African Shell dweller aquarium fish tank

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2 жыл бұрын

Remember the african shell dweller cichlids and the aquariums we set up for them? The comparison of having predator fish VS none and what might happen? Today we go over exactly what took place.
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Пікірлер: 548

@thekingofdiy 2 жыл бұрын

These fish meet girls at the club. Then take them home and knock them up(I feel personally attacked). Then they get some side chicks and keep doing the same. They sometimes get caught and have to rush back to the main girl while others will literally stuff the main girl in her shell so he can go visit the side chick... meanwhile, the other guy on the block tries to steal the other guys main girl. This al Takes me back to my trailer park days..(seriously lol). Unfortunately this is all true and i show all of this in this video. Also, i made this video while sober. I should point that out. I intentionally made this. haha

@GodisTruth914 2 жыл бұрын

Absolutely hilarious 😂

@Cav2luv 2 жыл бұрын

Would you consider starry night cichlids or texas chichlids

@hicksy7626 2 жыл бұрын

Maybe the girls club are all related, what about introducing some more, fresh ones from a different supplier, what if they're trying to tell you that? i

@thomassiegers3007 2 жыл бұрын

I think thy feel like thy are not beautiful enough for the females after seeing the bigger fish lol

@yanjijay6752 2 жыл бұрын

😂😂🤣🤣

@shane6295 2 жыл бұрын

Came to learn about shell dwellers. Take away - Don’t pickup girls at the club. Thanks for another informative video!

@danielrichter465 2 жыл бұрын

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@ChrisLane87 2 жыл бұрын

too many predators in a small space, in the wild the frontosa would have moved on, either rescape with complete removal of line of sight or remove part of the frontosa group to only a few and you will have breeding signs in a week or so

@JustaGuyinMI 2 жыл бұрын

In regards to the 2k and the shell dwellers, I don’t think you’d ever see them again after introducing them.

@danielrichter465 2 жыл бұрын

@ramonbrown7119 2 жыл бұрын

This office aquarium was hands down my favorite aquarium

@jonstfrancis 2 жыл бұрын

I think the shelldwellers are nervous of the frontosa and it's preventing them from breeding. Maybe after a while they'll get used to them.

@danielrichter465 2 жыл бұрын

@robertjohnston25 2 жыл бұрын

I think the frontosa are also bigger now than they were before. Their shells are also wide open. Didn’t they have more cover in the 120?

@flex5639 2 жыл бұрын

I agree with this

@191hero 2 жыл бұрын

Try building almost a canyon with rocks around the shells in the Frontosa tank. May help them feel a little more isolated and could get some breeding going

@chrisp7641 2 жыл бұрын

Maybe try putting some sticks/branches above the shells in the shell dweller mixed tank. More visual breaks might induce breeding? It would be interesting to see some in the "Boss", who knows what they would do.

@hydrobud89 2 жыл бұрын

I was always told that shell dwellers won't breed unless they're comfortable and content with their environment so maybe they're a little too stressed or the Frontosas have gotten a little too big for them to breed comfortably.

@antl82 2 жыл бұрын

I think personally, they do feel threatened by the 'tosa. I know how fiesty they are, i kept multi's for a while. As soon as i added in other lake tangs, they stopped breeding, and started kicking out males from the group. Being such a small size may just impact their way of thinking regarding predators and breeding. Can't breed if your on your guard! i think, add more visual blockages in place, and more shells. make them feel somewhat more secure. Plastic plants around the shell site helped mine out!

@danielrichter465 2 жыл бұрын

@Nozdormu1982 2 жыл бұрын

Yes. This was my first thought as well. You can have them in the same tank, but you have to add enough blockage. They are to much out in the open. I recon in their natural habitat, the breeding spots will be more heavily surrounded by rocks etc.

