[LittleFrog]

I just got my first Shellies on Sunday, F1 Lamprologus Speciosus! The pictures aren't very good, but here they are. I've got 4, what look to be two males and two females.

 

[F8LBITEva]

I love shellies!! how do you sex them? I have 7 occies and I dont know how to sex them.

 

[LittleFrog]

I don't know exactly, my friend owns a wholesale fish importing business, and he sexed them for me. I know the males are larger, but I don't know if there are other differences as well. They're so cute though. The two males have selected shells at each end of the tank, and the females roam throughout the tank, although they both seem to like shells near the middle. Can't wait until they pair up!

 

[Darkside]

How big are they?

 

[LittleFrog]

The two males are about an inch, the females slightly smaller, maybe about 3/4".

 

[Darkside]

Hopefully you do have 2 pair. Shellies are notoriously difficult to vent and because of specialized mating adaptations size isn't always a reliable indicator! GL!

 

[LittleFrog]

Thanks! At this point, I'm just going by what my friend said, because he is very experienced with cichlids, and by their behavior, lol. I'm really hoping for the 2 pair, but we'll see.

 

[herny]

they are strpasies http://www.cichlid-forum.com/profiles/s ... hp?id=1760

 

[LittleFrog]

Nope, my friend had those for sale too, but these are Lamprologus Speciosus. http://www.cichlid-forum.com/profiles/species.php?id=1759

 

[VT4Me]

Nope, my friend had those for sale too, but these are Lamprologus Speciosus. http://www.cichlid-forum.com/profiles/species.php?id=1759

Agreed.

 

[F8LBITEva]

Occies are so awesome! I see more interesting behavior in an hour than I do in my other tanks for weeks at a time.