Thinking Of Starting A Lake Tanganyikan Tank

[jayjay]

Would 2 Neolamprologus pulcher be ok with 3 julies??? just looking for some advise. Any help would gladly be welcome.

 

[Snowie]

Provided your tank is large enough, yes. Once they get enough fry it can become quite crowded though. What julies do you have? Julidochromis transcriptus only grow to about 7 cm, Julidochromis marlieri about twice that size.

 

[jayjay]

i was planning to go with julidochromis transcriptus or julidochromis dickfeldi??? do you have any suggestions on them?i have room to move fry till they grow large enough to be given away or sold.

 

[Snowie]

I don't really think it matters so much, their behavior is supposed to be virtually the same. They are not that agressive to other fish put quite agressive towards each other. One pair can be kept in most tanganyikan tanks but 2 pairs require a large tank.

If they pair up you will probably have to remove the fish that is left over.

 

[jayjay]

would a pair of Neolamprologus pulcher work with a pair of julidochromis transcriptus? or would it be best to go with just 1 sort? how big a tank would you suggest to keep both pairs in?

 

[mamafish68]

How many gallons?

why not go for some calvus too if you have room:

or leleupi:

I suggest sand, most Tangs are micropreditors and love to sift for snacks!

 

[jayjay]

not meaning to be rude lol but that's what i'm trying to find out. i have a spare 20 gallon, wondering if i could put maybe 1 pair of Neolamprologus pulcher or julidochromis transcriptus or if they wouldn't work i would try shell dwellers maybe.... i duno what do you think. i know how to care for all the fish individually just i duno about tank sizes and compatability with each other. i was thinking about leleupi but im trying to keep the number of species as low as possible but i still would like 2 species if i could. then there would be room to keep some of the fry and the rest i would give away or sell.

 

[mamafish68]

shell dwellers would be best for the 20.

my concern with your choices now is when spawning both species are very tempermental and will likely kill off other intruders. next thing you know you have a tank full of pulchers that spawn like mice at times.

julies are a precarious group, if you even move caves around after they've paired up it can drive a wedge and one ends up dead. EXTREMELY TEMPERMENTAL!

 

[jayjay]

oh i didn't know the julies were that bad. i think i'll give them a skip lol.

The fry arent a problem i can give them to lfs's if worst comes to it, but i'll give them to the best one round here.

is there anything thats not extremly aggressive or grows too large that could be kept with the plucher's?

cheers for your advise so far

 

[Snowie]

I'm pretty sure the pulcher's would claim the entire tank as their own once they have fry.

 

[jayjay]

ok cheers for your advice, i might set the 20g up for some shell dwellers and might get a tank for some pluchers

all these choices lol

i'll think about it some more before i do anything in haste

again cheers for all your help.