mgudyka

Here is an image of the other one. This gourami is incredibly hard to take a photo of because he never stops moving. Pretty sure both boys. If this is an assertion of dominance, will that eventually settle down? I noticed that the one being chased appears to be a little chunkier and I Wonder if he's getting bloated from stress? I don't know if I just noticed it or if it just happened though.

They were labeled as "sunset gourami" and another person online said they are actually just thick lipped gourami. I *think* they are both males because they both have pointer dorsal fins but I can't tell for sure. Great video btw

I have had my two gourami for a couple days and in the first couple, they were coexisting without incident but this appears to have changed. I have noticed has started chasing the other around the tank. I guess they are both males? I have been observing the. This evening and the chasee appears to be hanging low and hiding between decor. I can imagine this is very stressful on a fish, especially a laborinth fish who needs access to the top to breathe. In the meantime I am working on getting a little more driftwood in this tank to hopefully give a little more cover, but should one be relocated to another tank?

Would I have to also cover the intake and output for my filter like I would a rope fish so one wouldn't slither into it out of curiosity?

This eel is too cute. Oh my god. Something about her tells me that she is probably not super beginner friendly, huh? She lives in freshwater?? Sorry I am amazed by the serious cuteness of this eel

Well, you guys. I got the bug. Multiple tank syndrome. Thankfully the ailment has not manifested into another physical tank (yet) but I would be lying if I said I wasn't already planning another tank. I am really interested in slightly more unusual fish. I was thinking rope fish, hillstream loaches, and siamese algae eaters. I am not trying to go super tiny for fear the rope fish would eat them. Maybe some celebes halfbeak fish with some other interesting species? I would love suggestions! Thank you all

Thank you 💛

Oh! That is good to know! I was wondering why they were so much more outgoing than any other the others they had there but i just chalked it up to luck. I'm glad I bought them from this store since none of the other had these kinds. Thank you!!

After months of thinking about it and weeks of planning, testing water, learning, this gal finally got some fish!! B the time we got to the store, I was still unsure which gourami I would bring home. My husband and I watched the varieties of gourami they had and decided on the least shy kind of the group. I brought home two sunrise gourami (but they are sort of bronze in color, not really red like others at the store), five red phantom tetras, and three otocinclus. The gourami were very interested in us and it appears our decision has paid off. I was going to also get kuhli loaches but the store was out of stock (and I am a little peeved about it because the reason we decided to go to this specific store was because they had all four species I wanted). The lady at the store warned me that the fish would probably be in hiding for like a week. I understand why. The red phantoms and gourami stayed in a corner of the tank until I put a prefilter sponge over the filter output (to slow the flow), and immediately after that, they all came out of hiding and have not slowed down since! There are definitely plenty of places to hide if they wanted to but it appears they have chosen curiosity instead. My nerite snails do not seem to mind the new tank mates. The only "troubles" I have had with anything fishkeeping related since I brought them home has been my fat cat discovering the fish food containers (some of which have the same material packaging as cat treats) and has been trying to break into them all night. I will be buying a container with a top so she can't eat my fish food haha. I already have a baaad case of MTS. The petsmarts in my area are having a sale on a 60g tank and stand set. So now I am planning for that new tank 😉 Enjoy the pictures I have taken so far! These guys do not stop for a second, exploring every inch of the tank, so I haven't been able to get great pictures. Overall I am excited to start this journey. I'd like to thank everyone on this forum that has helped me along the way!

Yay! I am very happy about it since I went the fishless route and I like all my plants

Hooray!! Also that's the kind of advice I was hoping I would get (adding the stability since I wasn't sure what else I might need to get)

Hi all, I am not totally sure if it's time but here are some details. My tank has been running since Feb 28 and I have seen the water parameters go through a number of changes, particularly in the last week. The images included are my results from last Friday and today. I have tested my waterultiple times in between and I have seen a spike and dip in ammonia, and then a spike and dip of nitrite. No big spike in nitrates BUT is there a chance to that has something to do with all of the plants that I have that appear to be thriving? Does this all mean that I am ready to bring fish into my tank?

Okay thank you for the advice. I will have to buy one of those lines for drip acclimation and make sure my bucket is clean. Thank you

I will have to watch this video when I get home. I was doing a lot of comparing of multiple websites for specific fish water parameters. I guess I will just have to take averages.

I'll have to pick up some distilled water on my next grocery trip and look into an RO/DI system. Thank you for the advice.

Hi all, As my tank comes towards the end of its cycle (yes I have been checking my water daily, yes people on this forum said I probably shouldn't because it would drive me crazy, no I do not regret it. My ammonia spiked and dipped and my nitrite spiked and is dipping now, so the end is near), I realize there are two things I have not paid enough attention to: KH and GH I purchased the API water tester for gh and kh and it took 6 drops for the kh to change to whatever the specific color needed to be and it took 12 drops for the gh. I understand that means my water is hard. That is about all I understand though (and I should have known, my bar soap doesn't last hardly at all). What does it all mean?! And how do I find a reliable source to find out what parameters each type of fish needs? I was browsing the web to try to see if the fish I wanted all had similar water parameters and, my goodness, no two websites for one specie listed the same parameters. It only adds to my confusion about gh/kh honestly. I guess--since my water is hard, should I try to add water softener? Is adding driftwood best, or peat moss to my filter, it other methods? I am hoping to get gourami & tetra (haven't committed to specific species yet), kuhli loaches, and maybe otos or corys that don't mind warm water to my tank.

Well to be safe I'm just going to head to my LFS and pick up some more. I think they like blackwater anyway so the more tanins the better. I appreciate your help !

Oh people can see that post I tried to hide? The plants have been there for a week. Am I going to frick them up by trying to move them over? Do I have enough cover for a gourami to feel secure or should I get more driftwood and stuff?

Good advice. I will start removing them as I see them. I have only noticed one though. Hopefully it stays that way. Thanks! I found a second new sprout in my smaller tank! I was worried I was creating a hospitable environment but I must be with new seedlings!

Hi all, Any idea what these two things are? I am surprised to see a teeny sprout in my substrate. What on ear earth could this even be? Since a surprise sprout came up, does that mean it appears that my tank is doing a good job supporting plant life? The second item in question appears to be a creature. Perhaps a snail? I got plants from three different places in rapid succession so I have no idea who it came from. If yes snails, do I keep or eradicate? Thanks friends!

I am def no expert but isn't that expected almost???

Oh good. Then my nerite snails will be fine. I think I recently got hitchhikers from some plants I received recently so maybe I *should* invest in a snail eater. Pea puffer?

But is that because the guppies are flashy? Do you think my cats can break up the fights while I am not home? Haha

Re: gourami - I guess I will have to look into honey or see if I am able to get a female dwarf Cory - sounds like panda it is! Kuhli loach - is it true they might eat my snails? Because if yes I will be moving them to a different tank Thank you!

The idea of having my own little danger noodles is so appealing and I want them very much. Some other folks have tried to recommend other loaches, but like, what's the point of loach if not kuhli (since my setup isn't big enough for dojo)?