My New Tank

[Behold]

Well i finally have some pics of my fish now. the opalines are so active there as hard as the danio's to photo!!!!

My tank at night....

With my home made cabinet.

my pearls

Female

Male

My Opalines So Feisty!!!

My rather shy (VERY Non Aggressive) RTBS

And 1 of my 2 plecs as one has only just started to come out.

 

[pinkdolphin_113]

gorgeous lookin tank mate just one thing to point out, the second plant from the left isn't an aquatic plant. after a while they start to "shred" if you will and before you know it ya get bits of plants floatin around ya tank. no problem like, i'm sure most of us have made this mistake at some point in our lives lol

 

[Behold]

gorgeous lookin tank mate just one thing to point out, the second plant from the left isn't an aquatic plant. after a while they start to "shred" if you will and before you know it ya get bits of plants floatin around ya tank. no problem like, i'm sure most of us have made this mistake at some point in our lives lol

Thanks for that. I always thought it was a house plant!!! but it seems to be holding up ok. i will keep an eye on it though just incase. my amazon sword started to do this shedding its emerged leaves and made a real mess.

If i find another similar plant i will think of replacing but the gouramis seem to like it!!

Why is it fish shops sell non aquatic plants?? I see posts from many on this....

 

[pinkdolphin_113]

i'm not acctually sure why places sell the plant. i find it's usually petshops which don't acctually specialise in anything that do tend to sell it. i remember once, i bought a similar looking plant, from a pet shop, with red instead of white and i asked the guy if it was aquatic and he just laughed "i haven't got a clue" however my lfs has never sold a non-aquatic plant ever.

also, the reason that your amazon sword had it's leaves "shredded" could have been because the roots weren't completely submerged. i found this happening in my tank and thought my lights were too strong then, realising amazon swords love strong lights, looked for other signs. now my amazon sword is looking healthier than ever i covered the exposed roots with bogwood or java moss lol

 

[bubblesburst80]

love your tank, great pics

xXx

 

[Behold]

i'm not acctually sure why places sell the plant. i find it's usually petshops which don't acctually specialise in anything that do tend to sell it. i remember once, i bought a similar looking plant, from a pet shop, with red instead of white and i asked the guy if it was aquatic and he just laughed "i haven't got a clue" however my lfs has never sold a non-aquatic plant ever.

also, the reason that your amazon sword had it's leaves "shredded" could have been because the roots weren't completely submerged. i found this happening in my tank and thought my lights were too strong then, realising amazon swords love strong lights, looked for other signs. now my amazon sword is looking healthier than ever i covered the exposed roots with bogwood or java moss lol

I read the reason it did it is most amazons are grown out of the water and they have short rounder leaves. these die off and longer ones grow which is exactly what it did. it seems fine now but thanks ill keep that in mind. I do hear many people find amazons grow well in many different lights and conditions and other that can't get theres to thrive....

love your tank, great pics

xXx

Thanks Nice to know me and the wifes hours of moving... removing... moving again was worthi it! were happy and now most are settling in the effort was worth the wait.

 

[ice(kat)]

nice tank goooooood job!!!!

 

[SouthernCross]

Nice tank

I'd just like to add that I think you may actually have two male pearl gouramis.

The dorsal looks too long, and I think I can see the start of fin ray extensions growing on the bottom fin of the one you've labelled female.

Obviously neither of them are mature yet (when they are, they're REALLY distinctive - e.g. see my av - thats my mature male with bright breeding colours - hes with two females - and long finnage and fin ray extensiosn)

Females dorsals are much shorter and rounder on the end, don't grow the extensions, and don't get the brilliant orange throats.

You might be able to tell better when they've grown a bit more - but watch out for these things. Also if you get a lot of aggression, it might be because they're both male. If you figure it out - you're better off getting some real females - your male will produce the nicest colours if you do that

 

[skyhook]

the cabinet you built looks very nice

 

[Behold]

Nice tank

I'd just like to add that I think you may actually have two male pearl gouramis.

The dorsal looks too long, and I think I can see the start of fin ray extensions growing on the bottom fin of the one you've labelled female.

Obviously neither of them are mature yet (when they are, they're REALLY distinctive - e.g. see my av - thats my mature male with bright breeding colours - hes with two females - and long finnage and fin ray extensiosn)

Females dorsals are much shorter and rounder on the end, don't grow the extensions, and don't get the brilliant orange throats.

You might be able to tell better when they've grown a bit more - but watch out for these things. Also if you get a lot of aggression, it might be because they're both male. If you figure it out - you're better off getting some real females - your male will produce the nicest colours if you do that

Ok i feel a little sheepish now!! i feel i have put both the same pearl up!!! here are the pics of each just retaken to remove doubt. I never knew about the fin extension although i did know about the dorsal fin. when we were buying them the guy said it is hard to tell which are which but between us we made the decision. If both are male then yes i will want to change them. Im convinced one is female as she does not seem as colourful. but hey im new to all this!!

What i belive is the female

and which we belive is the Male

Whats the verdict.... (To young to be sure!!!)

Is the same true with opalines about the fin extension? or is it just the dorsal on them? I sure (He says) they are both female... the dorsals are very round and stubby but they are young. either way they seem to either have fun or just like chasing eachother. there SOOOO active and great to watch. also they seem aware of me if i come near and place a finger on the glass the come to it. (I swear the know what a camera is though as the run at the sight of it!!!)

 

[Behold]

the cabinet you built looks very nice

Thanks the tank came with out one so i thought it was a cheaper alternative and now i kinda glad i did it as it looks really good. shocking for me!!!

 

[SouthernCross]

Haha I agree I think in your first post you put two pictures of the male!!

But looking at your second lot of pictures, yes, you do have a girl, the rounded dorsal is quite obvious especially in the first shot.

Glad we could clear that up. I'm sure given a few months your male will grow into a beautiful specimen. I've had mine probably about 6 months, and his fin ray extensions have already grown at least a whole centimetre longer in that time. Stunning fish, mature male pearls.

I don't think opalines get the extensions (I don't own any, its just from what I remember) but the dorsal rule still goes I think.

It's probably good your opalines are females, I hear they (especially males) can get a bit nasty, and pearls being a more peaceful fish they might get picked on. But I hope things go well My gouramis often come to the front to look at me too.

 

[paul_219]

Nice tank. Wonderful looking.

 

[Behold]

Haha I agree I think in your first post you put two pictures of the male!!

But looking at your second lot of pictures, yes, you do have a girl, the rounded dorsal is quite obvious especially in the first shot.

Glad we could clear that up. I'm sure given a few months your male will grow into a beautiful specimen. I've had mine probably about 6 months, and his fin ray extensions have already grown at least a whole centimetre longer in that time. Stunning fish, mature male pearls.

I don't think opalines get the extensions (I don't own any, its just from what I remember) but the dorsal rule still goes I think.

It's probably good your opalines are females, I hear they (especially males) can get a bit nasty, and pearls being a more peaceful fish they might get picked on. But I hope things go well My gouramis often come to the front to look at me too.

We initially got the opalines as no pearls were available an now i love them but the pearls are just spectacular to look at. they all seem to get on infact some times they all do the conga! im hoping in time the pearls will be good for breading but we will wait and see. im tempted in time to get another opaline male but not anytime soon.

Glad to know and have the male female situation confirmed too. thanks. can you put me at ease too are the gills slightly res on your pearls as they are on both of mine but they seem to be ok. thanks.

 

[fearce]

Nice and so effective in putting on a good show with the decor etc you have used