Procrypsis

😜

FYI. Nothing is illegal until the wrong individuals are informed. ㊙️

Rasboras can get lost in big tanks - unless you have a larger "school". The 60 has ~ 30 chili's and exclamation points (along with 2 frog plecos and several otocinclus) and I like to see all of the activity. The 20L's have ~ 10 axelrodi and ~10 spotted - and yes, they are much more visible in the smaller tanks. The Neo shrimp have bred to the point in the 60 that I have to cull every few motnths just to manage the population. They out compete the pleco's for food if the numbers are too great. Rasboras feed on just about anything flake (Tetra and Sera) or small pellet (guppy food). I also supplement with BBS ~ once/week.

+1 on the Rasboras - I have Chili, Spotted, Exlamation point, Blue Axelrodi and Green Kubotai co-habitating with Tiger shrimp Caridina mariae and Neocaridina sp. They may go after tiny shrimp, but I have not witnessed that in my tanks. The shrimp are thriving and reproducing. My groups consist of ~10 individuals of each species of Rasbora. They are not all in the same tank - multiple 20L, 1@ 60 and 1@ 75 gallons. Otocinclus and other dwarf plecos are safe as well. No issues observed. Guppies hunt and eat tiny shrimp and harass adults - found that out the hard way. My suggestions - give the shrimp a lot of cover - plants, rocks, wood (I like cholla) + larger sized substrate helps give the babies hidey holes.

Rethink your bristlenose pleco for cleaning glass. If that is all it has to eat, it will starve as they do not feed on algae for the most part. There are better options such as otocinclus for glass cleaning. Having cichlids in the tank does limit your options, though.

+1 on the bell pepper approach. Pea Puffers also work very well. If you are deperate to wipe them all out, use "No Planaria". Dosen't work on eggs, so you will need to hit it multiple times to get the desired results.

Attempt after lights go out. Shine a bright flashlight on the fish and use 2 nets. I also place a net in the tank and leave it - they get used to it being there and are not as skittish when the time arrives. Works great for me!

Welcome to the forum, neighbor! Butler county here.

I've poured boiling water over very large pieces. It does help get rid of some of the nasties and clean the wood.

Cycle your tanks at least 4 weeks for best results. Check you water quality before adding to tank. If your fish are looking/acting odd/sick/dead, do a water change immediatly. Verify your tank mate compatibilty through research, not through taking chances. Ask questions, lots and lots of questions. Join your local fish/aqua club.

For the most part as I beleive you are looking at the highly colorful, very delicate species: no no and - no My experiences: pH 6.5 and above = deaths pH 6.0 to 6.5 and 150-200 um - they will live, but not thrive pH 4.5 to 5.5 100-150 um - will live and thrive To be sucessful: #1 is stable water quality within the desired range - cannot stress that enough. Buy an RO system and remineralize. Alternative - use rainwater and pray. #2 - DO NOT overfeed - remove uneaten food within a few hours of feeding. If you don't = dead shrimp. #3 - regular water changes are a must, if you don't = dead shrimp. Regular = weekly or bi-weekly. Longer than that = dead shrimp.

FYI - You may have issues with guppies feeding on or nipping at your shrimp. My wife found out the hard way on that one...........

Buy a good reverse osmosis system. You won't be disappointed. Consistent water quality every time!

Soak in a solution of No Planaria. for a week or so. Prepare per manufacturers instructions. 'nuff said.

Mopani and spider wood leach very little tannins. Dragon wood leaches a lot. Be careful of field collected wood - if you don't know the species of tree it came from I would avoid it.

Try airline tubing and a bucket.

Always ask about their quarantine protocol, no matter who the seller is - unless you are fortunate enough to buy from a breeder. Can't count the times I've been @ Petco, Petsmart, etc and saw the dreaded "we have Ick and are now treating our fish" signs. And I'm sure there are times they don't inform the customer. "shudder"

Aquabid, Aqua Imports, Imperial Exotics, Wet Spot, Flip Aquatics and Aquatic Arts. Good experience with several Ebay sellers as well.

Matt, Congratulations! For both this award and the Amazonas article! The group I got from you are doing great! Thanks again!

A Pic from last night - observed 2 Rhinotocinclus in close proximity.

X2 on the pondmaster

Apologies Mekong river puffer - Pao palustris (4) Rasboras - Chili, exclamation point, spotted, kubotai and axelrodi rasboras (lots) Dwarf freshwater shrimps - Neocaridina shrimp - jade/emerald green, blue dream/rili and orange sakura (TNTC) Pretty dwarf freshwater taiwan shrimps- Caridina shrimp - "bee type" hybrids - various, serrata and mariae (a few hundred) Dwarf suckermouth catfishes Dwarf crayfish - Cambarellus texanus "Brazos" (~50) Pretty frog plecos- Peckoltia compta "L134 Plecos" (4) Dwarf suckermouth catfish : Parotocinclus haroldoi (7) Nannoptopoma sp. "Robocop" (6) Rhinotocinclus isabelae (4) Otocinclus (7) I'll be better about adding "common" nomenclature, sorry.