I had seen a 5 gallon bucket of shells and wondered what it was all about, lol. I will have to check it out, thanks for that @lloyd378
Shell dwellers
- Thread starter DMD123
- Start date
It's ridiculous to pay those prices for Neothauma shells: you're just paying for shipping, middlemen, and greed. Most any shells work, but you want to avoid shells in which the fishes can get stuck, especially the turriform and obconic shells. And @Betty is right: small shells provide excellent cover for small fishes.
fishguy1978
Legendary Member
You could go to American Lake and scrounge up some Chinese mystery snail shells. 
Those are good looking shells, and the price is right!
fishguy1978
Legendary Member
There's someone out of S. Africa selling Neothauma shells on the cichlid forum. Asking $100/35 shells plus $50 shipping.
Believe it or not, that is much less expensive than most places...There's someone out of S. Africa selling Neothauma shells on the cichlid forum. Asking $100/35 shells plus $50 shipping.
(1) Sometimes, but not usually. (2) Ditto. (3) No. (4) Greed.
I know with the political turmoil in some of those African countries, other fish Ive collected in the past like the bichirs, can also be difficult to bring in certain catch locations. I remember an episode of River Monsters where the host had mentioned he was arrested in one of those areas for being in the wrong place at the wrong time. At least he lived to tell about it.
Maybe one of should go on vacation to Lake T. , collect shells and basically be able to fund the whole trip from the sale of those shells...
Maybe one of should go on vacation to Lake T. , collect shells and basically be able to fund the whole trip from the sale of those shells...
John58Ford
Well-Known Member
I actually tried to convince my wife that we should go wild collecting for our 15th anniversary this summer. The idea fell flat sadly. If I find myself in Africa I'll look for some shells though lol.
Well as time has progressed I have done a recount of fish and with the littlest one I have 9 fish now. Turns out 5 did survive from the recent order. One of the smaller medium sized fish was hiding up until recently and then the ultra little one moved to a different shell that is partially buried with sand in the opening so the bigger fish cant get to it. I think all the extra fish make the aggression get spread out more with no single fish getting the brunt of it. Still not seeing any breeding behavior yet. Seen the two largest believe males) flare at each other and display with fins all extended but otherwise just boring behavior.
John58Ford
Well-Known Member
The fun to watch behavior is when you sit a few feet back having a beer and watch the *females* spit sand back and forth trying to roll their shells into the perfect angle, not to be repositioned by silly humans. This happens more often as the stocking hits critical mass and there are less vacant shells. Once you get them breeding, they're going to be like rabbits.
This pretty little thing is Neolamprologus kungweensis. This species is often called a 'shell dweller' in the hobby, but it is actually a mud-burrower, like its much larger relatives, Triglochromis and Limnochromis. I've always wanted to try to keep some of these fishes over a hard mud substrate, but I've never known how to do that.
How long does it take for the Occelatus to reach sexual maturity and what can I expect to see as signs of breeding behavior?
Right now Im getting a bit bored with these guys. I see one big dominant fish that chases others around and no real distinguishing characteristics as to male or female. What are the odds of all males with 8 fish? lol
Right now Im getting a bit bored with these guys. I see one big dominant fish that chases others around and no real distinguishing characteristics as to male or female. What are the odds of all males with 8 fish? lol
fishguy1978
Legendary Member
It's possible but not sure what odds at the race track would be. GL
1 in 256 [(1/2)^8], or 0.4%