Got Shellies, but not the shells...

[ttmnky]

Yesterday, I went to a local breeder to pick up my juvenile hecquis ($5 each). After looking at all his 18 tanks full of malawians and tanganyikans, with a few discus here and there, I got home and started acclimating the fish only to realise I still had to get shells.

Nonetheless, the breeder I got teh Hecquis from had them in a bare 10 gallon tank, so I guess they will be okay for the time being. Already, the largest (I'm guessing alpha male) has already taken over the large piece of driftwood with a hole in it, claiming half the tank and the driftwood as his. The rest are hiding among the nooks and crannies I have created with lots of rocks as makeshift shelter right now.

So lessons learned:
1) Buy the shells before the fish!
2) If you don't have shells, use large pebbles to create places for fish to hide
3) Get fish from a local breeder

Anyone in Canada know of any major chain stores which may provide shells? My LFS was selling some for about $7 (just shells) each.

 

[Orion]

www.cichlidbreeding.com sales about any type of shell you would want for some of the best prices I have seen.

Check out some craft stores, or any place that may have a craft section. Normaly you can find some there.

Congrats on the fish!

 

[phOOey]

shellies are great, i miss my multies. i think most breeders keeps them without shells so that they are easier to catch, because otherwise they'd all just dart into their shells and you wouldnt have any idea of what you were getting .

 

[Orion]

90 degree pvc elbows with a cap on the end are great for breeding them for re-sale. Easy to get them out of their 'shells' so you can see what your getting.

 

[Cichlid-Man]

www.cichlidbreeding.com sales about any type of shell you would want for some of the best prices I have seen.

Agreed. That is however if you want to order online. Craft stores are probably your best bet locally....or a Gourmet food center....Escargot Shells are PERFECT.

 

[ttmnky]

Cichlid-Man: SC? I'm in the lower mainland... Don't know all my places in BC...

Anyways, I went looking for shells. Mostly around $4 each, so I may have to resort to tehPVC elbows, though they are very unatural looking. I'm trying to avoid buying online as my parents are paranoid about shipping, etc. Tomorrow, I hope to Michael's, a large craft store and look for shells there

Anyways, I noticed some digging today, and it seems that already a hecqui had dug a small home under a whole bunch of rocks to act as his "shell" as he/ she darts into it whenever I approach.

Hopefully, Michael's will have some for reasonable prices.

 

[ram man]

if you wetre closer i would send you one of my natalis shells i got from cali. good luck with them!

 

[Orion]

SC=South Carolina. Quite a bit south from where you are.

Michaels is a popular place to get shells. There isn't one near me, but I've seen lots of people get shells from there.

Your right, the PVC would not be pretty, but it would work.

 

[ttmnky]

Thanks for the offers, guys! I guess it's off to more craftstores in the next few days in search for shells...

Hm...South Carolina is probably a tad bit too far away...