Needing Information On Shell Dwellers

[dmullet7788]

i'm looking to start another tank. (since i've gotta take my JD back to my lfs since my tank is too small . btw, thanks for the info samUK ) anyway i was told about something called shell dwelling cichlids and called my closest fish store, which shouldn't be called close, but they told me they have 2 kinds in stock, the Lamprologus occelatus and the Neolamprologus multifasciatus. now i don't know what the difference is between lamprologus and neolamprologis, let alone the multi and the occ. so i was wondering if you guys had any info on these specific kinds and which would be a better choice, if there is one. (i am using a 10g tank btw)


also if you've had any experience with a different kind of shell dweller let me know what it was and how they were, maybe i can get some different kinds ordered in from my lfs.

by the way this is definately the most helpful fish forum i've found, you guys are awesome!

 

[Katchan]

both these fish are africans not americans, you should have more luck if you ask in that section

Andrew

 

[Griz]

Either species will work in a 10gal. With multis, ideally you should start with one male and 2-3 females. They live more of a colony lifestyle. For the occies, you really would want just a single mated pair.

 

[caino]

A trio of occis works aswell, but make sure its 1 male to 2 females, they are not as violent as some people think, each male requires about 6 square inches of space. Multis are harem breeders, meaning one male will visit several females, Multis are the calmest of the 2 but dont completly buirry there shells like occis.. its a hard choice!

 

[dthoffsett]

Never kept them since I can't find them locally. Here's a couple of links that should help though.

http/www.cichlid-forum.com/articles/n_multifasciatus.php

http/www.cichlid-forum.com/articles/l_ocellatus.php