Lost Half My Stock...

mwood2 · Jul 30, 2009

So after coming home from work today I discovered half of my cories to be dead as well as an Oto. The tank has been at a constant 95F for this week and looks to stay that way until Monday. I have no fans and no blankets to deflect heat and I dont have money to cool it down. I cant do anything but toss ice in every once in awhile but due to work I am gone half the day. I dont plan to re stock until after the heatwave is over and I plan to better prepare for next time too. As of right now I have lost 5 of my 6 Cory and the last one is on its final leg, the 2 upside down catfish that went missing months ago are no floating around and only 1 of my Bloodfins seems to be loosing color. Besides that my BN, ADF, Oto and Molly seem to be fine for the time being.

My guess is that after this ordeal I will have the below stocking.

10 Gallon:
5 oto
1 Molly

30 Gallon:
3 Molly
5 Bloodfin
1 BN
1 ADF

This leaves me with lots of extra room so what should I do? I am thinking loach this time but cant decide between yoyo, Burmise Border, Coolie or Zebra. I also have access to Kribs now which I have been interested in for awhile now. Anyone have any other suggestions?

Curiosity101 · Jul 30, 2009

I know you may have already had this thought but just incase you haven't.

Have you thought of restocking with fish that appreciate + can handle higher temps. Just incase you ever do have a heatwave again. And for example are on holiday, or for some reason can't cool the tank down.
If you like the idea then I can come up with a few suggestions?

mwood2 · Jul 30, 2009

Those would be great for suggestion. I am open to anything pretty much and am just looking for ideas. I kinda want to step up from basic tropical but dont have a whole lot of room since I only have a 10 and 30 and must work with renaming stock.

meguro · Jul 30, 2009

Most loaches, gourami, rams, kribs and some barbs and tetras can take high temperature. So the stocking you were looking at already is probably a good direction.

glolite · Jul 30, 2009

Looks like you've got help with restocking ideas but for future heatwaves, try freezing a 2 litre bottle of tapwater, then stand it in the tank. If you have 2 bottles on the go, 1 in the freezer and one in the tank you can alternate. Keep an eye that the temperature doesn't drop too much though.

mwood2 · Jul 30, 2009

How would this do perhaps:

2 Molly (move 1 into the 10 gallon)
6 Blood Fin Tetras
6 Rio Flame Tetras
2 Kribs
5 Loach of choosing (leaning twords Burmese Border but have heard bad things about them).

Still room left or am I looking socked at that point. Oh and at this point instead of Rio Flame tetras would Tiger/Green Barbs work if kept in a big enough group?

meguro · Jul 30, 2009

What did you hear about botia kubotai? There's nothing in the tank the barbs would destroy anyway. And I'd say you'd be pretty much stocked yes.

mwood2 · Jul 30, 2009

How would this do perhaps:

2 Molly (move 1 into the 10 gallon)
6 Blood Fin Tetras
6 Rio Flame Tetras
2 Kribs
5 Loach of choosing (leaning twords Burmese Border but have heard bad things about them).

Still room left or am I looking socked at that point. Oh and at this point instead of Rio Flame tetras would Tiger/Green Barbs work if kept in a big enough group?