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April 6th, 2008
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| Multi tank
Neolamprologus multifasciatus or Multis for short  They are shell dwelling cichlids.
I have always loved Multis and have had them before. When we moved I had to break their tank down and I'm just now getting a tank back up.
In this tank there is Sahara Sand from Carib Sea. I really like the look of it, as it looks like salt and pepper and sets the multis off just right. It's 15 G and will have some plants on rocks after they finish re-arrangeing their tank.
They pick up sand in their tiny little mouths and spit it where they want it to be, they will also bury any shells they don't use.
Here are a couple of pictures. The tank is still a little cloudy will post better ones later.
Carol
Last edited by Butterfly; April 7th, 2008 at 05:01 PM.
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April 6th, 2008
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| | Fish Mentor
| We can constantly learn from you and the other experts....thank you for expanding our horizons.  | |
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April 7th, 2008
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| | Fish Master
| What a fantastic tank! I have always wanted to try shell dwelling cichlids. Good luck with yours! How many do you have in the tank? | |
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April 7th, 2008
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| | Master Of Fish Poo!
| What a cool little cichlid! | |
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April 7th, 2008
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| | Fish Master
| great looking tanks! | |
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April 7th, 2008
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| Very nice tank set up Carol... and I just love your little shell dweller cichlid!  | |
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April 7th, 2008
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| Thanks everyone They are such cool little cichlid. They raise their young right there in the colony and have never seen any of them trying to eat fry.
Susitna- Flower - you make me blush expert I'm not  I just love my fishes.
Newbeefishlover- there are four multis in that tank. If they do like they did before they will start to "Multi"ply and have to go to a bigger tank then on to a larger still.
Carol
Last edited by Butterfly; May 22nd, 2008 at 07:39 PM.
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April 7th, 2008
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| | Master Of Fish Poo!
| Now you've made me want some of them!  | |
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April 7th, 2008
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| Quote:
Originally Posted by COBettaCouple  Now you've made me want some of them! | They are the easiest fish I have ever had. They lay eggs in the shell and suddenly one day there is just a little cloud of tiny babies around the shell. Mom will keep all intruders away from her shell, but I've never seen any damage or fry being eaten. The next thing you know there will be another shell with little babies around it If theres another female in the tank.
If you startle them they all head for shells and the tank looks empty LOL
They have already started moving the sand around. I might post a couple more pics and show how they re-arrange their tank.
Carol | |
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April 7th, 2008
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| | Fish Master
| I really want some of these. The don't even get 2". Soo Cute!
I have this profile saved: http://www.cichlid-forum.com/profile...es.php?id=1749
I want to do a shellie tank badly but the Malawi cichlids are taking over here now.
Last edited by Allie; April 7th, 2008 at 05:02 PM.
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April 7th, 2008
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Originally Posted by Allie I really want some of these. The don't even get 2". Soo Cute!
I want to do a shellie tank badly but the Malawi cichlids are taking over here now. | LOL MTS has us solidly by the throat I think
Heres what the tank looks like today. notice how differently the shells are turned. I think their closer to the front and closer together also. They are well on their way to burying the one in the back. | |
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April 7th, 2008
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| | Fish Master
| That is so neet how they rearrange their tank. They seem like such interesting little fish | |
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April 7th, 2008
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| | Fish Master
| Quote:
Originally Posted by newbeefishlover That is so neet how they rearrange their tank. They seem like such interesting little fish | Ever see a male malawi african in breeding mode?  They totally rearrange the tank with piles of sand everywhere. Digging under rocks. | |
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April 7th, 2008
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| It's just very humbling to watch them pick up just a few grains of sand (their mouths are tiny)and swim over to the side and spit it out and do this over and over until they have accomplished what they are trying to do. I have had them bury huge shells and you would never know their there.
carol | |
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April 7th, 2008
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| Quote:
Originally Posted by Allie Ever see a male malawi african in breeding mode? They totally rearrange the tank with piles of sand everywhere. Digging under rocks. | Oh yeah, steam shovels on speed
carol | |
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April 7th, 2008
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| | Fish Master
| Quote:
Originally Posted by Butterfly LOL MTS has us solidly by the throat I think
Heres what the tank looks like today. notice how differently the shells are turned. I think their closer to the front and closer together also. They are well on their way to burying the one in the back. | I know MTS is really bad here. Our plan in the beginning was two have 2 tanks each with 2 types of fish...umm He has the 120g african tank and 2 33g & a 30g for fry. The rest is all me. 
