Multies, how many????

My 20h tank is nearly ready and the GCAS has two people looking to part with MultI juvies.  One local guy has up to 10 available, but due to the time of year, it will be another week before we could get together.  Now someone else, 4 hours away, will be in town tomorrow with 5.  I can wait and probably will go with the local guy anyway, but how many should I start with?  I figured since they are unsexed juvies, the more I get, the better chance I have of getting couple of harems in my tank.  I do realize there may be a struggle of"survival of the fittest" but I'm not positive of that either.  Team Fishlore (Gunnie, Butterfly), your thoughts and recommendations?  Thanks, Glenn

Confirmed - pick up is 4:00 Friday

 

Glenn,
I have 6 multies in a 10 gal. tank. I've had them almost a year and no babies! I think I have 1 male and 5 females. Butterfly and Dino would know more. I'm not sure what would happen with 10 multies in your 20 gal. tank if you have several males. I'm sure they'd probably form colonies, but how many in your size tank is the question. You may have to be prepared if any of your males get ousted. That's how I got my male because he was being bullied and treated as an outcast in the tank he was in. After being in my tank for a couple of days, everyone gets along.

 

20G =24 inches x 12 inches
                                       ] These are called the foot print of the tanks (what the bottom measures)
10G =20 inches x 10 inches
when you consider Multis this is what you need to consider as their space. I too started out with six in a ten gallon tank. Then in about six months they started filling my tank up with fry. Then went on to a fifteen long and now they are in a thiry gallon long. I have sold and, traded and given away until I'm back down to six adults and three different sets of fry of three different ages and they are from one pair. they all live together.
so all that said if it were me I would either get the five from one person OR get six from the other person.
Just give them plenty of sand and shells, then sit back and enjoy them ;D
Carol

 

Five or six it is then, depending on what's available.  My wife isn't thrilled about another tank, (stress of the holidays ya know  :-\ ) so I may just put it on bottom deck of the double stand I now have.  I can always move it later.  I currently have 12 escargot shells and another 12 smaller, similar shells.  I probably will buy another 12 escargot shells today.  I will also pick up the "freshwater" bio spira, 1 oz, in the next few days.  I am off Th and Friday and will set up the tank.  I have the CarribSea Cichlid Argonite sand and assorted pieces (9 pounds) of TX Holey rock.  I will move two of my fake plants from the "seasoned" tank to the new one and move the second filter I've had running on my 29 for two weeks, over too.  As to not let the bacteria die, I will move 2-3 of my White Skirts over to help further cycle the tank.  Once I get the Multi's, I will transfer the Skirts back to the 29, add the bio spira, slowly acclimate the multi's, introduce them to their new home, sit back (on the floor) and watch the goings on!   ;D

 

Dahly- if you have the biospira you can add your multis immediately without putting the skirts in and taking them back out. It cycles your tank immediately. Would be less stress on your skirts.
Sounds like you have plenty of shells, get ready for them to be moved and buried
Carol

 

It appears that I will be picking up my 6 multies on Friday afternoon from the local GCAS member.    He lives in Northern KY, just across the river, so it's not far at all.  I plan to set up the 20H on Thursday.  If I put the filter on that I've had running on the 29 for the past two weeks, will the "seeded" bacteria die before I add the multi's the next day?  Or, would it be better to either let the tank sit a day, with no filter running, or just set it all up Friday morning?  I will add the Bio Spira, that I am picking up today, just prior to adding the multi's.  I just want to give them every chance to succeed.  Thanks for all your help thus far and please assist me me with my latest "yell" for help!   ;D

 

If you can set the tank up Thurs evening, then put the filter on it FrI morning and add Bio Spira and multis FrI evening.
Since your putting all new water in the tank (although dechlorinated)just a little while after you fill it there will be tiny little bubbles all over the glass and may even look a little cloudy with bubbles and sitting will allow these to go away. For some reason in the winter water seems to be especially oxygen saturated, may have something to do with the temperature since cold water has more oxygen content than warm. That much oxygen saturation may cause problem for your fish.
You may see a few bubbles after a water change and that is not a concern. Hope that helps
Carol

 

Thanks! I just took an early lunch and picked up the Bio Spira, and 12 more escargot shells. The shop owner at Buster's Pet's, said the same thing as you recommended. Set up the tank Thursday, move the filter over Friday, pick up the Multies, add the Bio Spira, acclimate the Multi's very slowly over 1.5 hours minimum, kick back and enjoy. He also suggested that I add an Oscar for company....just kidding! ;D I am soooo excited! Thanks for all of your help! Glenn

 

Oscar Oh so now your naming your escargot shells j/k
Good luck, I just know you will like them.
Carol
Oscar.... mumble.... mumble.....

