African shellies tank setup

**trident** · 24th Oct 2007, 13:42

Yes all theliteratures I have read recommend a 20 gallons tank for the N. caudopuntatus, but this is the only available tank I have at the moment. I am buying 4 pcs of the N. caudopuntatus, size is about 1.5". Well, I guess I'll have to plan for a bigger tank later when they grow bigger or becomes too aggressive.

**doppelbanddwarf** · 24th Oct 2007, 16:17

Hi Richard saw the four pieces of N. caudopuntatus you reserved when i was at Biotope today. Really nice!

**valice** · 24th Oct 2007, 17:33

Seems like the ones at the shop are still pretty young given that the mature ones can reach 2.5inches big...
You might really need a bigger tank in future...

**trident** · 24th Oct 2007, 17:41

Chong Yu,
Thanks, it was between the N. caudopuntatus and the L. signatus. Saw the signatus playing in the sand and flaring, was quite captivated, but in the end I chose the N. caudopuntatus as they look more beautiful. And the male can grow up to 3.5"! female is smaller at 2.5".
Vincent, I got a 2 feet tank which I can convert to shellies tank later.

Richard

**doppelbanddwarf** · 24th Oct 2007, 17:52

Well if its up to me i'll also choose either of those 2 too.

I think the L.occelatus 'gold' looked pretty cute too. Perhaps its their small size.

**luenny** · 24th Oct 2007, 18:07

Richard,
Wah, you are so fast. From discus to apisto to shellies. Keep it up. Someday, I'll go visit your place for the different biotopes.

**trident** · 24th Oct 2007, 22:28

Luenny,
I always wanted to keep something different. 5 years of discus is quite enough.
You sure can come to my place when it's ready. collecting my N. caudopatatus this weekend. Want to come along?
Just got the escargot shells today, bought it at cold storage, ate the meat. The shells are sure hard to clean, very oily, plenty of detergent and hot water.

Richard

**Quixotic** · 24th Oct 2007, 23:00

Do watch out for ammonia if the tank isn't fully cycled as this is a high pH environment afterall. Free ammonia (NH3), which is toxic, increases as pH increases, an increase of one pH unit will increase the NH3 concentration about 10-fold.

So your beneficial bacterials better be ready.

**trident** · 25th Oct 2007, 08:21

Quixotic,
Thanks for the reminder. I was concern as well as I have about 1 week to get it running. So I used mature water and sponge from my apisto tank.
Only thing which I have not add is the beneficial bacterial. Haven't use this stuff for ages, might just go get a bottle this evening.

Richard

**luenny** · 25th Oct 2007, 10:45

Hi Richard,
You might want to soak the shells in a different container before putting them into your tank. I'm just afraid they might not be really clean which can cause lots of problems. By the way are those escargot shells really big enough for the fishes? I haven't seen the fishes yet so I really don't know.

**trident** · 25th Oct 2007, 12:23

Luenny,
The size of the fish is quite small so I think the shell should be big enough.
Come with me to collect and you would know the size!
I have washed them with detergent, soak in hot water and now soak in tap water.
Do I need to soak them in bleach?
Richard

**doppelbanddwarf** · 25th Oct 2007, 12:24

Richard perhaps boiling them in saltwater would be good.

**luenny** · 25th Oct 2007, 12:48

PP them!!

**trident** · 25th Oct 2007, 13:16

Luenny, Chong Yu,
PP them? I think it's a good idea.Have to do the job right and kill off all the nasties.
PP and maybe a round of of salt and hot water before I put them into the tank tonight.
Thanks for all the tips. Everything have to be ready tonight as I am collecting the fishes tomorrow night.

Richard

**doppelbanddwarf** · 25th Oct 2007, 13:46

Remember to show us some photos of the fish and the setup when they've settled in!

**wks** · 25th Oct 2007, 15:39

Richard, remember to put in some rocks too, this will make the whole tank resemble more of the fish's biotope.

**trident** · 25th Oct 2007, 15:45

Jason,
Got a few pieces of small rocks, tank's a bit small can't put too much rock.
Richard

**sheng** · 25th Oct 2007, 15:53

Dont put in too much rocks as you got a small tank. More rocks will mean you will ended up with less water.

**Wackytpt** · 26th Oct 2007, 08:19

Originally Posted by trident

Luenny,
I always wanted to keep something different. 5 years of discus is quite enough.

Richard, convert all your discus' tank to Cichlid tank

Put your discus on adoption... haha..

I saw your fishes last night. They look really good

**doppelbanddwarf** · 26th Oct 2007, 08:29

Alternatively do a Amazon cichlid tank! Put in lots and lots of branchy driftwoods and ketapang leaves and make the water really dark. Then keep your discus with some apistos and some tetras!

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