Flipper

I wanted to make sure everyone has seen and enjoyed this Netflix Special "My Octopus Teacher" 🐙 I've linked a YouTube video from a biologist that is very interesting. This topic may have come up before, but I wanted to put it out there, just in case. I absolutely loved it.

I'm hoping everyone involved in this thread will chime in here. Maybe I'm under a false impression, but you have about 15 more fish in your 20 gallon than I have in mine. Your tank is well planted so maybe your stock level is fine. One thought I had was maybe the Rasboras feel overwhelmed by all the other fish. Just a thought I had.

@FishCentric I want to compliment your tank. It is really pretty 😍 I can see that you know what you're doing. It's such a shame to have this worry that you don't deserve. Sadly, I vote to re-home them. Then you can replace them with some "normal" acting fish and relax and enjoy. Perhaps you got a batch of "Mentally ill" fish. 🤣

I just want to add this about my Harlequin Rasboras in a 20g high tank. I have never seen this glass surfing in the 2 years I've had these fish. That's all I know. Someone out there is bound to be able to help you. 🙂

I tried to DM you but it said I could not. Here's what I was trying to send. Thanks for the wonderful info on shrimp. I know now that I'll never try the Cardinas. I do have a question, who's your shrimp guy you talked about? Also, I'm about to start cycling a new Fluval Flex 15g. I've really procrastinated but I'm about ready now. I was thinking, once it's cycled and seasoned for a bit, I'd love to try buying some of your blue shrimp. I'll know much more about shrimp by then. Still working on making my yellow ones happy in their 20 gal high. Thanks for your time.

What is that red and white striped version called? They are so pretty 😍

Today is two weeks and a couple of days since I first added the yellow shrimp to my tank. They are getting used to their new home and I'm seeing them more often. I think I have more males than females, but I'm sure I have at least 2 females, hopefully more. A few days ago, I saw a female up close and it looked like she might have some eggs. It looked like she was washing over them. But I haven't seen her since. Maybe false alarm or she's hiding. It would be nice to see the females more often. Since I put them in the tank, I've added a small sponge filter, more hiding places to make them feel comfortable and more botanicals. Fingers crossed 🤞 @Tanked

I've been reading your 100g Angel journal and it's fascinating and so well written. Your wood pieces are fabulous looking. I'll keep reading and hopefully see pictures of your finished project. You're amazing 👏

I have Eheim ThermoControl 75W. Thanks again for easing my mind. I'll submerge it tomorrow and I'll know all this in the future.

I love Prime Time Aquatics and got to meet Jason at Aquashella. For KG Tropicals, I'm going to be ugly; I just cannot stand his loud mouthed wife. 😆

That's incredibly nice. I have some flat slate pieces, but superglue and polyester sewing thread just didn't work. This spiderwood is just beautiful to me, but it floats forever 😵‍💫 Let me PM you and you can reply at your leisure. Thanks a million.

BTW, welcome to the forum! Excellent videos for you. Corey's video (owner of Aquarium Co-op https://youtu.be/PWoiCqCvJco?si=MqiUJcXQHOz3R0yn Irene (used to be "Girl Talks Fish" she's awesome) https://youtu.be/vur3JIfoEtk?si=yW3xOguQMkgIbRse Good luck and have fun. Always have patience with these aquariums.

See how much yellower he looks here, as compared to when he's on wood or side of the tank?!!

The first molt I found, I thought it was a dead shrimp, too. Just plumb freaky to see the antenna still attached. I mean, the antenna is so thin. Thank you, Mother Nature, for figuring these things out.

@Devinl3 Well, I said I was a worry-wart by nature. Now, I feel much better. I think I'll finally submerge my Eheim heater and try to hide it from view. I LOVE YOU GUYS. I couldn't live without this forum. Thanks everyone ☺️

I watched Cory's video about heaters. I have an Eheim 75 watt on my 20 high. The light rarely comes on as my room is fairly warm. It seems like a real good quality heater. I do have a question / concern. I'm a worry-wart by nature and I'm afraid to get the heater's top and wires under water. I fear electrocution for me or my fish. This prevents me from angling the heater so the heat can rise. Am I nuts? If the temp is remaining steady, maybe under the water isn't important in my tank. Just asking!

