Shell Dweller info please

[djm5222]

I recently acquired a Lamprologus Brevis (I don't know the location from where it is at, but it is a rusty brown/red coloring with a small blue stripe under its eye) I've had it for a couple of days and have it in a 55 gallon with a Frontosa, 3 Yellow Labs, 2 Haplochromis sp. 44, red tail shark, Julidochromis marlieri, Neolamprologus Cylindercus (Another fish that I don't know what it is but it was sold to me as Cylindercus, it has the stripes of a cylindercus but it is a reddish orange color) and 4 Synodontis Lucipinnis/petricola (Don't know)

But my Brevis hasn't been using any of the three shells. The three are quite different from one another but instead he uses a small hole underneath a rock. He hasn't been eating and he doesn't come out much. How do I get him to use the shells, eat, and come out more?

Also I have 10 shells in the mail coming to add to the tank.

 

[fallin49er]

Get a ten gallon tank and make it a shellie only tank. That little guy isn't going to venture out with those other fish around..they'll eat him.

 

[djm5222]

I've acquired 11 new shells and have put them all in one spot in the tank and he now comes out and uses the shells... Still have not seen him eat though

 

[mahemaheman85]

I recently acquired a Lamprologus Brevis (I don't know the location from where it is at, but it is a rusty brown/red coloring with a small blue stripe under its eye) I've had it for a couple of days and have it in a 55 gallon with a Frontosa, 3 Yellow Labs, 2 Haplochromis sp. 44, red tail shark, Julidochromis marlieri, Neolamprologus Cylindercus (Another fish that I don't know what it is but it was sold to me as Cylindercus, it has the stripes of a cylindercus but it is a reddish orange color) and 4 Synodontis Lucipinnis/petricola (Don't know)

But my Brevis hasn't been using any of the three shells. The three are quite different from one another but instead he uses a small hole underneath a rock. He hasn't been eating and he doesn't come out much. How do I get him to use the shells, eat, and come out more?

Also I have 10 shells in the mail coming to add to the tank.

oh man what a disaster, shellies are very delicate fish, just the stress of the bigger faster fish being around could kill the brevis, it will never do what you are wanting it to cause it doesnt have a death wish, if you want that brevis to live take it out ASAP, also brevis do best in harems, not so much a loner fish

 

[mahemaheman85]

if you ignore our advice i guarantee you its just a matter of time before something eats him, oh and for future notice you dont put 1-2 inche at adult size with fish like frontosa.... its just not smart

 

[fallin49er]

if you ignore our advice i guarantee you its just a matter of time before something eats him, oh and for future notice you dont put 1-2 inche at adult size with fish like frontosa.... its just not smart

 

[Reel North]

do a 15 or 20 gallon sellie tank. you will need at LEAST 6 of these fish. All those fish will kill him. use a coral sand base, and spread the shells out. they will move them where they want them to be.

 

[djm5222]

if you ignore our advice i guarantee you its just a matter of time before something eats him, oh and for future notice you dont put 1-2 inche at adult size with fish like frontosa.... its just not smart

Just so all of you know... This Brevis is 2 inches long... The Frontosa is about 4 inches long... The Frontosa is just in this tank as a growout tank... I'm keeping this frontosa for someone else... Until they have finished there cycling there tank... None of the fish in the tank are over 4 inches... The Frontosa and 1 of the Yellow Labs are 4 inches... The other fish are 1 to 2 inches

I did my research and he has now started eating and hes perfectly fine. For all of you to know

 

[joespickles]

Hi Everyone,
just set up a tank for Two Brevis I just picked up. They where and still are very cautions pickt eaters so far, I have to drop the food fairly close to the sheel using a long straw(thank you 7-11). they are just starting to move around. I am looking to add another mate to help with tank clean up. so far they are not big eaters

 

[jpappy789]

Brevis aren't meant to be solitary. Even though they don't naturally form tight knit colonies like say N. multifasciatus, they do appreciate the company of their own given adequate space and shells.