheel filter intake or you will lose some fry when they spawn into the filter material. If the tank is not a display tank you can use PVC plastic pipe elbows instead of shells. Put a cap on one end. The fish don't really care as long as there is a nice round opening and it's light enough for them to move around.
If you start out with unsexed juveniles, get about 6 to 8 of them with the goal of getting some of each sex. With adults a pair or trio ( one male two females) is good. With a trio make two groups of shells at each far corner of the tank since the females may not be the best of friends at first.