Who Felt Like Doing A Rescape? I Did!

[Jenste]

Was doing a waterchange on my 72 G bowfront, when I decided that it needed a make over --
it houses my 10 acf (8 x. laevis and 2 x. borealis) and 2 goldfish (1 fantail, 1 common)

what do you think?

BEFORE:

AFTER:

left side:

right side:

more pictures of the new scape:

 

[bae1994]

wow way better now well done

 

[Jenste]

thank you!

I would love to add more live plants besides all the floating water wisteria and a couple banana plants... but want to keep it very low maintenance and the plants need to be sturdy to survive the goldfish nibbling and the frogs kicking.

I was considering giant val and twisted val - - any one with experience?

 

[Carlovel1]

Very nice tank, personally, I'd hate to be redecorating a coldwater tank, my arm will probably fall off lol its a nightmare.

 

[Jenste]

lol its not too bad - - i did it in the middle of the water change so I only have to have my arm half submersed lol.

its not terribly cold...its about 68-70 because the fall has been fairly mild over here. I like it around there because it keeps the frogs from breeding on their own - I stimulate them to breed by putting them in cooler water it mimics their rainy season.


I am quite pleased with how it came out - - I was trying to make it uneven so it was more natural

 

[Biulu]

It looks very nice, but aren't you afraid your goldfish will eat everything? I have good experiences with sags, valls and goldfish. They don't seem to like it that much. It are especially the softer stemplants like the bacopa and the like that they eat.

 

[Jenste]

actually, the only live plants in there is the floating water wisteria and a banana plant. everything else is silk.

I have a post in the planted section asking for recommendations for very low maintenance and hardy plants that could put up with goldfish nibbling and frog kicking

 

[InsaneHOH]

Very nice tank, personally, I'd hate to be redecorating a coldwater tank, my arm will probably fall off lol its a nightmare.

Nice tank and frogs btw!

what are the frogs like to keep? Do they have much character? I love the way there is 2 just sitting there in the first "more pictures of the new scape" photo:
Looks like there both posing for the pic

 

[Jenste]

out of all the species I have kept, I find ACF to have the most personality.

I always keep three sides of the tank covered (back and both sides)- this keeps them very inquisitive to the ongoings at the front of the tank

in that picture, my young albino male Louie is on the left (you may have seen a post about him having a fight with a snail!) and my natural marbled adult male Phantom is on the right (the daddy of both batches of tadpoles I have had)

they were a little mad at me during the rescape but seem to have really enjoyed exploring their "new" surroundings!

I would recommend an ACF to anyone with a spare 10 gallon tank...but keep a 20 gallon long on hand, because once you get one you want more!!! (and a 20 gallon long can have three ) they also quickly learn that hands are not scary - love to eat from their owners hands (they have no teeth so can't hurt) and they LOVE having their sides and bellies rubbed. They become very trusting and will sit on your palm for a few seconds (under the water or just at the surface).

 

[bae1994]

wait so acf are cold water awsome

 

[InsaneHOH]

Lovin Louie!! Check those web feet

Thanx for the info! will have a spare 60L tank shortly when i pick up my new tank, Would that be to small for these guys, They look like they grow pretty big.
Been thinking about something different for the tank, will have 2 tropical tanks and was looking for something new and different for this one,

Also lovin the though of them sitting on your hands etc, Way cool!


Thanx
Ben

 

[Jenste]

60 liters is fine (works out to be about 15-16 gallons)

depending on the dimensions - length is more important than height because they are primarily bottom dwellers - you may be able to have two if it is long enough!

males grow up to 4" and females up to 6"


**I do not consider this a straight coldwater...more of a "sub" tropical - -usually about 68*.

ACF do well in anything from low 60s-high 70s F

here are a few "hand pics"


Phantom when he was a little younger -

Boris -

Cyclone

Magellan

And last but not least...
Aurora

these are less than half of my frogs, but I thought I would show you a variety of colorations

 

[InsaneHOH]

wow thanx for the pics! they look so cool. guessing they stay completely under water, apart from coming up for air "how long is that btw"
plus they don't need a ledge to sit on out of water?

my tanks a juwel rekord 60.. about 2ft long




Also are they big eaters, waster producers? is it a case of lots of water changes? not that its a issue. i do all my tanks once a week anyway

P.s lovin that you named them. All? how many it total? and you remember all! lol

 

[Jenste]

they do always need access to air - - during the night while resting, they come up a couple times an hour. during the day while active, they will go up about 4-5 times an hour.

they never leave the water and do not need a ledge.

they are little pigs and fairly messy. nothing a partial weekly water change and a filter can't handle however.

and yes, all have names and even the fiance has learned how to tell who is who

natural marbleds - Phantom (m) and Jade (f)
albinos - Kirby (f), Phoenix (f), Louie (m) and Andre (m)
reticulated albinos - Magellan (m) and Lola (f)
piebald - Cyclone (m)
borealis - Aurora (f) and Boris (m)
tropicalis - Amelia (f)


all in all, right now I have 12 ACF... 10 in the 72 gallon and the other 2 are in 10 Gs.
always on the hunt for more

two feet long would be ok for two.

 

[InsaneHOH]

Hey again,. thanx for all the info, It certainly has got me intrigued about keeping them myself,
i was being nosey and see your in US. I would take a guess them sell them in the UK, Just never seen any before, and i have about 7 LFS near me, maybe i'm just not looking out for them?

Also i noticed your Breeding Acf Diary and the youtube clip of the mating call! Awesome!!
Was gonna ask about to they make any noise! Do they do that underwater, Or are there heads poking out above water, Can you hear that easily around your house,
Must make you feel like your in the amazon of something lol