@justinfoulk1348 2 жыл бұрын

Within days of you posting that first MULTI video, I went and got my own shellies and threw them in an open 30g tank, and they soon bred like crazy. haha I have had them on and off ever since, love em man. They would breed in my 125g with my Brichardis and Julies, but not as densely. I've had them in the 30, a 20 tall, 55 and the 125. Honestly the best they ever did was in that 30 gallon. I think it was because at that time I had bonkers amounts of frogbit in my tanks, and this one was no exception. With 30 watt flood lamp on the top of my 30, I had a full mass of frogbit with vines going all the way to the bottom. I think the trick with these fish just as much is to have those floating plants. Yeah, that was probably the determining factor. For anyone who doesnt know about frogbit... Do it, they look fantastic. Oh yeah, and you can introduce the shellies to a community tank, and they will lose their shell dwelling behavior IME. They just kinda become like any other community fish. So if you put them in the 2k bro, IME they will just integrate into the population.

@bradkerr1977 2 жыл бұрын

Also Joey your Frontosa’s are absolutely gorgeous!!

@strawberrygoldfish 2 жыл бұрын

I love your way of presenting things in story format. It makes it really engaging.

@perigrine 2 жыл бұрын

You'd. mentioned in an earlier video that you suspected that the Sunshine Pleco may be preying on eggs and fry of other breeding fish in there. Shell dwellers may not have experience dealing with a Pleco since they're from different continents.

@thekingofdiy 2 жыл бұрын

True. Seems like i may need to make some adjustments to the 2,000G stocking to be able to have a lot more interesting things happening. Are you volluntaring to get in and catch the ones that cause problems? lol

@danielrichter465 2 жыл бұрын

@biglebowski5737 2 жыл бұрын

@@danielrichter465 Does he sell shells for shell dwellers with stocks in it?

@danielrichter465 2 жыл бұрын

@@biglebowski5737 Look her up online ,she will explain to you.

@biglebowski5737 2 жыл бұрын

@@danielrichter465 I did she does not have a map to go to the center of the earth and meet (s)hell dwellers.

@lakeshiamills1454 2 жыл бұрын

I never knew there was a low sand for Shellies. I was introduced to them around 2011 or 12. Unfortunately the group I acquired were f1 of wild parents and weren't the hardiest (gold ocellotus, my spelling is terrible) and I've been in love with this fish ever since. I haven't had an opportunity to keep them again but I'll be setting up a tank for them in the near future. They are awesome little fish for sure!

@user-cc9mp8kl5f 2 жыл бұрын

Hey Joey been a while happy the fishes looking good n growing. Thanks for the share

@clausnrgaardjohansson8239 2 жыл бұрын

Thx for a great vid. Love when you go more into depths with one of your fish.

@k.y.6148 2 жыл бұрын

I think the shell-dwellers are too stressed by the presence of predators living too close, to want to breed. They know the fry will just get eaten.

@ivan.e82 2 жыл бұрын

Hey Joey I just wanna say thanks for what you do, been watching you since 2012 when I was only ten years old. You’re the reason I started keeping fish. P.s. thank you for all the knowledge you taught me and all the great content.

@rockinrobert1 2 жыл бұрын

I do have to admit this is one of my favorite videos I don't know why.

@epicstopmotionracing5365 2 жыл бұрын

I’ve got a Shelly tank and deffo yeah, what Joey said!!! Love em!!!

@shannonroque1924 2 жыл бұрын

I love your take on these fish lol, great story!

@lockstockandtwosmoke 2 жыл бұрын

I had these little guys like 5 -6 years ago brilliant fish breed super easy I would recommend um any day of the week super easy to keep aswell

@dianecubaynesleduc1019 2 жыл бұрын

Loved the stories. Had a good laugh. Tks for making my day

@brandonhiggs2913 2 жыл бұрын

One of your most entertaining videos of all time

@shane6295 2 жыл бұрын

Switch the shell dwellers from the 40 gallon to the 100 and the 100 to the 40. This will confirm multiple things. 1.) do you actually have males/females in the 100 gallon. 2.) if you do have males and females, are the shell dwellers simply not breeding due to the tank size or presence of the frontosas. This is very interesting. Maybe switch for 1-2 months and see what happens in both tanks.

@brianhelton1947 2 жыл бұрын

I haven’t finished the video but what about make a large lava rock cave that covers their shell community and see if them being in a tighter spot with closer walls makes them feel more secure. Back to the video!

@mjnaquatics5373 2 жыл бұрын

I keep shell dwellers in a community tank and it is fascinating to watch! Put them in the 2000! The only problem will be zooming in enough to see them.

