N.multifasciatus

[Always Learning]

As per sub title, I've recieved an email about these tonight from someone with their first lot of fry. At the minute, they're only about 1 1/2cm long..

At that size, is it too soon to be getting them or does it not matter?
How many would you recommend starting with? I was thinking about 8. They're going in a Juwel Reckord 96 which is what, 80cm long and 96 litres in volume. Species only, just letting them do their thing and crossing fingers for a decent sex ratio.
Lastly, what should I be expecting to pay for them. The seller doesn't have a price in mind, but I don't want to go in with a higher offer than I should and likewise, I don't want to pay over the odds. Who does? None in any of my LFS and I don't remember seeing a price when I last saw them.

Thanks in advance

 

[kribensis12]

I paid 20 dollars (I think that's like E10?) for 5 of them. They are adults. I'm not sure how much you will pay for them. They are a little pricy though, as they are not common. The tank idea sounds fine. Just drown the tank in shells.

 

[kiriyama]

Seen them at £7.95, £8.95, £12.95(??), £6.00... so as you see prices vary a great deal,,, just make sure you have plenty of shells lol....... Why don't you offer £20.00 - £25.00 see how it goes

 

[Always Learning]

Sounds about what I was going to offer really. With fuel on top, that's another £20.. so it's reasonable.

Shell wise, I have 36ish being delivered, so should work out at just over 4 shells each for them to pick and choose. I will probably thin that down a fair bit though, depending on how it looks in the tank, to 2 or 3 each.

Can't wait to get some of these little guys

 

[Always Learning]

Woohoo, deal made. Bargain, which suits me down to the ground

Just got to arrange collection as soon as the shells are here!

 

[kiriyama]

How much, how much ? ? ?
Have heard if you put less shells in they dig more but I say crock, have about nearly half the floor carpeted with all different shapes and sizes of shell and they still shift sand, if you want more later give me a shout, I'm due some next week and will have way to many!!!!!!
Congrats on getting them, you won't be dissapointed

 

[Always Learning]

£2.50 each

Hoping that the shells arrive next week, but the're from France, so god knows. I never have any luck with ordering from abroad. If it comes to it, I'll just go and buy a load of tempory ones of any shape I can find... Then I'll be giving you a shout

I'm not too bothered about them shifting sand, as it's something else to watch, but going by the size of the tank, I could get more than enough shells in for them to be able to pick and choose and stack however they feel fit. Can't wait!

 

[kiriyama]

Just this moment finished redoing the small fishbox 48ltr, removed everything last night and tonight added :
Aragonite Coral Gravel
White Sand
Large Pebbles
Small Tufa Rock
Plants
Turbo Shells
On purpose made a small crater by pouring water on the sand, was going to put the shells in it, then I don't know why but when pouring in the main volume of water in I poured over one of the large pebbles, sand filled everywhere and totally changed the scape
Spent ages placing "fancy" bits of coral on top of the sand and the crater has been fille in as well
You gonna get some pics up when everything ready? Be good to see.....

 

[Always Learning]

Sounds like fun Do you purposely change their scape every now and then too, to give them something to do? I'm planning on doing so, so I can watch them, but I don't want to be distubring them so I #101## em off...

I can put pics up, yeah, but I've only got my camera phone so they won't be brilliant. I'm just deciding what to do with their tank at the minute really, as I have a 65l Aqua Atart 500, which I might us, at least for now. The only thing is that it is quite tall and doesn't have an amazing surface area. 6 will be too many in there, won't it? I was going to use some ocean rock aswell to try and add a bit of height to the tank, plus it wont look as bare. What plants do you use, as I haven't even thought about it.. due to their shifting sand, I didn't think they'd stay in for long.

 

[kiriyama]

Sounds like fun Do you purposely change their scape every now and then too, to give them something to do? I'm planning on doing so, so I can watch them, but I don't want to be distubring them so I #101## em off...

I can put pics up, yeah, but I've only got my camera phone so they won't be brilliant. I'm just deciding what to do with their tank at the minute really, as I have a 65l Aqua Atart 500, which I might us, at least for now. The only thing is that it is quite tall and doesn't have an amazing surface area. 6 will be too many in there, won't it? I was going to use some ocean rock aswell to try and add a bit of height to the tank, plus it wont look as bare. What plants do you use, as I haven't even thought about it.. due to their shifting sand, I didn't think they'd stay in for long.

At first I used to flatten the sand out and move shells here and there but to be honest it just stresses them out, when the tank has been "left alone" for a few weeks they will dig all over the place and even move shells a little bit.
The tank I changed is a new one and has only been set up for a week or so, couldn't get the sand I was after and didn't like the sand I got, so stripped it all and set it up last night.
In the main tank (Multi Tank) I have no plants (digging hazzard), in the new tank I put 2 Vallis Spiral (don't know the correct names) and 1 oxygenating plant, (dark green, long stems, ) , it's sitting in a thick bunch , could easily be split inti 2 or 3. Bit scared of keeping plants but felt this tank needed something, had a large piece of Ocean Rock which was like a cave but I just didn't like it, going for a diferent "minimal" approach on this one, looks like snow for substrate, should maybe stick an Xmas tree in there
Hopefully have stock in it on Friday, fingers crossed.....