10G Telmatochromis Or Neolamprologus

[gregswimm]

Hello, im very new to african lake cichlids, i have naturally hard tap water (7.5-7.8), so I figured I will give african cichlids a shot. I only have enough room in my house for a 10g and I hear you can keep a few 'shell dwellers' in a 10g. I already have the tank cycling with a few mm of flourite on the bottom coverd by about 2" of sand. What do you guys (and gals) think would be best for this type of setup?
And do they only take whole foods, or are cichlid pellets fine?
And where do you get your snail shells? My LFS charges an arm and a leg for shells ($5 usd per)

And I know these guys dig ALOT but do you think I can keep a few crypts in small clay pots with flourite?

Any advice would be greatly apreciated

 

[kiriyama]

Good starting point would be 6 multies (exLamprologus multifasciatus) or a pair of brevis...
Escargot or turbo shells are good to use.....
A good quality flake food and occassional frozen food, i.e. cyclops goes down a treat, wouldn't bother with pellets, they will eat them but only have small mouths.......
If going for multies I wouldnt put in to much sand as they will move it away till the shell rests on a solid surface, i.e. the glass bottom, if you get enough shells and stack some in a corner say two or three layers high the fry will hide in the spaces, I have a small tank bursting at the seems with these guys, great fun to watch.........................



Cheers, Sean

 

[gregswimm]

YAY! Decided on multis. Getting them saturday, do you have any idea how to sex them?

 

[kiriyama]

YAY! Decided on multis. Getting them saturday, do you have any idea how to sex them?

If you get tham at juvi size its even harder, they are so small lol, the males tend to get a bit bigger and have a slightly concave stomach whereas the females stomach will be a bit more rounded , also have seen sometimes that the male has a more pronounced head, a bit klarger again......... hope this helps..............

Cheers, Sean

 

[gregswimm]

Well as it turns out, the LFS ordered a different 'shellie' Lamprologus ornatipinnis; because their supplier didn't carry multis. You wouldn't happen to know anything about these guys would you? I cannot seem to find too much about them.

 

[gregswimm]

I am considering adding a leleupi to my onies in a 55, is this a good idea? What else would make good tank mates? Could Halps work?