shellie cichlids without shells

[iheartbettas]

hi there, i was thinking of setting up a 29 gallon species only with shellie cichlids but as one local fish store employee told me, they don't keep shells in their tank because they would hide out in there most of the time. my question is, if I decided to have shellies without shells, but with some hiding spaces, would they school like normal fish, or would they get stressed more. thanks!

 

[dafishman]

I've only had multies, and them not for very long, but in my experience, they're out and about a lot. From my reading, they won't do particularly well without shells, or at least shell-like hiding places. Others might know more, but I think you'd be better off getting yourself some shells. Particularly if you're doing a species tank and wanting to watch their normal little quirks. They're really cool fish.

Also, they're not schooling fish, so don't expect that kind of schooling behaviour, they're territorial types, like most cichlids.

tl;dr version: If you want to observe normal behaviour of happy, healthy shell-dwellers, invest in a few shells.

 

[Just Prince]

I have 10 Lamprologus Brevis Kitumba and before my escargot shells came ine the mail I used small PVC elbows. While the seemed okay withteh elbows the behavior patterns really came out when I added the shells. So if you don't want to use shells I would avoid the Shellies. Cichlids really don't school or shoal either. At least not in most home aquariums. Also the don't hide all the time either. Sure they will hide some in the beginning but Cichlids can be intelligent fish. Once they realize you are not a predator they behave as if you are not their. The best price I found on escargot shells was from Amazon I paid somewhere between 22 and 28 bucks with free shipping for 72 xl escargot shells.

 

[shaynablizard]

It would be a shame to deprive shell-dwellers of shells since they are such an important part of the fishes lives. What the others have said is true in my experience, once they are comfortable in their surroundings, they are out most of the time. They will sleep in their shells, guard their shells, hide their shells in sand, and steal others' shells.... This is the behavior that makes them so interesting to keep. While it may be difficult for the LFS to sell the fish when they'll dive in a shell at the sight of a net, it would be a poor decision for a hobbyist to keep these without shells. (My experience is with Ocellatus, Multis, Brevis, and Meeli.)

 

[Ashes2ashes]

I have a shellies only tank. mine are multies, but IME, mine don't spend all that much time in their shells unless they are startled by something, or guarding or laying eggs in one of the shells. Mine actually spend a lot more time outside the shells fighting over who has to keep what piece of debris in front of their shell lol. I can only speak from my own experience, but I personally would not deprive them of shells. I think that is what makes shellies what they are.

 

[OhNo123]

they're called shell-dwellers for a reason, right?

I have some multis and i would never deprive them of their shells. Shells are needed for breeding as the eggs are laid in the shells. The fry also hide in the shells.

I bought 8 shells (1" - 1.5" openings) of ebay for $5 shipped I believe.

 

[Lab_Rat]

Agree with the others, give your shellies some shells. Some of my multies actually prefer holey rock to the shells, but they still have the option of occupying shells.

 

[iheartbettas]

thanks for all your responses. if I decide on shellies, shells will definitely be there waiting for them!

 

[Ashes2ashes]

Agree with the others, give your shellies some shells. Some of my multies actually prefer holey rock to the shells, but they still have the option of occupying shells.

Four of mine seem to prefer my holey rock to the shells as well. I wasnt sure if that was typical or not. Glad to know mine are not the only ones.

 

[dafishman]

I've got a few who have taken up residence in very holey driftwood, but it seems to be a matter of dominance, they're the lower ones in the social hierarchy, so they appear to get second pick. But then again, I've only had them a short while, so I dunno how their whole social structure works, just my observations.