Guess What I Got Today

[Akasha72]

I'll replace the oto at a later date (as you said in an earlier post there's nothing for them to eat right now so it's a longer term plan)... now there's a bigger tank I'm going to end up with more algae so I may be able to get a couple more eventually. I want to sort out the cory problem first and get a couple of peppered first - they had dwarf peppered at the lfs last week but I wasn't sure if they were the same so I left it. I'll get another bronze too later.

I keep looking at the tank as it is now and thinking what would look better and where. I think by the weekend, when I do my w/c and move the fry in, I'll have decided where I finally want everything.

I'm still classing it as an on-going project so there will be more pictures to come!!

 

[pablothebetta]

That tank looks fab
If you don't mind me asking, what are those green plants in the tank? Are they real? I'm looking for similar looking plants mself as I'm thinking of re-decorating my 28L

 

[Akasha72]

Hi pablo, the plants are all real and are amazon sword (the broad leafed ones either side and one in the middle) there's also twisted vallis (that's the thin leaved ones) and a couple of crypts. There's also a java fern freshly attached to the bogwood

Hope that helps

Thanks, it's good to know people like what I'm doing with it. I'm still to add a few more plants and have a play around a bit more so I'll post more pictures as I go

 

[pablothebetta]

Thankyou very much just wondering, do the swords need fairly deep substrate? Mine is only around 2cm, would I need to increase the depth (I have sand)? I hear they grow pretty big, though, possibly too big for my 28L, would trimming the plant/s help to keep a more apropriate size?

Looking forward to more pics

 

[soybean]

Pablo, swords do put out a lot of far reaching roots and you'll probably need a bit more than 2cm.

 

[pablothebetta]

That pretty much confirms what I was thinking, thankyou soybean. Would the roots probably extend pretty far across the tank, too? Aka, would the root system be too big for the tank? It hasn't got a very large area and I wouldn't want to end up ripping up the rest of the plants if I wanted to remove it or anything...

Aside from that, any ideas for what other plants you might like, ashaka?

 

[Akasha72]

Hi again pablo, I want some more twisted vallis dotted around. I like the way my fish move through it. I may also be tempted by another java fern but I want to see what happens with the one first. The problem I have is the fish eating the plants so a few plants don't work with my fish - cabomba being the top of the no-no list. I also like the idea of something short and grassy-like at the front. I know there is such a plant but I've not been able to find it in my area yet - also a little worried that doing that would decrease the room that my cory's need to move around. The main reason for getting this bigger tank was to give them more space.


Today's update:

The cory's have moved into the cave like hole in the bogwood and ignored the cave that I made them from a couple of stones! The Oto's seem to have got fed up of courgette and appear to looking for their stable diet of algea which is in short supply in a new tank. Planning on leaving the lights on a little too long today in the hope it might kick start some algae growth for them.

Tuxedo platies tail hasn't decreased anymore so I'm guessing she's had a telling off from someone and I'm hoping it will grow back in time.

They're very hungry this morning. They've had a little flake, fought over catfish pellets and are now fighting over a bit of algae wafer (put in in the hope oto's may try it but not interested at all)

I'm so desperate now to get the babies in and I'm having to be patient - last dose of protozin goes in tomorrow then water change then babies can go fight it out for food in the big wide world (I told them this morning they'd have to be quicker on the uptake if they were going to survive from next week onwards!)

 

[snake007]

I read this from top to bottom, well done on the new tank!
Its looking great!

 

[Akasha72]

thanks snake!

 

[Akasha72]

It's looking like I may have to replace more than one oto ... remaining two are both looking very thin. One seems to be on the perminant hunt for food and it's breaking my heart. There's courgette in there but they appear to have gone off it now ... I don't know what more I can do for them

 

[soybean]

I really don't think they're suitable for your tank, it's just not established enough. I'd let it run for months and months before adding any more, if you really want more.

And they're always on the hunt for food, all fish are!

 

[Akasha72]

They're both looking thin and weak. I've just put a couple of mushed up peas in, a pinch of spinach, a small bit of blanched brocolli stalk and a fresh piece of courgette in the hope they'll eat something. I'm gonna have a mess in the morning to clean up .. plus possibly two dead bodies

They were doing great in the old tank as there was loads of algea. I only ever wiped the inside of the front piece of glass and left the other sides for them to eat off. Now that supply of food has gone and they're suffering.

If I lose them (which I think I will) I'm not getting anymore until I see algae growth in abundence. I like the little oto's but I'm not getting anymore to die of hunger

 

[Cazgar]

Sorry you're having such problems with your Oto's.
Mine seem to be doing fine so far.
They love the beans & the broccoli stalks, & the courgette.
I do have quite a bit if wood in my tank that they seem to spend a lot of time on too, plus the plants.
I know they seem to be quite fragile in the early days, so don't lose hope

 

[Akasha72]

thanks Cazgar, the good new is I've woken up to no dead bodies and both oto's appear happy. One was on the courgette and his belly looked a bit more rounded than it did yesterday. I'm planning to have some veggies myself for tea so I'll see if I can get some beans from the shop today.
I'm just desperately trying to keep them alive until I can get some algae build up for them. I had the lights on nearly all day yesterday!

 

[Akasha72]

guess what I got today ...

A new boy

He's not as pretty as the old boy but he's settled in well and introduced himself to the girls already!

Made HUGE mistake today though aswell. I put just 3 of the babies in ... I'm now trying to rescue them. I've just had one in a corner with a guppy trying to eat it alive

I feel awful