 

Well, the plans fell through for today's pick up, so it will happen sometime next week.  I must have rinsed the sand 40 times yesterday in preparation for setting up the 20H, still, the water is cloudy.  I have not moved the filter over, and won't until I'll be picking up the multi's.  The "sediment" has settled quite a bit overnight.  When the tank clears and I get the multi's I'll post pictures.  I have the tank set up on it's own stand, across the room from my 29.  I love the way the holey rock is arranged and the 40 plus shells nearly carpet the bottom, well a lot of the bottom.    "Anticipation, It's making me wait, keeping me waiting!"  Merry Christmas!

 

Sorry your plans fell through!!! Yeah it takes a bit to get all the dust out. I was just wondering if you got them and when I saw the post I was soooo excited. Oh well as long as it happens I guess
Carol

 

Today at noon I picked up 7 multies for just $17 from a GCAS member.  Thanks for giving me the idea to look for local clubs!  ;D  He gave me an extra, "just because."  Two are very small, maybe half an inch.  3 are about an inch and a half.  The other two are somewhere's in between.  I acclimated them over 3.5 hours as I was doing projects around the house that took time and concentration.  I released the multies and they immediately dove to the nearest shell. I have 46 to choose from, but they took the first available.       Moments after the release, I added the bio spira. 2 hours later, I turned on the lights and did not see them at all.  I added a little "First Flake" and after about ten minutes I could account for them all.  I was sold cichlid pellets for them but gave them flakes.  Nothing was eaten immediately, as far as I know.  Any suggestions?   ???  I  am very happy to have a second tank up and running.  My brother-in-law assures me that I could easily get a 6' tank down into my basement.  I thought the angles were too tight.  Now I'll need to "finish" the basement first, and save my umpiring money, but I do dare to dream!  Thanks again for all your help, and encouragement, along the way!  MTS, Glenn

 

I am so excited for you! Now you will have to give us reports and/or pictures when they rearrange their tank everyday! ;D

 

Wahoo!!! You have them!!!! Give them a couple of days to settle in. Most fish don't eat for the first day or so due to the stress of being moved.
Mine won't eat pellets, but what they do like is when I take a pinch of flake and hold it under the water and crumble it. then it kind of floats around and they go crazy catching and eating it.
I was looking at my multI tank just now when I was feding them and noticed I have 3 generations of babies in one corner LOL ;D
Keep us posted!! Enjoy!
Carol

 

I did not feed them this morning when I feed those in my 29. I will be giving my 29 frozen blood worms tonight. Would the multis enjoy a few too? I let the cube break up in a plastic cup partially filled with tank water. Then use a baster for feedings. This way my neon's get some too! I could easily "shoot" a few into the 20, if you think they'd eat them. Let me know.

 

I think they would love the bloodworms!

 

Oh yes they will love the Bloodworms. If your multis are very small you may have to cut them(BW) up. Mine also love frozen brine shrimp. They will also breed faster if getting meaty foods at least once a week
Carol

 

At feeding time, they don't "swarm" yet.  Most were in hiding when I approached the tank.  I shot 7-8 worms into the tank and there was NO action.  I went to feed the rest of the worms to the 29.  When I returned all Multies were out and some of the worms were gone.  The smallest had a worm in it's mouth for quite a while, but eventually it was gone too.  ( I hadn't read Carol's message about cutting them in half) I added a little flake, mostly crushed, and they casually fed.  The family went out to dinner and when we returned, not a speck of anything was visable and all 7 were out in the open.  I guess they are getting more comfortable in their new surroundings, which is good because they're not going anywhere!    No digging that I can tell as of yet.  Maybe tomorrow!

