My Managerie of Tanks

[CassCats]

Picked up 2 shrimp (sold as amano, but they're not) for the betta tank. They're some sort of caridina species, but exact one no clue. Either way, they're cute. Some neat macro views of them

 

[fishorama]

I've never kept Amano shrimp, so I have no judgement on your "other" kinds. But I love your close-up pics! Very nice

 

[CassCats]

I've never kept Amano shrimp, so I have no judgement on your "other" kinds. But I love your close-up pics! Very nice

I had some shrimpy folks over on discord take a look at them, plus also rang them through inaturalist for their suggestions and all agree on caridina sp. No complaint on my end, they're cute regardless. I may have better luck with them than I ever did with neocaridina. I've done fine with ghost shrimp and bamboo shrimp, but have never been successful with neocaridina despite multiple attempts.

Either way they aren't really "amano", since that's restricted to two species, and caridina is a bit vast. Includes bee, crystal, and tiger shrimp in the group too, plus a plethora of other wild ones that occasionally find their way into the hobby.

for the close ups, I have a macro lens for my phone

I don't really use the other lenses, but I use the macro for all sorts of insect photos and also for fry photos, sometimes I play around with it with the tanks too.

I caught this guy on the ceiling today, I helped him find his way back outside, but had to get a photo of his funny face, using the macro lens. Gave him the name Weevil Overlord and sent him on his way. He's got a funny moose face.

 

[Uberhoust]

Weevils wobble but they don't fall down

 

[CassCats]

Had a heck of a time tracking down some more Megalamphodus sweglesi (red phantoms) for whatever reason. Finally found some online and had them shipped overnight. Well packed, very toasty package despite it being winter in Canada here. I've not ordered from this store before, but it's very clear they know what they're doing as it was very well packed and insulated.

They're wee little babies, but at least now my single jerk nugget can have some of his own kind to hassle, instead of the other fish.

Jerk nugget for tax. He likes to harass the other tetras, he just a lonely boy.

 

[CassCats]

Video of the apisto showing off at food time

 

[CassCats]

Did a big trim on the Paraguay tank

Feeding the tank frozen brine


This paleatum is very torpedo shaped, I think that's what this one should be named.

Mr Apisto

Fun views from above

 

[CassCats]

My favourite tetras, hyphessobrycon elachys, always difficult to photograph up close

Bario forestii, visually identical in many ways to bario sanctaefilomenae (red eye tetra), but differs from slightly smaller size, more reddish tones, a broken incomplete lateral line, and different scale count. I have a mixed group of both species.

And lastly, a nice chonky lady pangio anguillaris

 

[fishorama]

Nice pics as always. Your pangio looks like a loach & a half! Extra long & extra chubby! My female pangios had greenish "tummies". Maybe yours does too in different lighting?

 

[CassCats]

Nice pics as always. Your pangio looks like a loach & a half! Extra long & extra chubby! My female pangios had greenish "tummies". Maybe yours does too in different lighting?

She does, but the lateral line sort of disguises it. Though, their tank has funky lighting because it's got a lot of floating plants at the moment, casts funny light color

 

[CassCats]

I've been struggling, plant wise, for this tank. The swords are not overly happy in it, and every plant I've tried in the center right spot has melted to oblivion and unsure why lol here i am again trying with some stargrass bits from my other tank as a short carpet. If those don't take, perhaps I'll try sagittaria or crypts for the front. At least the hydrocolotyle and vallisneria seem content. Worst scenario I can just add more of those.
Can't wait for this summer to go driftwood foraging--needs some more fresh pieces. Some are getting worn down by the plecos.

Hoplisoma sterbai

Hemigrammus erythrozonus having a yawn

And baby cories (hoplisoma paleatum) in the nursery.

 

[fishorama]

I love your "corys" busy feeding & the 3 shy guys in the back. & gee whiz, is that just a "regular" glowlight tetra?!? Wowza!

Peekaboo Mr Apisto! Looks like a breeding cave to me, why doesn't your female see that? Or does she have a different choice staked out?

 

[CassCats]

I love your "corys" busy feeding & the 3 shy guys in the back. & gee whiz, is that just a "regular" glowlight tetra?!? Wowza!

Peekaboo Mr Apisto! Looks like a breeding cave to me, why doesn't your female see that? Or does she have a different choice staked out?

They both go in it, but separate times. They enjoy it. I have it angled at the glass on the largest end so that the larger fish can't get inside of it. So cories nor plecos cannot go inside of it, leaving it private just for the apistos to enjoy.

And yes, that's one of my glowlights, normal one. Though, I find the males have better crisper marks, the females seem to lose a little bit of the red in a blur on the deeper parts of their body.
Example

 

[CassCats]

Did a big trim on the Paraguay tank

Some growth on the 10g betta tank

Neowise, he's now getting white scales popping up after 5 years. Constant change with this fish

See his changes over the last 5 years

Ugg

Brochis splendens

Chaetostoma formosae

Bamboo shrimp

New red phantoms are sooooo tiny, they're smaller than my ember tetras

 

[CassCats]

Added a touch of tannins, I feel it pops more

A very chonky sausage

Baby cories

A healthy normal baby

The 2 culls I'm keeping
Runt

Balloony

And currently got some fish in quarantine, finally tracked down more trigonopoma! Was supposed to be pauciperforatum, but the store got sent 2 species: trigonopoma pauciperforatum and trigonopoma gracile. So I've got a mix of both, which is okay. My lone trigonopoma pauciperforatum will have friends now!

Trigonopoma gracile, nice neat lateral stripe that continues through the eye strongly, no marks below the lateral line.

Trigonopoma pauciperforatum, weaker lateral stripe with freckles below the line, and a slightly thicker build.

Common names for these guys are "redline rasbora" and "graceful rasbora".



And of course, because I lack impulse control, I walked out with a pair of really nice honey gourami. Haven't had gourami in a few years, been thinking about them again off and on, but these two were just way too nice in store. These two seemed bonded and stuck together in the store, so I chose to buy them.

Some photos of the male

And the female

After a couple hours in the quarantine tank, male made a bubble nest lol

Next post I will post the photos I took at my lfs.