A few questions?

[Katchan]

I have a few questions and instead of having questions going in a half dozen different areas and trying to track 'em all I just put them here.

I have just started to stock my new little desktop top tank (36L /9.5 gallons) after having nicely cycled, adding a new fish every day or 2.

1a. Bumblebee gobies - How much salt? I've seen everywhere from brackish to can survive with none but happier with some, needing some good levels please. Also Since this was the one (and probably the most important piece of info) I over looked. One tank that now has one also has cardinals and a bristle nose so salt wouldn't be great for these 2 am I right?

1b. Bumblebee gobies - How many to a tank? mainly is one fine?

2. Bolivian Rams - I have one in my new tank seems happy, eating, no clamped fins, not hiding but its colour is nearly white (it was good in the shop). Lots of hiding space rocks/well planted and tank params are - 0 Nitrite/0ammonia/<5nitrate/7ph. Any thoughts on how to encourge back to colour would help? - also not sure what sex (maybe female because of slight blueish colour where the black spot would be), but would a mate help (I didnt want to over do the small tank)

3. Moonlight Gourami - My wife purchased a moonlight gourami yesturday and I have since realised it maynot be. What I think it is a the White version of the gold/blue/opal gourami strain, as it is translucent white with opaque white markings. Most of the shops around brisbane sell these as moonlights,

http/www.aquahobby.com/gallery/img/moonlight4.jpg

but a few a different version, its slightly different shaped with a completely silver white opaque colouring

http/www.elmersaquarium.com/image_fish/0...i_moonlight.jpg


4. My large angel in my 40gal tank recently passed on , he had never been the same after being really badly fin nipped a little before easter. I have a medium sized one in there but would like to put some more in there with a chance of some pairing, any recomendations on how many to get would be of great help.

5. Chocolate Gouramis - We got 5 for my sons tank when we originally got them, one has passed, but the rest are going great should we worry about getting any more or not bother?


I had others but cant think of them sillyme

Katchan

 

[xanthianacid]

 

[sylvia]

There's a species of bumblebee goby that is freshwater but most sold are brackish. From what I know, brackish fish are quite adaptable when it comes to the salanity but I can't realy be specific on how much salt to put in. However, yes, you should add salt.

Bumblebees are territorial. One to a tank is fine. If not one, a small group is reccomended to devide aggression.

With the ram, are there no signs of an internal infection or parasites? White and stringy poo, bloating etc? A mate might help but bolivians are generaly hardier and more adaptable than german rams and do ok on their own. I would look into what else might be affecting his/her color unless you are sure adding another bolivian wouldn't be over-stocking and unless you are certain this fish has no diseases.

I'm not sure what the confusion is over the gourami - the two images you linked to are both trichogaster microlepis - the moonlight gourami. You can tell for certain if a gourami is this species because, besides the clear silver coloring and tiny scales, they have a very concave forehead area which distinguishes them quite clearly from other trichogaster species.

I'd probably get 3 more angels of a similar size to the one you already have. If the one you ahve is still quite small, get 5 more. Once you get some pairing up, take a few back. How many you have to remove depends largely on your stocking, aquascaping and on the individual fish' characters as they mature.

I personaly would keep a group of 8 as they like being in a bigger group but if the four you have are doing alright, I see no immediate reason to increase the number.