20g shelly tank?

[CichlidWrangler]

well...

I have a 20g high that is currently housing two goldfish that will be relocated to the pond this weekend

so.. I was thinking of doing some shell dwellers

I have never kept them before though

how many could I put in a 20g high?

 

[CichlidWrangler]

anyone?

 

[shwank005]

I don't think they'll use the height of the aquarium that much, so it wouldn't be the best tank for shellies, maybe you could add a couple of top level swimmers as well thought. One of the shelldwellers I currently have are Neolamprologus Multifasciatus, they're little guys, no more than 1.5" total length, and pretty cool. You could easily have a colony of maybe 6 in a 20, with a couple little fish in the top levels. Just give them lots of shells.

 

[ibr3ak]

I agree, when stocking a 20 high with shellies stock it as if it was a 10, ie footprint over height. Check a few cookie cutters on cichlid-forum.com.

 

[GusBus27]

Sand substrate & 5+ shells per fish.... I have a bristlenose pleco that works well as the maintenance man with my Multies.... they're easier to find than the occelantus & better looking than brevis, IMO. What ever you have free swimming may also help to bring your shellies out more too... good luck

 

[CichlidWrangler]

I agree, when stocking a 20 high with shellies stock it as if it was a 10, ie footprint over height. Check a few cookie cutters on cichlid-forum.com.

well I agree that the height isnt gonna matter to the shellies

but I still have a larger footprint than a 10g...

 

[ibr3ak]

Oh my bad, I was thinking of a 15 high for some reason

 

[Pittbull]

well my 20gal tall bit the dust last night i was moving the tank and busted the front glass out i am still cleaning water up out of the carpet.. i had a pair of Ornatipinnis which are shellies that get a little bit bigger and are very aggressive and a ton of fry, my other shellie tanks 3 of them 20gal long i have colonies of each species in each tank. i would go with Multi's..

 

[CichlidWrangler]

well my 20gal tall bit the dust last night i was moving the tank and busted the front glass out i am still cleaning water up out of the carpet.. i had a pair of Ornatipinnis which are shellies that get a little bit bigger and are very aggressive and a ton of fry, my other shellie tanks 3 of them 20gal long i have colonies of each species in each tank. i would go with Multi's..

how many multies for a tank this size? and what are suitable tank mates if any...

 

[efors]

I think 6 multis will be OK as shwank005 stated. I would use fast swimmers as dither fishes; like zebra danios, that are not too big.