Fish Folk

Best is something shaped more like a cereal bowl than a flower vase. You will benefit from a broader surface area. If it reliably holds water, and can be considered “food safe” to eat off of or drink from, it’s fine. I avoid metal. I personally like volumes 20-gal or larger.

Found a few Swordtail Fry in the water garden today. I just fed a ton of BBS… Hummingbird came by while I was filming.

Ameiurus melas - juvenile Black Bullhead. “Black” because of their black whiskers… From a cool, spring-fed water mountain pond.

Many things can be done. It’s possible. Maybe not a “best practices” stocking, but Ok.

Caught the Hummingbird in action…

Hummingbirds have been visiting these back porch water garden blooms…

First time I’ve ever seen Amazon Swords multiplying. Confession: I bought this with the runners and baby plants attached. Still mesmerizing…

Here’s one setup… Some suggestions for triggering a spawn here.

Awesome sauce! You got the best seat in the country there in the Catawba watershed. Mine’s not a biotope, but I love keeping species from NC… Can’t wait to see your tank setup!

Forum members need to have posted enough and interacted enough on the forum for the Fish Swap subforum to appear on the home page… There are very clear rules posted there that must be followed. You’ll see “WTS” or “WTB” in posts indicating an interested seller or buyer. After you sell fish, buyers may leave Trader Feedback that will appear on your personal Forum homepage…

William T. Innes "Exotic Aquarium Fishes." Many editions available. First edition, 1935. I've seen a 21st edition dated 1994. Later editions obviously had better (and more) photographs. Herbert R. Axelrod published a number of books. Earliest was "Handbook of Tropical Aquarium Fishes" (1955). Most recent was "Atlas of Freshwater Aquarium Fishes" (2004). Lots of drama followed him around in life. _________________________________ Now, if you promise not to reveal this secret to the internet, we keep a stash of miscellaneous books linked here on the forum for actual readers to download. Follow this link, but tell no one 😎 https://forum.aquariumcoop.com/files

Got my 40 breeder reset. Three young Discus added…

This is the matten I use for dividers, etc. I just cut it _slightly_ larger than the space so that it nestles into place...

My wife bought me this shirt to wear…

This post seems to be an ad for an additional tank! 😅 I’d personally take half that stock to a new tank. Bettas sometimes work. Females are less boisterous, usually. I love the small, wild-caught Betta imbellis as an interesting option.

Duckweed 🦆🌱and Frogbit 🐸 🦷

Jumping in quick. Another odd thought… do you use any lotions or cream on your hands? If so, take care to thoroughly wash off before touching your water, or touching fish food.

Common with Aqueon tanks. Hard to advise. Some people get very nervous. Others say it’s no big deal.

To quickly cycle a new tank, what I do is (1) transfer in a cycled sponge from an existing tank, or (2) thoroughly squeeze a cycled sponge out in a new tank. I also (3) use live plants and wet driftwood for bio, add (4) FritzZyme 7 active bacteria, and use bio-filled substrate.

^^ FACT ^^

Looks nice! I am no aquascaper. Keep going so that I can enjoy this vicariously...

(I’m like that sorry uncle who forgets your actual birthday by one day 🥳) HAPPY B-DAY, CARE FORUM! No pets besides fish. But I do raise these rather avid soccer fans. These are occasionally nefarious mammals… Like every rational aquarist’s better half, my wife is infinitely patient, kind, and lightly amused with our shenanigans…

I have hit “reset” on a 40-gal breeder. It is going warm again (84°-F) for Rams and a couple young Discus. Should be moving in a few more low-to-the-substrate plants 🌱 next week… I like ample air flow with the warm temperature. The water motion circulates up from the back, across the top, and down the front glass pane. Aponogeton and Tiger Lotus added along with Valisneria, Crypt, and Java Fern. Electric Blue Rams do not seem to be a pair. One is happy… the other is pretending (badly) to be a leaf on the wind. _______ Summer afternoon rains brought out little earthworms. We grabbed some and fed, one-by-one to this tank. Nothing like a battle over live food to get everyone colored up. Rainbow Shiners remain one of my very favorite species. Worth the investment! _______ I noticed this evening that my Catawba Greenhead Shiners were acting spunky. I’ve yet to get eggs from them, but still drop off stones in hope… Those silvery flashing minnows are Fieryblack Shiners. As they grow out, I’m becoming aware of how boisterous they can be!

Sounds like you’re on this right. Personally, I’d not do anything drastic. Stick to normal water change schedule. I think H2S builds up, especially under densely packed sand, due to anaerobic bacteria.

You're probably fine. I'd learn _exactly_ what they're used to eating so that you can immediately provide that for them. I suspect a well-planted busy eco system where there are other species of fish fooling about would serve as a distraction too. Kribs . . . Congo Tetras . . . good options. You've probably already seen this video, but for those who haven't been introduced to the species, here's a nice on-ramp...