Butterfly

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

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susitna-flower

We can constantly learn from you and the other experts....thank you for expanding our horizons.

MissMTS

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?

COBettaCouple

What a cool little cichlid!

Shawnie

great looking tanks!

capekate

Very nice tank set up Carol... and I just love your little shell dweller cichlid!

Butterfly

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

COBettaCouple

Now you've made me want some of them!

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

Allie

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.

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.

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MissMTS

That is so neet how they rearrange their tank. They seem like such interesting little fish

Allie

Ever see a male malawi african in breeding mode? They totally rearrange the tank with piles of sand everywhere. Digging under rocks.

Butterfly

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

Butterfly

Oh yeah, steam shovels on speed
carol

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.

Butterfly

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