44g, 25, 15, 2/10 or 12g and 2 5gs. I'm not allowed to have anymore species of fish right now. It was the keyholes or the shellies. | |
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April 7th, 2008
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| | Moderator
| Quote:
Originally Posted by Allie I know MTS is really bad here. Our plan in the beginning was two have 2 tanks each with 2 types of fish...umm He has the 120g african tank and 2 33g & a 30g for fry. The rest is all me.
44g, 25, 15, 2/10 or 12g and 2 5gs. I'm not allowed to have anymore species of fish right now. It was the keyholes or the shellies. | | |
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April 7th, 2008
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| | Fish Keeper
| Nice use of shells for your tank Carol.. seeing the big one reminds me of growing up in Montserrat where, back in the seventies, you'd always find huge pink conch shells strewn about the beaches.. now they're as scarce as gold in this part of the world!.. if only I knew back then what I know now  | |
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April 7th, 2008
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| Quote:
Originally Posted by Richard Nice use of shells for your tank Carol.. seeing the big one reminds me of growing up in Montserrat where, back in the seventies, you'd always find huge pink conch shells strewn about the beaches.. now they're as scarce as gold in this part of the world!.. if only I knew back then what I know now | In nature shellies colonize vast fields of empty shells from the Neothauma tanganicensi snails in Lake Tanganika.
In the aquarium they will use just about any shell, some of them are such a tight fit you wonder if their going to get stuck.
Carol
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April 7th, 2008
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| | Fish Master
| Amazing......I enjoyed learning about this....Your tank is very pretty  | |
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April 8th, 2008
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| | Fish Master
| Beatiful setup! | |
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April 10th, 2008
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| | Master Of Fish Poo!
|  Will you be selling fry/young? Quote:
Originally Posted by Butterfly They are the easiest fish I have ever had. They lay eggs in the shell and suddenly one day there is just a little cloud of tiny babies around the shell. Mom will keep all intruders away from her shell, but I've never seen any damage or fry being eaten. The next thing you know there will be another shell with little babies around it If theres another female in the tank.
If you startle them they all head for shells and the tank looks empty LOL
They have already started moving the sand around. I might post a couple more pics and show how they re-arrange their tank.
Carol | | |
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April 10th, 2008
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Originally Posted by COBettaCouple Will you be selling fry/young? | Most likely
Their still re-arranging the tank(turning shells, moving sand etc) when they settle in good I expect to see little fry swarm out of a shell 
Carol | |
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April 10th, 2008
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| | Master Of Fish Poo!
| Great, I'd love to buy some. | |
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April 12th, 2008
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| | Fish Bum
| question about the shells: how do you prepare them for the tank? i know people who have taken sea shells, thoroughly washed them only to have fish suddenly die. Are these special shells, or do you have some secret ninja technique of cleaning them? | |
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May 15th, 2008
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| Quote:
Originally Posted by nickf5 question about the shells: how do you prepare them for the tank? i know people who have taken sea shells, thoroughly washed them only to have fish suddenly die. Are these special shells, or do you have some secret ninja technique of cleaning them? | Nick I'm sorry I haven't responded, for some reason I hadn't realized there had been an addition to the thread. Usually I just rinse the shells since I buy them at the dollar store or at one of the pet stores.
Well I think they have finally finished moving things around. They have cleared sand all the way to the bottom in a small spot on the left, and stacked it really high in other places.
Check the pics and see the difference. I had nothing to do with the changes they did it all
Carol | |
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May 15th, 2008
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| | Fish Master
| wow amazing! tottally different...oscars do that also...grrr im fixing all the time lol......I love this tank its so myserious...thanks for sharing... | |
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May 16th, 2008
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| | Master Of Fish Poo!
| They are SO cool! | |
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May 16th, 2008
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| | Fish Master
| Carol,
When you do have fry to sell, I would definetly like to buy some off of you. I have tried to find shellies near me and have had no luck. I have a tank and shells waiting for them, just no fish! PM me when you have some available
Thanks,
Kate | |
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May 16th, 2008
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| | Fish Helper
| Ooooo I DO LIKE!!!! 
How many can you have in a tank?
say a 29gallon tank? | |
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