This has to stop!!

[Menagerie]

My fiancé and I are up to six tanks.
Why?
Last month we bought two N. brichardi and put them in the community tank. They didn’t belong there, but I was listening to my fiancé instead of researching . Then I fell for shellies and we decided to do a Tang biotope. After purchasing the N. multifasciatus and putting them in the 29 [acronym:c30bb5086a="Gallon"]gal[/acronym:c30bb5086a] with the brichardi, problems arose. The brichardi were very interested in their new tank mates and the shellies would swim around will-nilly and NOT hide in their shells. There were two shells per shellie, but these fish were more interested in being nipped by the getting-meaner-by-the-minute brichardi. If only the shellies would turn to the brichardi and tell them [acronym:c30bb5086a="You are a jerk!! PLEASE GO AWAY!!!"]URAJRKPLSGOAWAY[/acronym:c30bb5086a], my problem would have been solved! Not only that, one shellie took up residency on the sponge covering the filter intake (no shells up there) and one decided to live below the filter intake (again—no shells!). We put in a tank divider and hit the books. Nowhere does it say shellies will lose their minds and not hide in their shells when being chased . However, I did discover that if brichardi were mating, they would take over an entire tank. Hmmmm. How did I get so lucky (these fish were picked randomly from a larger group and there is no sexual dimorphism)? I do not keep fish so they can make babies (except the Mollies, but that is a food source and they are not territorial; heck--they haven't even lived up to their end of the bargain yet!)!!! I’m not 100% sure the brichardi are an item, but they are awfully close and do everything together.
I spent all evening moving fish around. My tanks went from:

80 Gallon Mbuna Cichlid Tank (and one confused Blue Acara)
50 Gallon Community Tank
29 Gallon Lake Tanganyika biotope
20 [acronym:c30bb5086a="Gallon"]gal[/acronym:c30bb5086a] BW Tank (not yet)
10 Gallon Badis badis Hex Tank (with a lone Badis)

to the way they are listed in my sig.

Someone hit me if I ever listen to my fiancé’s advice about fish in the future ([acronym:c30bb5086a="For your info"]FYI[/acronym:c30bb5086a]--he got me into this hobby :P ).

[fishfreek]

You are a FINatic for sure.

[TankGirl]

This is what I was worried about. I had proposed the same configuration in my 44, "assuming" that the N. Brichardi would inhabit the extensive rockwork I have, and the N. multifasciatus would inhabit the dozens of shells strewn about on the sand. I was told that both of these fish get extremely territorial and disaster might ensue, but I could try it.

Well, my shellies never materialized and the Brichardi are all over the tank, spitting sand around and inspecting the shells, as well as hanging out in the rocks. I got 5 individuals and it appears that I have 2 couples, because there is a lone (female, I think) who hangs out at the filter spray bar. Every once in a while someone will cruise by and give her a quick nip. I do mean quick!! They are extremely fast and nippy, so she is going to have to be relocated when I figure out what to do with her, since she obviously does not fit in.

I am very interested in your story because I was still prepared to try it, and now I think I will not!

Good luck, and I do think your shellies will be perfectly happy in the 10, as long as you don't have too many males. I will bet you if your pair of Brichardi are indeed a pair, you will wind up with babies - they are not quite convicts, but pretty close!

[Christmasfish]

Preaching to choir sistah!


But I have cantankerous labyrinth fish as my major population. So It's to be expected.
With me , and the two kids..I lose track of tank count sometimes....

[Madame_X]

Originally Posted by Menagerie

My fiancé and I are up to six tanks.
Why?
Last month we bought two N. brichardi and put them in the community tank. They didn’t belong there, but I was listening to my fiancé instead of researching .

Boy, does THAT story sound familiar!

"But honey, the tank says that these puffers do fine in a community tank!"

Then came the 29 gallon tank to move the puffer into (since it turns out he DIDN'T do so great in a community tank)... and we're looking at tankmates for the puffer.

"But honey, the guy over there said these brichardis would do fine with the puffer!"

Then comes the 55 gallon cichlid tank (since it turns out the brichardis picked on the puffer relentlessly)...

I feel your pain Menagerie!

[Menagerie]

I will bet you if your pair of Brichardi are indeed a pair, you will wind up with babies - they are not quite convicts, but pretty close!

Just what I need I was at an aquarium auction yesterday and there was a TON of brichardi juvies. I can't stomach it, but I may have to get my fiancé to feed the fry to the Mbuna. Speaking of Mbuna--the Socolofi is gravid AGAIN and displaying to anyone who will look in her direction. It appeared she was displaying to the catfish at one point last night. Last time she lost her eggs (but Jack Dempsey was in there--I believe she swallowed them due to stress). We shall see what happens this time around.

I feel your pain Menagerie!

Thanks!

[stoneydee]

[acronym:9329313772="Malaysian Trumpet Snails or Multiple Tank Syndrome, depending on context"]MTS[/acronym:9329313772], ain't it grand? I keep on "collecting" 10 gallon tanks, because I constantly rescue bettas, and can't stand "the bowl." I subdivide them and put two unhappy male bettas from where ever in them. . .

[Christmasfish]

Another tank...daughter got a 18 tall for the discus [acronym:1fb160efd4="quarantine or quart depending on context"]QT[/acronym:1fb160efd4] figured he'd be cramed in a 10) Heh! and of courese Mr Cookie is another fish. And discus like compnay..and another size tank is needed for that...
And I get nmny promised pugs soon

[Menagerie]

Hmmmm, what happened to heal and sale?

[Devilishturtles]

[acronym:9495b350f9="Laughing out loud"]LOL[/acronym:9495b350f9], christmasfish, so your going to keep the discus afterall?? Way to go!

If I was out of college and still didn't live in mom and dad's house, where I have to ask their permission to buy a new tank, I would have too many! As it is now, if I want any, they have to be in my room. I can't talk them in to letting me put one in the foyer, or in the living room, that would be cool! No...instead my bedroom looks like the [acronym:9495b350f9="Local Fish Store"]lfs[/acronym:9495b350f9]