origin6 Posted August 30, 2011 Report Share Posted August 30, 2011 i am setting up a shell dweller tank and was wondering if anyone knows what the best lfs would be to pick up some shells and shell dwellers, i was in pet city on the weekend and they had a few shell dwellers in there but didnt see any shells for them altho i didnt ask as they where really busy at the time and i have just put the water in the tank and it needs to cycle first so i wasn't in a big hurry. also any info or advise on keeping them would be appreciated as well, i am not sure what species i am going to get yet or if i can even mix species? thanks in advance Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
brockssracer Posted August 30, 2011 Report Share Posted August 30, 2011 hey mate, we gotta catch up sometime for a chat. you can look at my shellie setup as well.. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shon982 Posted August 30, 2011 Report Share Posted August 30, 2011 PM sent... plenty of species out there but can't really mix them though Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shon982 Posted August 30, 2011 Report Share Posted August 30, 2011 double post Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
brockssracer Posted August 30, 2011 Report Share Posted August 30, 2011 my multis and meeli's seem to be doin ok in their tank... 2 pr of multi and 1 pr of meeli in a 4x18x20. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shon982 Posted August 30, 2011 Report Share Posted August 30, 2011 Yeah I should've said, harem breeders are okay with monogamous pairs Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tangy Posted August 30, 2011 Report Share Posted August 30, 2011 Some species can go in together just make sure you do you research and have the space for them and check out annerley aquarium every time I'm in there they have a few different shellies to choose from Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
brockssracer Posted August 30, 2011 Report Share Posted August 30, 2011 I couldnt find that place when I went looking.... looks like I better hunt it down! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alibi Posted August 30, 2011 Report Share Posted August 30, 2011 Pet City has shells in the hermit crab section for $2.50 each, i bought a whole lot, my shellies like the bigger shells which i wanted to get more but they havent restocked them in awhile. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Asshh Posted August 30, 2011 Report Share Posted August 30, 2011 Shellies are great fun, good choice! What size tank are they going in? Sounds like your going to have about a hundred thousand shellies soon Brock with all that space for them! I'll have to check out the hermit section at petcity next time i'm in, thanks for the tip Alibi! Also thought i'd through in my 2cents: http://www.qldaf.com/forums/live-stock-14/fs-l-ornatapinnis-fry-52538/ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pony-tail Posted August 31, 2011 Report Share Posted August 31, 2011 `I mostly use Apple Snail shells . but I have many other types - whatever I can scrounge . I also include some small clay flower pots with my breeders . Brevis in particular like the apple snail shells an actually move them around the tank to suit themselves . I tried PVC elbows but the fish did not like them with the exception of the multies which will breed anywhere they can find . or you could try a restaurant supplies for some escargo shells ( about $75 for a not very big box last time I checked a couple of years ago ) and 2 dollar shops have shells occasionally also I have read on here about some Bunnings stores having them but have no personal experience of this . I would like to check out Pet City but due to injuries I am recovering from I seldom drive more than a few kays if at all so Mt Gravatt is just too far . Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
steve6610 Posted August 31, 2011 Report Share Posted August 31, 2011 yep as was posted above, we got ours from bunnings, you buy a bag for $5.00 and you should get several from a bag, plus lots of smaller ones for fry to hide in, just pick the right bags as some don't have many good shells, another option is to search ebay, Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
brockssracer Posted August 31, 2011 Report Share Posted August 31, 2011 When I go to rocky in october I will be shell shopping up there as well... If I come across something special I will do a bulk buy and help out the rest of us shellie owners. Ive bought some from bunnings but I need some bigger ones than what is in those bags. I reckon I might go to annerley aquarium and see what they have there in shells and fish. will keep you guys posted on what they have. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
origin6 Posted August 31, 2011 Author Report Share Posted August 31, 2011 hey everyone thanks for all the suggestions got some great tips there, hopefully i can find some good shells. The tank they are going into is a 2 foot by 18 by 18 inches about 110 litres i didnt have much room for the tank is why i went for this size the substrate is crushed coral crushed really fine so its like sand i went with this cause i read they need a ph of about 8.6 or there abouts and they like to sift through the sand. Also how many shell dwellers do you think i could get into this size tank? and is there any other small tang that likes the open water as the tank is quite tall and i am assuming that the shellies wont stray to far from the bottom and the safety of there shells so there will be all that open water up top Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
brockssracer Posted August 31, 2011 Report Share Posted August 31, 2011 they say 1 square ft per pair, but there are some colony fish like multi's that you could easily have 5 pairs in a tank that size. If you want a lil book on tangs I got one I can lend to you. Im always looking in it and I am sure you will enjoy it as well.. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
origin6 Posted August 31, 2011 Author Report Share Posted August 31, 2011 yeah thanks brock i might have to do that where abouts in collingwood park do you live? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
brockssracer Posted August 31, 2011 Report Share Posted August 31, 2011 mccorry drv. just off eagle st. just pm me mate and I can leave it in the letter box if im not gonna be home when you want to collect it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
origin6 Posted August 31, 2011 Author Report Share Posted August 31, 2011 was looking through some shell dwellers and i came across these Altolamprologus sp. "Compressiceps i really like them will they be ok for my tank? are they available in brisbane? they are on cichlidsdirect.com.au has anyone used this site? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shon982 Posted August 31, 2011 Report Share Posted August 31, 2011 Alto Comps aren't true shell dwellers but they will use big shells and barnacle clusters to breed in They will suit 3ft tanks but you should start with a few, let them pair off and remove the rest before they get killed There are a few around, Gold, Gold head, Firefin, Mbita etc. usually around the $20-$25ea mark Also there are Alto Calvus black and white However there is a true shell dwelling Alto Comp called Alto Comp Dwarf Sumbu, I have a trio but they aren't breeding at the moment There are some at Smiths Aquarium for $80ea though Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
brockssracer Posted August 31, 2011 Report Share Posted August 31, 2011 Im heading into annerley aquarium today, ill get a list of what they got and post it up here today. if you want origin pm me your addy and ill drop that book off today in your box unless ur home. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
origin6 Posted August 31, 2011 Author Report Share Posted August 31, 2011 the dwarf sumbu variety was the ones i was thinking to get as the others where not listed as being shell dwellers on this site Species Profiles -- Cichlid-Forum but if they arnt true shell dwellers i might consider something else Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
procull Posted August 31, 2011 Report Share Posted August 31, 2011 pm rebeky23 , she has a breeding pair of feeders for sale lol Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
brockssracer Posted August 31, 2011 Report Share Posted August 31, 2011 try this page mate it has all the shellies listed, Species Profiles -- Cichlid-Forum same page you had..... not sure what others are out there.... shon would be the mad tang man to speak to! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shon982 Posted August 31, 2011 Report Share Posted August 31, 2011 The sumbu comp is the a true shell dwelling compressicep however the others like firefin and gold etc. are not So the sumbu would be perfect Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
origin6 Posted September 1, 2011 Author Report Share Posted September 1, 2011 shon how much where your sumbu comps? if you dont mind me asking.. im just thinking that as i have never kept tangs before i might look at getting something a bit cheaper as i would hate to kill 100s of dollars worth of fish if i do something wrong i seem to be going allright with my malawis tho Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