@C.J98 2 жыл бұрын

I think a small colony of the shell dwellers in the 2000 is a great idea joey, do it!!

@Steve0272. 2 жыл бұрын

I think the Frontosa being mature is the biggest change , I suspect if you took some out especially the dominant ones the shell dwellers might start to breed , great update as usual bud 👍

@danielrichter465 2 жыл бұрын

@kendraowen2841 5 ай бұрын

I just got a 55 gallon ... the biggest I've ever had was 20 gallon ... decades ago. I can't wait to get my shell dwellers. I'm working on my cleaning crew right now. Since they do dig through the sand so much I do kinda consider them part of the cleaning crew but I'm getting those last.

@Hummingbirder1 2 жыл бұрын

My thought about the Shelldweller & Frontosa tank is: too many and too big Frontosa, the proportions are "wrong" and I think the Shelldwellers are "stressed" with so many potential murderers lurking around. Spreading "mental unease". I've had this thought since you bought the new Frontosas, adding to their number. The tank (imo) looks crowded and doesn't look as big as it is. The Shelldwellers are pushed to the side in a tiny community that looks a little sad... But, I guess that's just me. (If it had been me, I've settled with the original Frontosas and not almost doubled the number, since they're not fully grown yet.)

@danielrichter465 2 жыл бұрын

@plebbsquad5102 2 жыл бұрын

looking through the glass of your aquarium does make the fish inside seem to be bigger than they really are, someone else mentioned a rescape of the tank and allowing the shell dwellers to lose sight of the frontosa. I wouldnt say his shell dwellers are "stressed" as when the frontosa swim by they dont dart off and flash around, the same way a stressed fish would. More shells and less line of sight will almost automatically fix this situation without removing or adding more fish

@skaughtmc6591 2 жыл бұрын

You’ve mentioned before the importance of dither fish. It may be that the only other fish in the tank being predators is causing too much stress, and introducing another type of non-predator fish to take up some of the frontosa’s attention could relax things.

@danielrichter465 2 жыл бұрын

@andycolton2814 2 жыл бұрын

My shell dwelling fish have always breed in my 75 community tank. I just take the fry out as soon as possible. Had simulus lots. I'm loving my pearl oscillatus. Now.👍

@NotKumiYeou 2 жыл бұрын

as a former biologist, i like to think of these issues in a maybe too in depth way. for example, there's a lot of factors to consider here that go into studying behavior of animals in general. some things that need to be considered are tankmate species, tankmate sizes, available space, and where they were born. captive bred animals are known to react relatively different from wild specimens, and sizes of available space can greatly affect moods. there's some animals that get anxious with too much space, such as some reptiles, and some animals that create irregular behaviors with too little space, such as the study that brought about the myth of wolves having the "alpha-omega" hierarchy. the shell dwellers could have anxiety feeling that they're too exposed with too much space around them since their side is mostly open, and adding the natural predator frontosa are the factor that adds in the anxiety variable. if there were more breaks in their lines of sight to predators they may feel more safe to breed. but like i said, there's just so many factors that could contribute when so few people have put any research into the shell dweller type cichlids. i'd be interested in seeing how these ones develop in some new scenarios.

@mathyskramer7576 2 жыл бұрын

I’ve always felt like the area where the shells lay in the 180G is too small in comparison to the surface area that the Frontosa have in the 180G and I think that might be adding some extra stress. I’d reckon if you give them a little bit more room and some extra shells it could turn around

@lakecityripper 2 жыл бұрын

My club is poppin I’m thinking of putting something to roam the top but I don’t want to kill the liveliness of the club. Great work as always Joey thanks for all you do for the community

@danielrichter465 2 жыл бұрын

@jastark22181 2 жыл бұрын

Awesome storey bro! It was very entertaining 😄 And yes, put some in the 2000 gallon

@nielsottens8046 2 жыл бұрын

You should try adding a LOT more shells. That will create layers, where they can hide between the shells more and the fry can live there more safely.

