shell dwellers////chiclid question

[abomb]

Hello

i am setting up a 30 gal tank and was wondering if shell dwellers can live with other small chiclids. if not can i run a mbuna tank with 30 gal. i plan on having lots of plant////slate cover. sand substrate. please help. Idealy i would like

some shell dwellers
yellow labs. Bright yellow fish and maybe a bright turqoise fish those blue johanis maybe.

thanks

adam

[Crippldogg]

if you are talking about the african cichlid shell dwellers then yes, you can put them in a 30 gal since most are fairly small cichlids.

Your options will be limited as far as the mbuna. You could do a trio of yellow labs, rusties, or saulosis. I would say around 6 or 7 fish max in a tank that size. Stay away from the johanniis (if you are talking about melanochromis johannii) they are far too aggressive for a tank that size.

[Menagerie]

I will take a much more conservitive approach and say no to Mbuna. You can mix some shellies in with Lake Tang fish. Keep in mind that all of the fish I mentioned like to dig and will uproot plants.