Neolamprologus multifasciatus

[ncutler]

Hey guys, I've just been rather curious about my multies behaviour. I had my multies in a 15G with 6 Adults (3M/3F). I had a water accident where about 10G was siphoned onto the floor, I noticed after that, some of the fry appeared to be chased by multiple adults. I thought they were chasing them into the shell for protection, but after a few days I noticed another batch of fry had shown up and the mom was now casting the older fry out, chasing them away.

When I moved them over to my 56G, I noticed similar behaviour, I had moved the shells into a container so the shells never left the water, but it appeared that the "trauma" caused the adults to begin chasing the fry again. It seems to have quietened down now, I noticed that some fry seem to have found their mom again, but the odd fry is still chased away.

Just curious if others have noticed this behaviour of chasing fry and what it's purpose is?

[fish head]

here's my guess:  when times are unsettling (water loss) fish don't want to raise babies, but will eat them to make it thru the drought.  When there is a big rain fall (filling tank, changing to larger tank) fish want to raise babies and might need to eat outcasts to make room for new fry.

Multies are generally very tolerant, but maybe w/ your big changes, they are thrown off a bit.  I bet they'll settle in soon.

[ncutler]

Thanks!

Here's another behaviour question:

Females head down 45 degrees scanning between shells. I noticed most of my females doing this behaviour. Occassionally they will dash towards a fry, but they leave other fry alone. What does this mean? It seems like their looking for intruders (snails, other species fry? etc?)

[twistedfisher]

mine do that all the time i think they are "checking" on the kids

[keith1964]

I had purchased a colony of multies with their older fry about a month ago. Some of the fry found their parents during this unsettling but the others are just swimming around in the area in groups. Mine comprises of 5 females & 7 males not sure if 1of the males could be a female stays with the male that has 2 females in his group. I have 3 males without females.  I am quite amazed by these little fish to settle in so fast that all 5 females has already fry inside there shells already, so it took them just a week or two to settle in and now they are having orggy parties all my females looks pregnant again. Their fry are now becoming visible during feeding time.  Their older fry are also taking up caring responsibilities. I have them inside a 117cm x 60cm x 50cm tank that holds about 386litres of water.  I do weekly water changes.  I also have a pair inside my community tanganyikan tank have not seen any fry but I am sure there might be as they had re-arranged the shells in such away that intruders cannot distrub them.  The pair is extremely protective over this area and does chase off any thing that dare comes in this area. Thanks keith

[fish head]

very cool multies you have there!  thanks for sharing your account

post pics if you can!  welcome to shelldwellers!!

[EvolutionZ]

hi guys, i have recently set up a mutlies 6g tank. housing 3 adults 1 m 2 F.

 ignore the floating box, it houses the yellow rabbit snail who messed up my entire scape.


the adult male multies.

female.

another female


they have becomed very daring, hand put inside also wont hide into shell.. but after rescaping, they became slightly more skittish.. i guess few more days they will be back to normal..

[fish head]

that's a nice looking multi tank you have there!  I like the oyster shells?  and that big rock!  thanks for posting

[EvolutionZ]

that's a nice looking multi tank you have there!  I like the oyster shells?  and that big rock!  thanks for posting

thanks! thats not a rock though.. those are all oyster shells.

[fish head]

oyster shells.... look great!  They're thin and don't take up much water space.  They're organic looking.  Good idea!

[ncutler]

Not to mention their water buffering ability (especially crushed Oyster shells)

[EvolutionZ]

yup, u guys are right.. thats why i chose the oyster shells.

[renjie123456]

Excellent list! I've learned more from this forum in about 2 days than I have at any other forum community.