 

When I do my blood worms, I thaw them in warm water then pour them through a white net(shrimp net?) then reach in and cut a few up with sharp scissors. Then swirl the cut up ones in for my fry and multis.
it's good their out so soon. Don't worry you'll wake up one morning and the tank will look totally different
Carol

 

I tested my water this morning and had readings of 0 - ammonia, 0 - nitrites, 5 - nitrates. This is just two days after adding the fish as posted previously. Seems to be working! I fed the fish a little mostly crushed flake this morning, First Flake from Omega. Should I buy the Cichlid flake now to feed? I think I will try to buy some frozen baby brine shrimp too, as it would be easier to feed to the multies. My in-laws are visiting and my wifes Mother thinks the fish are "fascinating!" She also said that my wife watched both tanks at differant times during the day, "somewhat mesmerized." Am I/are they winning her over? ;D

 

Of course their winning her over!! You could try the cichlid flakes if you want to. Mine will eat everything except pellets. they pretty much like their food to float in the water column long enough to catch it.
Mine get Omega One color flakes, first flake, veggie flakes,fr. bloodworms, fr.brine shrimp and a little mixture I made when I dumped the nearly empty containers of several things into the food processor and processed it
In other words they like variety and will eat anything that will fit into their mouths ;D
Carol

 

Well, they are digging tonight!  Piles of sand, shells and rocks slowly being covered.  It's funny, the bigger/darker fish are on the left side of the tank, while the lighter and all but one, smaller are on the right.  They certainly roam all over, but it does seem odd.  I do have one multie ( a larger, darker one) who stays very close to and usually seems to stay in their shell.  From what I've read, this may mean young ones are on the way?   I exchanged the Omega Cichlid pellets for their flake and fed it to them tonight.  I crush it up a little bit and put my fingers under the water before releasing them.  I guess they can sence the movement, because they come out of their shells to casually pick off the flakes.  I am fearful of overfeeding, so I don't give very much to these 7 little fish.  I've seen them all eat something, so I'm not too worried.  With all the digging going on tonight, I wonder what I'll see in the morning.  I did take pictures of both tanks on a digital camera, but need to learn how to put it on the computer and then how to post on the Fishlore site.  Multies are very interesting!

 

Do you have any Malaysian Trumpet Snails in the tank? They will help keep the sand airated. I haven't seen it yet, but I have heard if a snail makes the mistake of going into a multie's shell, the multie will take it out, shake it in disgust, and spit it out somewhere else in the tank!

 

Yes Gunnie they will do exactly that Mine tend to throw them in the same pile. of course the silly snails don't stay there! ;D
Dahly, they must be happy!! Eating AND moving sand already!! Have you seen them spit sand yet? It's hilarious, they will spit sand at each other as well as when their arranging their territories. this will surely hook your wife on multies
Carol

 

I guess after I turned the lights out last night, contruction stopped. No, I have no Malaysian Trumpet Snails yet, but I will look into it. The multies need companions! Yes I have seen the sand spitting, but not at each other, just each others shells. I have also noticed bubbles occasionally? Maybe a little air is still trapped in some shells? When I fed them this morning, none had any or very much color. But isn't that normal for most fish colors to fade overnight? I'm sure they're fine; they better be! I'll keep you posted!

 

If you need Malaysian Trumpet Snails my Multis would be glad to share Just let me know.
You could always take a straw and push it down into the sand about every 5 or 6 inches to make sure there aren't any bad air pockets forming. Be prepared for the Multis to either disappear or attack the straw this is what I did about once a week until I got my snails.
Carol

 

Thank for the snail offer. I just posted on the GCAS "Trading Post" asking if anyone locally had some to sell or share. How many do I need? I'll use the straw in the meanwhile. I didn't realize there was such a thing as "bad air pockets?" What's that all about? Thanks

 

Check this out. If the link doesn't work I'll cut and paste it.

Carol

 

Thanks for the info. My wife would love a "rotten egg smell" permeating our home. I better get two straws! Seems the snails breed rapidly so that I'd only need 1-2 to start? Thanks!

 

Yes they are livebearers and breed very rapidly Not realizing that I started with six and now have them in all my sand tanks : Glad the link worked.
Carol