@TripleJAquatics 2 жыл бұрын

This is what i love about this hobby. Same size tank/plants/stock in two different setups and you can have two completly diff experiences

@miculcabral7513 2 жыл бұрын

came for fish information,left with life knowledge

@brandoncrain6961 2 жыл бұрын

I’m a huge fan of the frontosa in the 2,000 and the shell dwellers

@mikeb1800 2 жыл бұрын

In my experience with F1s, I had adults for 6 months with no breeding at all. It's a 75g tanygikan tank with cypochromis, lilupi, and some julis along with the shellies. I was doing 10-20% water changes weekly. I started doing 50% water changes occasionally and thats what got them to start pumping out babies. Don't know why 🤷‍♂️

@bigfootbeerblog9204 2 жыл бұрын

I’ve got a 20L booming with these shell dwellers, it’s been a fun way to make some money back in the hobby. I’ve been jealous of your frontosa/shellie tank for quite some time and was thinking of transferring the fish into a 125g and getting some frontosa to add with them. This video made me second guess doing this if they’ve stopped breeding for you. Great info and I’m looking forward to seeing if you can get that colony breeding. 🍻

@willownightwolf4755 2 жыл бұрын

That sounds like a really interesting idea!

@ryanmcgeown4170 2 жыл бұрын

Love the story line 🤣 I'm not experienced enough to answer your question but keep up the good work. You're entertaining and inspirational 👍

@danielrichter465 2 жыл бұрын

@SquishJessica 2 жыл бұрын

"I find all my girlfriends in church". Hurt my throat a little with my cackle. Wasn't expecting that.

@danielrichter465 2 жыл бұрын

@gregsmith7130 2 жыл бұрын

Yes that would be cool to see

@rockinrobert1 2 жыл бұрын

Yes do it great idea I have a few shell dwellers but I think I need to get more and more shells there in with my Community tank which has angelfish and, clown loaches Guppies and all types of fish

@khalborg 2 жыл бұрын

Hey Joey, i think this situation highlights the missed opportunity of the public aquarium. You could have rented some of your tanks to research biologists for experimentation and observation purposes. Your question about the impact of environmental parameters on dwellers’ behavior could be someone’s undergraduate thesis.

@danielrichter465 2 жыл бұрын

@serviowilches4784 2 жыл бұрын

I think it would definitely work. Specially since they tend to be close to the shells and they are very good and standing up to fish that are way bigger than them

@danielrichter465 2 жыл бұрын

@redredley5757 2 жыл бұрын

Yes! Make the 2000 a little club scene in the corner. Would be a very interesting experiment!! 💃🏼 🕺

@BossAquatics 2 жыл бұрын

Great information

@rrosario4657 2 жыл бұрын

Definitely put some in the 2000. Would love to see how they adapt.

@joelpritchard7858 2 жыл бұрын

Yes yes definitely put shell dwellers in the 2000 id love to see how they would act because even tho there are other fish there is so much room I think it would totally change things up

@LOUISCLAY01 2 жыл бұрын

I like all the ideas

@TheOfficialSteelReign 2 жыл бұрын

Heck yeah. Try it. It'd be fun to see if they could survive and thrive in a situation like that.

@mclovin2408 2 жыл бұрын

This channel makes me want to get back into aquariums and fish again, I’ve always been interested in them and I’ve had 10-20 gallon tanks in the past I’ve had mostly variety tanks and it was fun to see specifically angel fish grow from tiny to absolutely huge. I need to get back into it the last angel fish I had he would swim back and forth when I entered the room until I left it, if I put my finger on the glass he went nuts it was cool, I don’t care if it was just because he saw me as a food source.

@danielrichter465 2 жыл бұрын

@mclovin2408 2 жыл бұрын

@@danielrichter465 mhm

@apss5736 2 жыл бұрын

Awesome aquarium

@davidpumo5501 2 жыл бұрын

I think the shell dwellers would be a great addition to the 2000! Another little micro world on the bottom of the huge tank above.

@Rose-rx7ly 2 жыл бұрын

Shell dwellers in the 2000 G :D! Im interested to see what would happen :). Also that girls in the club references was priceless xD! ( and seems to be accurate xD! )

@TravisYager 2 жыл бұрын

I agree with the overwhelming response that they are likely intimidated by the larger companions. I have not tried this, but what I have experienced, is a population explosion when I slowed/removed the circulation. Like 12 fish to over 40 fish in just a few months.

