DSH OUTDOORS

Looks like a springtail to me. Google aquarium springtail and you can confirm looking at it in person.

I currently have 6 younger ones. Only a matter of time before they start breeding. I might have to move them out of the tank with my Julie Ornatus. I cannot tell yet if they prefer the shells or rock work.

Let me know if you have any questions setting up your Shelly tank. I have pretty much everything but similis and ocellatus. That isn't because I don't like or want them, just ran out of space for now. There are a few oddball Shellies out there that I think should be more popular than they are. Check out a few journals I have linked below for details on a few. Happy to answer any other questions you might have if you don't get them from the journals.

Sorry about your fish but thank you for the laugh. I needed that! That was July 4th... Get everything resolved? post pictures!

Flip a quarter twice, two heads = looks like black parent, two tails = look like yellow parent, one of each who knows.. Now do this for all 200 fry and you should have an answer. 😂 Seriously though, without the history on both parents it is going to be hard to guess what they are going to look like. Update us when you find out though!!!

Pond snail eggs. Get ready for a population boom!

I have been using his Ultra Ciclid Flakes in almost all my tanks as part of a rotation and my fish are doing very well. Especially the Lake Tanganyikan Shellies. https://www.amazon.com/Kens-Ultra-Cichlid-Flake-lb/dp/B07MQGBWMF/ref=sr_1_6?dchild=1&keywords=Ken's+Fish&qid=1626798488&sr=8-6

I haven't ordered from Aquahuna but got a dozen gold Lazer's through the mail from another company a few months ago. Was very pleased with how everything went. I have ordered different fish about once a month for the last 6 months and have never had a doa.

I have fry or are growing out fry on the following: Lamprologus Ornatipinnis Kigoma Neolamprolus Multifaciatus Lamprologus Birchardi Julidochromis Transcriptus Julidochromis Ornatus Platy Endlers Mutt Guppies, Black Lace Guppies, Pink Lace Guppies. Mollies Blue Dream Neocardini Shrimp Red Cherry Neocardini Shrimp And attempting to breed or growing out to breed the following: Neolamprologus Caudopunctatus Neolamprologus Buescheri Kamakonde 3 kinds of Pygmy Sunfish Rainbow Shiners Zoogoneticus Tequila Redtail Splitfin CPDs Emerald Dwarf Rasbora Rhinogobius Formosanus Swordtails (Cauliflower and Koi) Cherry Barbs Odessa Barbs Angle fish Bearded Cory Gold Laser Cory Black Venezuela Cory Orange Venezuela Cory San Juan Cory Albino Cory Bristlenose Pleco Common Bristlenose Pleco Super Red Bristlenose Pleco Calico

You could layer the substrate for stem plants. Start with your preferred soil, cover with pea rock or larger gravel then cover with sand. They will only be able to dig as deep as the pea rock. I would try Val or Java Fern in the harder higher PH water you would need for Shellies.

Ok fish friends. I hope you got a chance to see the new "fish room". With moving everything around, the Hex 95 is now the only tank upstairs in the living room. 1) because of all the tanks I have, it is the most display worthy and 2) it is almost impossible to actively breed anything in it. I have a few ideas but would love your thoughts on possible scapes and Inhabitants. It will have 2 sponge filters and, if necessary, a blower/wavemaker up top depending on Inhabitants. Scapes: set up with 4" of Florite under 1-2" pool sand. Other than that it's an open canvas. Scapes: fish dependant of course. 1) plant with Val and crypts, driftwood and rockwork. 2) keep it sand and rock work. Fish / inhabitants: 1) Angel fish primary tank and pick out any that pair off for breeding. Almost all my tanks have Cory, this wouldn't be any different, a few pleco and amano shrimp. 2) Barb tank. Stock with tiger barbs and anything else as a cleanup that can survive the murder gangs of tigers. 3) Lake Tanganyika Cichlids. Some Shellies across the bottom and another species that hangs in open water. 4) Colorful ciclid tank under 6". (I'm very novice with bigger Ciclid) 5) Electric Blue Acara tank. This will be the main floor display tank. I want any novice to walk in and fall in love with it so it has to show well. I listed a few things I have in mind but I'd love some NERM feedback and ideas. Let me know your thoughts!!!

Lake Tanganyika Shellies!!! Multi's, Lamprologus ornatapinnus, etc

Thanks @ARMYVET for the offer. I do have systems in place that for that need for now. I'll detail them later. Let me know if you see anything that can be improved. That is exactly the look I was going for @OnlyGenusCaps. I have the internal sump and an external canister that outlet in that corner giving the stream current. There is also a void under that gravel held up by slate tiles for the hillstream and bristlenose to hang out in. Working on an egg catching system for the rainbows now. The racks all came from Home Depot @ChemBob. The 150 and 75/50LB are on 6' work benches made by husky. The center and 50 & 40 B racks are also made by husky but have butcher block countertops 25"x72" corners cut to fit over the wire racks. I probably could have got away with 3/4" plywood for cheaper but I like this look better.

