Caudo Punks and Multies

[ShellerDweller]

Has anyone kept Caudo Punks and Multies in the same tank?  If given enough room and plenty of shells, can they co-habitate?

[kiriyama]

I had 1 punk with 6 multis, 80cm long tank, tons of shells, even had clam shells for punk to burrow under, had rocks as bounary etc and most multi area at one side of the tank (amongst many other "arrangments"), ok for a few months then the punk going the whole lenght of the tank to bully multis, after a few days they were all herded into the top corner at back of tank, gave him away, multis instantly relaxed and explre whole tank now, just my only experience, may not all be the same, hope this helps....

[Sean]

I've done it before and it worked out well. What size tank were you thinking?
a 30" or a 36" would be good. I did mine in a 24" though. It is a little tight for space if you want to do it in a 24"

[ShellerDweller]

I was thinking of trying it in a twenty gallon long.  I already have 3 multies(2 males and 1 female) and the female has already spawned.  I have the tree in a ten gallon want to move them out when I get several more females.

[Alleycat]

I've read and been told, to never keep different species of shellies in a tank together. I keep mine separated and life has been fine. But recently I received a few free outcast multies, and I added them to a grow out tank I have with several assorted Tangs, and a trio of Gephyrochromis moorii (mbuna) that are only here for another month. In the tank I have a very young pair of caudos as well ... It's been 3 weeks, and I have  the caudos spawning in a shell, in one end, (no fry yet) and the multies have claimed some territory with shells at the other end. The tank is 48" long 18" wide. Fry survival isn't likely as I have a host of young Buescheri, and Kendalli eyeing anything that moves.
So far I've broken a couple rules and I seem to be getting away with it.
 

[fish head]

hey Alleycat, rules were meant to be bent....and if you're keeping an eye open for problems and you have more tanks around to move fish, just in case, I say GREAT!  I love watching different species trying to rule the world.  And if it gets too lopsided, I intervene.

I don't like to mix them in small tanks, though, because the take-over time line is too short.

Congrats on an exciting discovery!  thanks for sharing your account.

[Sean]

Well, caudopunctatus arent really shelldwellers which is why I mix them in the first place. Their rockdwellers who like to use shells more often because their a little smaller. Around 2.5".
I dont think i've ever seen a caudopunctatus/ shellie hybrid before.

[fish head]

maybe that explains why mine don't really go near the shells unless my hand is near... they hang near rocks in open water (3 females)

Thanks!