@jasontsimnujyang5186 Жыл бұрын

hahaha omg I love your narrative of the fish!!

@TheMKB1978 2 жыл бұрын

Hi Joey ✌🏻 I think that you should, if possible, drop a handfull of shell dwellers in the 2000g and see how the life will expand and the reaction with the community.

@dwaynejackson4841 2 жыл бұрын

Yes you should try it

@Bastizilla 2 жыл бұрын

They either are intimidated by the Frontosa or they have a sex phobia😅. Joke aside, maybe it's because they always see them and that stresses em/ makes them not wanna risk the effort for nothing. Maybe a plant near the shells that blocks the view from the Frontosa helps. So that they don't constantly have a good view on em all day long.

@danielrichter465 2 жыл бұрын

@parrisatkins8776 2 жыл бұрын

Hi Joey. Don't even think about putting shell dwellers in the 2000! Lol. My thoughts on the 180 gal. are that it is not balanced enough. It appears that the habitat for shell dwellers is much less than that for frontosa. Reduce the number of frontosa and increase shell dwellers. Also give a smaller percentage of rock scape, and more sand and shells.

@josiahwright6590 2 жыл бұрын

Thanks for all the amazing content you put out love your energy and your channel and how you never hide the bad and always take us along hope your have a great start to the year keep of fishkeeping

@danielrichter465 2 жыл бұрын

@kzookid2051 2 жыл бұрын

I think shell dwellers in the 2000 would work if they were started out in a sheltered area like next to the rocks on the right side. Also, try building some rock caves around the corner the shellies use in the frontosa tank to give them more visual coverage from the big guys.

@burntsilverado 2 жыл бұрын

I had a 20L of neolamprolongus similis, they were my favorite fish. We had to move 1,000 miles last summer and had to rehome everything. Definitely going to have another tank full of them one day.

@danielrichter465 2 жыл бұрын

@monicatorrez9237 2 жыл бұрын

Heck yeah, that would be interesting.

@b1oh1 2 жыл бұрын

I've been keeping and breeding my shell dwellers for several years. I currently have brevis, multies, similis, and gold oscillatus. Shell dwellers are my favorite species group of fish. First, the female will prep and dig and try to entice males in. Second, there are always shell dweller fry. I am willing to bet it's a combination of the lack of small enough food due to flow, if you're feeding them smaller foods AND the lack of sight breaks. Look at the scape you had in the 125 vs the 180. You have that one open area at the bottom of the slope and that's just not how a typical lake bottom looks. They need lots of line of site breaks and cover. They are an intensely paranoid species group. They probably won't fare any better in the 2000. They thrive the most in species only tanks. I currently have 4 different shell dweller species. If you want them to grow the colony in your current setups, you need to put some large rocks in a group with shells all around and in between. They'll move the shells and do their thing.

@huuua2 2 жыл бұрын

I have my similis BECAUSE of you, and I don't regret it at ALL!

@danielrichter465 2 жыл бұрын

@redredley5757 2 жыл бұрын

Disco time! Yes!!! Put a little club into a corner of the 2000. Would be a great experiment! 💃🏼 🕺

@ricardocaliman2830 2 жыл бұрын

well, at least I figured out what I was doing wrong all those years ago at the clubs..... I needed 3 or 4 houses instead of just one.

@thekingofdiy 2 жыл бұрын

I met my ex at the clubs 😂 so I’m a bit bias

@janicelange2160 2 жыл бұрын

Too funny. They are exactly like you said. I love my Shelly's, most fascinating tank I have.

@Strigae 2 жыл бұрын

😂 Thanks for the club advice. For the Shell dwellers maybe visual plant blocks or stone/rock blocks. I think you should see what happens an go ahead an put Shell dwellers in the 2000, shell's near side or fake roots/tree/branch or plants they wont feel so exposed.

@Everhard86 2 жыл бұрын

Haven't seen your videos in my feed in a couple months. Glad this is the video that did show up. That story was hilarious and it is spot on. That is exactly what the shell dwellers do. I know you are correct with your sexing, so i know that is not the issue. Im honestly at the same conclusion you are at. Perhaps adding more females and shells might show some results. Would love to see some in the 2000 and see what happens.