@sudofish you are seeing the same thing I am. They braced the horizontal cross members heavily and they actually don't do anything structurally. The vertical posts should be braced like this to give rigidity when pushed from the side or front (same thing as being on unlevel ground) I imagine the exterior is fully attached to these vertical braces, which does act as a stabilizing factor just as a glued and screwed sheet of plywood would do. I just don't trust that thin plastic exterior to be enough. Your instincts are right @Dee00 and you are looking at them in person. I know these are probably the easy and good looking option, but I don't trust them.

I am usually pretty gutsy when it comes to stand and weight limits, but this looks sketchy. I have two acrylic tanks myself and it's amazing how much they move and warp just based on setup and temperature. To me, the tank stands shown are braced wrong and won't stand the test of time. Especially if put on anything other than dead flat concrete. Stick with solid wood, metal and plywood to have absolute piece of mind.

Evening everyone. I'd like to introduce you to my "fish room". Why the quotes? Well.... So far I have a total of 31 tanks ranging from 5 to 150 gallons.They are located in the back side of my basement living room. What this "room" does not have is water, or a drain, or walls dividing it from the rest of the living room, which means internal heaters. All that being said, I'm pumped that I finally have the layout organized, the heavy tanks moved, and some free space in my garage again! I will detail each tank as part of this slow tour but more than happy to answer any questions you have along the way. These pictures will give you an idea of the scope of my MTS! 20 longs on top, 40 breeders middle, 33L and 10 gallon on the bottom. My acrylic 150 gallon (60" x 24" x 24") still working on scape but the rainbow shiners and hillstream Loaches are enjoying it. 50 lowboy top, 75 middle and 33L bottom with some other smaller tanks where they could fit. 50 Low bow on top. Currently two 40 breeders but prepped for a 5' 150 gallon tank when I can find one.

That will work until it doesn't... I have a local fish store that quarantines for a few weeks before actually placing a price on the tank. I have bought enough from them to trust their process and simply place directly into the majority of my tanks. I have bought fish from them that they are actively medicating and quarantining because of their rarity and I didn't want to miss out on them, I just continue that at home in a separate tank before adding them in with other fish. No one can tell you if it is safe or not. You know your local fish store, if you trust their process, as I do with mine, go for it!

Male Endlers are easy to find for anyone looking for them. No one that is serious about selling Endlers for profit are selling their females, they are hard/impossible to find! I have no doubt that anyone in your local fish club would be more than happy to take them off your hands. I have found where I am that females are going for more than males. Long story short, order them and enjoy!!!

Sounds like they will be running a gauntlet from the start! All you can do without a separate tank is either get/make a breeder box for them to be isolated in or fill a corner with real or fake plants for them to hide in. Those tetras, angel and even their parents will be gunning for them as soon as they are born. Post pictures so we can better get you prepared. Of both the tank and mom!

Where are you located? My first thought was a musk rat with the plants but now with fish gone maybe racoon. At least those would be my first thoughts if it were my pond here in Minnesota.

My city water also comes from an underground aquafer. There is a huge difference between my hose water not run through the softener and my sink water running through the softener. Bolivian rams prefer a PH between 6.0 and 7.5 and a KH between 0 and 10. I don't think you need to chase parameters too much to keep them. I would add a small amount of crushed coral or wondershell as @GameCzar has suggested but don't get too carried away with it. Finding the right Shrimp food could give them all the calcium they need to thrive without affecting your other fish. Of course shrimp always do better in a well established tank so I would hold off on them for a bit until you have everything stabilized in your tank.

I think the first question is what kind of fish are you wanting to keep? Most live bearers and African Ciclids will need that harder water to thrive. I have hard water from the tap so this is what I keep. If you are looking at barbs or tetra this lower ph and lower hardness is a plus. What kind of filtration do you have planned? Crushed coral can be added to a hang on back filter in a bag to constantly release KH as water runs through it. This bag can be added to the main tank or just add crushed coral to your substrate to buffer at a slower rate. Smaller more frequent water changes should keep anything from crashing as you are diluting less KH and it will build back up between changes. What is your water source? Well, City water without softener or City water with a softener?

I have a dozen in a 38 tall heavily planted tank along with CPDs, endlers, Venezuelan cory, Chili rasbora, emerald rasbora and stone catfish and I have not noticed any nipping behavior. I would increase the numbers to make them feel more comfortable.

I wouldn't change a thing. They will subsist on what is in the tank just fine over the 7 days. I have tried to change lighting while away in the past and came home to a green blob of algae that took weeks to clear up. Go on vacation and don't worry about them, enjoy yourself!

I wouldn't worry too much about it. Best defense would be throw some live plants like hornwort to use up any buildup of nitrates while you are away. I have fish breeding in tanks that haven't seen a water changes in months.