**POST SHELL DWELLER TANKS HERE**
- Thread starter onlikedonkeykong17
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Pittbull@MFK;2731974; said:
Seems like many since there are not only standard and dwarf forms but each locale seems to vary in pattern as well - giving way to a number of geographical variants unlike a species such as Neolamprologus furcifer of which there are only two geographical variants (a northern race and a southern) or Benthochromis tricoti who have a lakewide distribution and no geographical variation.
20gal long for future Neolamprologus Meleagris shell dweller.. 
Matt724;2737184; said:
African Rift Lake cichlids are strictly FW. Many people confuse their naturally hard water for brackish water.
I agree a lot of folk mix up the water requirements because of the hardness most rift cichlids will do fine with a hardness of 200 to 400ppm GH and a PH of 7.6 up to 9.0 Tanganyika's being at the higher range
Cool, now how rare are they? Will my local lfs have them probably? If not, where should I get them? And if they are in my lfs "supposedly" if there are no shells, then how will I know it is what they say it is and not just some other look alike cichlid or something?
If your seriously interested in shellies, do your research before buying as this will also help you recognize the fish you are interested in. As for the fish, some are rarer than others,just as they're aggresion levels are different. You may be able to find them at a lfs, but probably not at any chain stores. Check out the internet and buy fish from reputable dealers. Anyone in these forums can help you out with that. But,please, do your research and set your aquarium up to their needs before you buy your fish.
Yeah I will, but right now I'm deciding between refitting my entire tank for shellies or dwarf cichlids. Its only a 15 so it wouldn't be much of a problem, maybe a day or two of work and a chunk load out of my savings, so I wan't to know as much as I can.
Plus i'm probably the most indecisive person in the world when it comes to choosing things about fish
Plus i'm probably the most indecisive person in the world when it comes to choosing things about fish