@Ocerkin 2 жыл бұрын

i am absolutely all for the 2000 being a community tank where you have a few of every fish that can get along without getting eaten by the rest of the tank, i think it would be facinating to see how the various lifestyles coexist in one place. but only if the shelldwellers are unlikely to get eaten

@EliasFishroom 2 жыл бұрын

I think she'll dwellers in the 2000 would be amazing. Especially to see how they would interact to all the tetras and other fish. Then again there is always the chance that you would never see them again. Either way, I say give it a try.

@Edwards-Videos 2 жыл бұрын

I would like to see what happens if you add some to the 2000G - which I also hope you keep as a community tank. I really enjoy the episodes where you show it off. If I had the space to do so, I would do the same thing.

@troyvisserhbhs4069 2 жыл бұрын

I have both Similis and Multies thanks to your original shell dweller video years ago. No on the 2000, as those are very different than fish in their natural habitat. I have only had mine in species only tanks but the Multies breed way faster than my Similis which are way more hostile and the males are have areas of the tank they claim and are definitely not monogamous.

@NumberOneAIArtist 2 жыл бұрын

Yes! I think you will see some action in the 2k gal. They need space to call home and they aren’t getting it in the 120.

@Eisenhornk 2 жыл бұрын

Nice vibe to the video! More nerdy joey! :)

@kathleensauerbrei5199 2 жыл бұрын

Putting them in the 2000 gallon sounds like an awesome idea. Do you have fish at three different levels all different sizes, and a huge community. It would be very very interesting. (And thank goodness I never ever went to clubs. ) 😅😂🤣

@kellyanthony5049 2 жыл бұрын

Fun video. I think adding some would work out fine because there is so much space. In the 180 the predators are always right there.

@danielrichter465 2 жыл бұрын

@UlasAktok 2 жыл бұрын

man I love how this applies so perfectly to our lives

@UlasAktok 2 жыл бұрын

also I dont think shell dwellers would work in the big tank cos it would seem judging from the frontosa tank that they just dont breed when they feel threatened.

@NiX_aKi 2 жыл бұрын

When you started the 120 frontosa-multi tank, the fronts were considerably smaller. They grew together knowing their boundaries and they were fairly comfortable with one another. After putting them in the 180, it was a total reset and everything was new and strange for the multis. They now see the fronts as an existential threat. They may be breeding but the new stress level can make them eat their frys. They're not like guppies who fuck to death when they know they could die tomorrow. (got that from your podcast) lol. Please do not put them in the 2000. You have corys in there. Your male multis will die defending their territory. You also have a big pleco that could such the shells dry.

@EVERYTHINGGUY226 2 жыл бұрын

Nice video buddy

@edspicknupcichlids7506 2 жыл бұрын

I moved about 10 shells and three pairs of multis into an already established 75 gallon with breeding group of albino Julidochromis 4”-5” transcriptus. Within a few months I have about 70 and they are not slowing down. I removed mine from my 50 lowboy colony and they picked up breeding where they left off! Hope yours works out!

@lavonteearley5269 2 жыл бұрын

One of my top 5️⃣ Joey videos 🤣

@adrianchristopherx 2 жыл бұрын

Listen to 'Milkshake by Kelis' on repeat while you watch the Shell dwellers do their thing, I bet you'll love it.

@lalobrit 2 жыл бұрын

Tuxtla Gutiérrez Chiapas México 🇲🇽 Fuerte abrazo espinozo 🌵

@anotherslave3302 2 жыл бұрын

1st thought was extra females ...... and of course more shells in the more sheltered areas (build up that right side a bit?) too

@chriscasey7113 2 жыл бұрын

I would actually add some cyprichomas sp. as a dither fish. Or try a large visual block.

@anoobsplaythrough 2 жыл бұрын

Definitely put some in the 2000 it is will interesting to see the diffrence in the behavior

@christhepow 2 жыл бұрын

LOL, procreation? beautiful tanks. Clubs girls! love it! Wish I had a setup like yours (sometimes...) but love the videos and education you bring to the hobby. Thank you. BTW, creating a pond for cichlids in the Tucson area. I use some of your advice on tanks/ponds for the pond. 2k tank, they may get lost being so small...can you keep them in an area where you can monitor/video them in the 2k tank?