Michigan Cichlid Association

General Category => Old World => Topic started by: kuzco77 on January 01, 2015, 10:43:46 PM

Title: comps and shells.
Post by: kuzco77 on January 01, 2015, 10:43:46 PM

I have 3 larger comps in my tank and they seem to have tanken to my 2 sea shells as their homes.  Issue with this thst i hsve is that i hardly see them.  Should I be concerned about this? Could they end getting stuck in there?

Title: Re: comps and shells.
Post by: eitakppurk on January 01, 2015, 11:31:16 PM

Do you have rocks and caves in there as well? If I were you and it was bothering me, I would just take the shells out when the comps aren't in them and then maybe they'll gravitate more towards the rocks, since they are rock dwellers and all. Or you could get some shell dwellers and I bet they'll kick them out of the shells :)

Title: Re: comps and shells.
Post by: jcunningham0295 on January 02, 2015, 12:59:41 AM

What kind of shells are you using?  I use welk shells and the move in and out of the shells with no problems.

Title: Re: comps and shells.
Post by: kuzco77 on January 02, 2015, 11:11:27 AM

Pics of one of the shells with  the female in it.

Title: Re: comps and shells.
Post by: kuzco77 on January 02, 2015, 11:13:53 AM

Here

Title: Re: comps and shells.
Post by: kuzco77 on January 02, 2015, 11:17:34 AM

And this one

Title: Re: comps and shells.
Post by: cranialdisturbance on January 02, 2015, 12:20:58 PM

That shell will probably be okay.  Josh is correct though, welk shells are the long-preferred type of shell for Compressiceps and Calvus.  I use a mixture of welk and diadema shells for my Altolamps.

Title: Re: comps and shells.
Post by: kuzco77 on January 02, 2015, 06:38:20 PM

Any good way of getting these damned (but awesome) fish safely out of these shells? Ive seen the one male but can't find the other, kinda worried the other male might have chased him in or something and has him wedged deep.  Have not seen him in a few days.

Title: Re: comps and shells.
Post by: kuzco77 on January 02, 2015, 06:41:12 PM

Here is one but cant find the other. 

Title: Re: comps and shells.
Post by: xufan02 on January 03, 2015, 07:53:30 PM

Hey Matt,

I don't think you should be too concerned, they hid a lot when I had them.  However, I would consider adding some fish that might bring them out a bit.  Cyps or paracyps could help.  I had those 6 cyps in my 150 gallon and they helped.  I put shells in with a group of black calvus years ago and that they were gone.  Nope, they were guarding a batch of fry.

Title: Re: comps and shells.
Post by: kuzco77 on January 03, 2015, 11:57:26 PM

Well i destroyed my shells tonight, the one male that was coming out occasionally  is fine.  Found my other in the other shell stuck extremely  deep in the shell.  I could  tell as soon as i pulled  the shell out of the water he was already dead, was already stinking.  He was wedged in so bad that  once i broke enough  shell away  to  reach his tail that i ripped his tail off he was stuck so badly.  Welp that was  and expensive  lesson learned...  :-(