My dwarf Clown Pleco does not destroy plants and he never digs in the substrate. But, I was told I could only keep one, as males will fight each other. I've found no way to determine his/her sex, so I play it safe and they are solitary animals, perfectly happy to be alone. Unlike many other animals, like Cories, that prefer company of their own kind. That's just the way my little clowny behaves.

Nabo, you ROCK! My shrimp are beginning to come out more. Once my fish got over their initial curiosity (about 24 hours) they are leaving the shrimp alone. It did take several days but they seem to be doing pretty well, as far as I can tell. I had 1 death the first day. I've since found 4 good looking molts. I was pulling them out, but someone said leave the molts there and the shrimp will eat them. I still can only find 5 out of the remaining 9, at any one time, so I'll just do my best and see what happens. I did just get a new sponge filter from the Co-op and will set it up today. I hated the sponges before because the bubbles shot up on my glass lid and caused white stuff that was impossible to remove, even with vinegar and a razor blade. Now, with the new extensions and curved top section on the sponge filters, I can keep that film off the lid. Hallelujah! My dead shrimp and 2 successful molts. Who knew the molts would have antenna attached 🤔

My tank is a 20 gal high, so much smaller than yours. I've never kept any other plecos, so I only know about my dwarf Clown. I hope to get a larger tank some day and try out a Bristle Nose. They look and sound so interesting. I do have lots of driftwood in my tank and Bashful grazing on it.

Yesterday, I removed my Spider Wood and glued another rock to help it stay put in my tank. It still wants to fall over. I boiled it originally and I've had this wood in water for over a year, and it just wants to float and fall over. It's like this stuff is Styrofoam and impossible to keep it steady. Huge nuisance to me! It's so beautiful but I can't even do a water change without it bouncing around. So, in truth, I guess I didn't get anything productive done. 😕

Plants should be quite happy with 78°. They adjust well. Oh, I can't tell you how much I love my dwarf Clown Pleco, named Bashful. I've had him almost 2 years, he's about 2 or 2 1/2 inches long. He does hide a lot but I get to see him almost every day. It's cool how he changes color to match his background. He's a medium brown and gold, but he looks darker when he's on the driftwood and turns real light, almost yellowish gold when on my substrate. I only feed him once a week because my tank has plenty of mulm and biofilm that he munches on daily. I feed him 1/2 Sera Catfish Chips once a week, but it must be hidden really well or my fish will steal it and then they'd be overfed. So I use a tiny plant pot as a cave with enough rocks around it that the fish can't just swim inside. His behavior is passive and he and my fish just totally ignore each other. Works out great.

I read several articles this morning. The Adolfo Corys and Celestial Pearl Danios both prefer temperatures at 20-26°C = 68-78.8°F. I think 74° is a little chilly. I'm copying @nabokovfan87 and @jwcarlson to chime in here. I keep my tank at 77° for my dwarf Clown Pleco, Harlequin Rasboras and Rummy-Nose Tetras.

Yes, you can't really talk feeding fish unless you consider YOUR tank and YOUR fish. My Harlequin Rasboras and Rummy-Nose Tetras have been together so long, they often shoal together, as one group. They make a mad dash to the top when I feed them and it's gone within seconds, not minutes. For my dwarf Clown Pleco, he's slow. If I don't hide his 1/2 algae wafer really well, the other fish will eat it, making them get TOO MUCH. So, I don't feel time means anything in my tank. It's all about my personal fish and their habits and tendencies. @nabokovfan87 made an excellent point about the species. Also, someone told me once that a fish's stomach is about the size of his eye. Not sure if that's accurate but it's bound to be tiny.

In my 20g high (I wish it were a 20 gal long, like yours). I have 7 fish and 1 dwarf Clown Pleco (2 inches, fully grown). Adding a centerpiece, that will make 8 fish plus Bashful, my dwarf pleco.

@mabowman89 I like knee's idea for your centerpiece fish. I'm getting one for my 2 year old 20 gallon high tank, since I recently lost my sweet female Betta. Also, I'd wait to get the cories until your tank has time to really get settled. In case you're interested: my tank has Harlequin Rasboras and they've never been sick (knock on wood). They are beautiful, live a long time, are constantly moving around and just a pleasure to watch. I also have Rummy-Nose Tetras and plan to add 1 Honey Gourami soon. Welcome to the forum and best of luck to you. Remember, patience is your friend in all things aquatic.