Do shell-dweller need shells?

I know that shell-dwellers are adapted to life in shells, but I don't really like the look of a bunch of shells sitting everywhere in my tank. Is it possible to keep them without shells? If not, than perhaps there is a better looking substitute to shells? Maybe rock caves would work? If you can keep them without shells but they won't breed then I'm fine with that.

 

There are some pretty snazzy shells out there. Have you looked around a bit? I think I saw a video from Tazawa Tanks on Youtube that was on shell dwellers. He had some red shells that looked amazing. As colorful as the fish were not.

Edit: I'll leave your actual question to someone that has kept them.

 

If you don’t like the look of shells why keep a fish that uses a shell for safety? They use them for protection. Like all wide creatures they have not learnt that we are not a predator and will dive for cover any time we approach THEIR home.

When using sea shells of a different shape to a escargot ( garden snail ) be very careful as it is apparently possible for a shellie to go in and not be able to turn around.


Other things I have used are white PVC joiners. Black plastic pipe. Clear plastic pipe. Sea shells from the 2 dollar shop.
I did use Texas holy rock to raise the hardness but it was not used as a hideout by anyone other than the least dominant juveniles. I believe it would be unsuitable as a breeding cave?

You do realise the shells can be buried almost completely in sand and still be a sweet little home.?

 

He had some red shells that looked amazing.

Its not just the color, but rather the look of a bunch of random shells everywhere. It just doesn't look natural, even tho it is.

If you don’t like the look of shells why keep a fish that uses a shell for safety?

I'm thinking of make a lake tanganyikan tank with Neolamprologus brichardi, and multifasciatus shell dwellers are often housed with them in both aquariums and the wild. Shell dwellers also have an interesting colonial life style and behavior not found in other fish.

You do realise the shells can be buried almost completely in sand and still be a sweet little home.?

In order for the shell to be completely buried you would have to add a very thick layer of sand, and even then there will be bits of random shell sticking out.

 

Do you see the contradiction in this statement. You want shell dwellers because they have an interesting colonial life style but you don't want to provide the shells so they can have an interesting colonial life style....

Shell dwellers also have an interesting colonial life style and behavior not found in other fish.

 

Do you see the contradiction in this statement. You want shell dwellers because they have an interesting colonial life style but you don't want to provide the shells so they can have an interesting colonial life style....

There are many species of fish that have a unique lifestyle in relation to there specific environment, but still have that unique lifestyle when kept in a completely different environment. Obviously doing this with a species as adapted as shell-dwellers is a little different. So regardless of motive I'm just wondering if it is possible to to so while still keeping the shell dwellers healthy and happy.

 

You will have to have around two inches of sand minimum for shellies. Even then they will move enough around for the bare bottom to show.
When the colony explodes they will move sand out of their and their mothers little territory into the neighbours and vice a versa.. Every few months i found I had to use my fingers to recover lost shells. If a fish is not maintaining the area around a shell it will be buried.
Some shells can be on the bottom of the tank and still have a female along with her juvenile daughters maintaining a fresh batch of young in it.


I miss my shellies but with Covid-19 stopping all auctions the population got out of hand in a few months. When I sold my colony I had 60 adults in a two foot 81 litre / 22 gallon .I never did run a large tank with a second species , something I regret.

A great fish.