Neolamprologus multifasciatus

[GodFan]

I really like this fish but have never kept a cichlid before! So I need help! This will be a 5 gallon, hence why I needed to pick a small cichlid I have a sand and sea shell substrate (hand collected shells) with rocks to hide in ( some if not all will be replaced with larger hand collected shells. I have pothos vine roots hanging in the tank as well. So suggestions are welcome and needed! Thanks and God bless!

 

[HUKIT]

I would recommend a larger footprint for shellies, I think a 20L works great for a small colony. The most interesting aspect of these fish is their social interaction and structure, with a 5g I'm afraid you'll never experience that. The other issue is the fry would never come close to reaching adults in a smaller space.

 

[GodFan]

Really? Even though they are only an inch long? That stinks..... Does it have to be a 20L? I may be getting a 20 high eventually. Although if I had the money I would get the 60 gallon table sized tank hehe Anywaywould the 20 tall work? and what other tips?

 

[HUKIT]

A 20g works fine as well, but since the fish tend to stay near the bottom there seems to be alot of wasted tank space with a higher tank.

The Petco tank sale is coming soon which would be a great oppurtunity to pick up a new tank for a buck a gallon.

 

[GodFan]

A 20g works fine as well, but since the fish tend to stay near the bottom there seems to be alot of wasted tank space with a higher tank.

The Petco tank sale is coming soon which would be a great oppurtunity to pick up a new tank for a buck a gallon.

Oh dont tell me that! Thats too tempting lol I just wish 20L werent so expensive. 32 bucks for the tank at petsmart. I already have a filter though........ Well I will wait on this fish until I have a larger tank. Any other things I should know before I start?

 

[herp_mommy]

I also recommend a 20L. They'll need a bigger footprint. Also some Tanganyika buffer. And large snail shells work best.

 

[GodFan]

I also recommend a 20L. They'll need a bigger footprint. Also some Tanganyika buffer. And large snail shells work best.

What is Tanganyika buffer? Is it a chemical? So like apple snails right?

 

[herp_mommy]

What is Tanganyika buffer? Is it a chemical? So like apple snails right?

Yep. It keeps the ph the same as their natural habitat. There are great empty snail shell selections online for really cheap. I think I got mine from Naples sea shell company.

 

[jetajockey]

I kept mine in a 15g, they did pretty well but I would have liked a bigger footprint for the colony. They bred but had very few survivors because they were always in each others space.

 

[GodFan]

Is there a natural substitute for the ph?

 

[jetajockey]

crushed coral or aragonite sand.

 

[HUKIT]

You can use crushed coral in a media bag in your filter to maintain the PH. I have never used any kind of cichlid salts or other additives. The other option is a substrate that will buffer the levels.

 

[GodFan]

You can use crushed coral in a media bag in your filter to maintain the PH. I have never used any kind of cichlid salts or other additives. The other option is a substrate that will buffer the levels.

Sweet thats what I was hoping. I have a sand and sea shell substrate but will probably get a bag of crushed coral for the filter (when I get the bigger tank)