Compatibility of neolamprologus cylindricus

[floriks]

I'm almost ready to start stocking my tank now. Originally, I was set on a julidochromis tank, but after digging deeper, I found that juli pairs tend to break up easily. I don't want my pairs to fight once I move out of my parents' house. So, I'm switching to neolamprologus brichardi as my main rock dweller.

My current stock plan is:
6 neolamprologus brichardi
6 neolamprologus multifasciatus
1 altolamprologus calvus
6 cyprichromis leptosoma

That being said, I've come across some solitary neolamprologus species that resemble julidochromis, like neolamprologus cylindricus and neolamprologus leptosoma. There's also neolamprologus beuscheri, but it seems pretty hard to find. I'm thinking of swapping the calvus for one of these fish that look similar to juli, but can thrive alone. My main concern is temperament - brichardi are pretty chill, and multifasciatus are on the smaller side.

I'd appreciate any info or suggestions you guys might have. My tank is 48"x12"x18".

[oakleyride]

Cylindricus and leptosoma seem to be okay, temperament-wise. Beuscheri, on the other hand, is a whole different story - I've heard they're pretty aggressive.

[floriks]

Cylindricus and leptosoma seem to be okay, temperament-wise. Beuscheri, on the other hand, is a whole different story - I've heard they're pretty aggressive.

I'm still a bit concerned about the size difference, but I've been thinking about the cylindricus and I'm wondering, would they really leave the multifasciatus alone? I mean, I know they're not as territorial as some other species, but I'm not sure I want to take the risk.

I did some more research and came across the neolamprologus speciosus - have you had any experience with these guys? I've heard they can be a bit feisty, similar to ocellatus, but I'm not sure if that's true. Would they be a good fit for my tank, or should I stick with one of the other options?

[oakleyride]

I've had decent luck with L. cylindricus, they seem to ignore anything that doesn't look like a threat. Never kept speciosus before, so can't comment on that one. Caudopunctatus is a solid shell dweller option though, less common than the multies but with way better color in my opinion.

[floriks]

Cylindricus and leptosoma seem to be okay, temperament-wise. Beuscheri, on the other hand, is a whole different story - I've heard they're pretty aggressive.

I've had a look at caudopunctatus online and from what I've gathered, they seem to be shell spawners but spend most of their time among the rocks, which I think could work well in my tank. I've always been drawn to ocellatus due to their appearance, but their aggressive nature towards each other has put me off. I'm exploring some alternatives that resemble ocellatus, such as speciosus, but otherwise I'm quite pleased with what I've learned about multifasciatus so far.

[oakleyride]

I've got a soft spot for multies, they're pretty chill compared to a lot of other shell dwellers.

[floriks]

I've got a concern that's been bugging me - either the calvus or cylindricus might see the female multis as a snack when they're fully grown, given their mouth size. Both species have pretty substantial mouths, which has me worried. Is this something I should be concerned about?

[flinta]

I think you're fine with the julie pair idea being scrapped, but as an alternative, using brichardi as your main rock dweller might not be the best choice - they can be quite aggressive and may take over the tank, causing problems for your other fish.

I'd also advise against the cylindricus and beuscheri due to their size and aggression - it might not be the best mix with your multifasciatus.

As for alternatives, I think you might be thinking of lelupie instead of speciosus - they can be a bit hit or miss in terms of temperament, but a single one might work out alright in your tank.

[floriks]

I've been reading that juli pairs tend to break up easily when their environment changes, like during tank rearrangements or large water changes. Not sure if it's just a myth, but I don't want to risk it, especially since I've been moving around a lot lately.

And yeah, I meant leleupi, thanks for correcting me.

[flinta]

Your calvus will take ages to grow, so the multis should be safe for a pretty long time.