Stocking a 40g breeder (multi shelldweller)

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Southern Rebel

Gambusia
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Apr 24, 2012
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Hello,

I have a empty 40 breeder that I am wanting to stock with multi shelldweller. I have been researching and from my understanding I need lots of shells (4-6 per fish) I need to start out with 6 juvi. My question is this, at what point do I need to start taking some out as I do understand they breed very easily. I am also interested in getting 4 or 5 Synodontis Petricola as I do understand they will eat the fry but I want to get a good colony of multi first before I add a group of the Petricola. My last question is what type of filtration should I use? Do I need overkill canister filtration or just a simple sponge/hob?

Thank you,
 
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interested in a shell dweller colony too . in for more info :)
 
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Southern Rebel said:
Hello,

I have a empty 40 breeder that I am wanting to stock with multi shelldweller. I have been researching and from my understanding I need lots of shells (4-6 per fish) I need to start out with 6 juvi. My question is this, at what point do I need to start taking some out as I do understand they breed very easily. I am also interested in getting 4 or 5 Synodontis Petricola as I do understand they will eat the fry but I want to get a good colony of multi first before I add a group of the Petricola. My last question is what type of filtration should I use? Do I need overkill canister filtration or just a simple sponge/hob?

Thank you,
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james99 james99
Milingu Milingu
D deeda
 
I haven't kept shelldwshellers yet. I have seen 4-6 shells per fish recommended when I was looking into getting some shellies. I would guess that once they pair it would be obvious which fish need to be removed. For filtration I like the aquaclears, I have them on my 40 and 20 gallon.
 
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No need to take any of the original 6 out. There's ample room for them and their fry. I'd add a few rocks with shells scattered around to help divide territories
 
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If you want to breed them I might second guess having several S. Lucipinni's (false Petricola), I actually have used them as fry control with altos in my tang tanks,...when not wanting to mess with fry. They most likely will affect the behavior of the shelly colony. Are you sure you are dead set on multies? There are so many different shell dwellers that have spunk and different behavior; however, I am clearly biased toward certain ones...and have kept multis so I am like meh.

I think adding Paracyps 1m2f would be a nice addition to a shelly tank that size. Might be cramped but will add some nice color without impairing the shelly behavior too much I think.

If you are breeding the the shell dwellers or any other fish I would just do a sponge filter for convenience, but if not the HOB's will work. I often used canisters just because of bias and comfort, but I believe sponges are one the most beneficial and underrated filters.
 
If you want to have the S. Lucipinni's you will need to provide them with rocks and caves to hide in otherside the multies will be chasing them around constantly.

But onto the multies, in a 40 breeder you should be able to happily keep 4-6 males and each male can have up to 5 females. You wont have any troubles with the population of the tank for a long while i would imagine. You will only need to start removing fish when they are being sucluded from the rest of the fish, like if they are being pinned in the corner.

As for the filter i wouldnt use a spong filter as they will dig all the sand out from around it and you will end up disturbing them. I would go for a canister or hang on back filter, in my similis tank i have a built in "sump" that i sliconed in, and thats my personal preference for filtering my tanks but they are pretty perminant, you would have to do a complete reseal of the tank if you wanted to take it out.
 
Thank you for all the replies. I do not mind fry at first but once I get over run I will have to feed them to my turtle as I have no other tanks. That's why I was thinking of adding some Petricola after everything got settled. I really have not looked into other shelldwellers. What other shelldwellers stand out compared to multis? Thanks again!
 
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