BigJ

Those look like they might just fit the bill, do you know of... A. A good source of grindle worms B. A comprehensive care guide

I'm very close to pulling the trigger and getting some fish (elassoma) I've wanted for quite some time from another forum member. The one thing that has me hesitating however is the fact that they require live foods and I'm totally in experienced in this area and don't know where to start. Are there any live foods that fit the following criteria? Or are somewhat close to it 1. Relatively inexpensive. (Can either be maintained as culture indefinitely or are easily sorced and super inexpensive so I don't have to get a part time job) 2. Can be maintained at room temperature (I don't think I'm getting any creepy-crawlys in the fridge) 3. Not to time consuming (won't require the amount of work equivalent to a second job) I'd love to get Ideas and suggestions as well as specific sources and or methods of culturing, thanks for the help.

Maybe by the time I figure out how to culture live foods and get their tank ready your fry will be ready to ship

I am wanting to get into some nanf specifically Ellesoma, however I have heard that there are more regulations on keeping native fish in captivity however everything I have found seems to be vaig and second or third hand. If anyone knows what the regulations are or where to find them that would be great

Last week we experienced extended power outages here in East Texas, do to the heavily planted lightly stocked nature of my tanks I was able to leave them without power for several days with almost no ill effects. However I did loose my female apisto cocatidies who was already struggling from an eye injury. I would love to replace her but am hesitant because I wouldn't want the new female to get relentlessly picked on. If anyone has experience I'd love to hear your opinion Also just a side note these are the apistos I got from @tolstoy21 and I highly recommend him to anyone looking for great stock from a great guy

A 10 gallon nanf with elassoma and shrimp either rcs or glass depending on how strict I am, and a blackworm tower hidden behind a corner matten filter for constant feed also maybe least killie fish but I need to do more research. I also dream of a 75g Amazon similar to MDs but with larger groups of less species.

I've thought of this same thing, I have a sibling with a congenital heart disease, so growing up I spent my fair share of time in hospital waiting rooms well as a little bit in Ronald McDonald house. While I can certainly attest to the relaxing effects of children's hospital aquariums most of the tanks were somewhat disappointing to me, thinking back I believe they were healthy just not quite what they could be. Also as a side note, allot of them were stocked more for an aquarist not kids the one thing I specifically remember was a tank of big drab nocturnal lazy fish which as a child I found rather boring so if anyone has the opportunity to stock a children's hospital tank I would vote for active and colorful fish as well as some others that you will see only as you spend time observing. I definitely think this would be a great way for norms to support those in very difficult situations and If I lived closer to a children's hospital I would see about scappeing or maintaining some tanks. And would certainly encourage anyone who can to do so. Keeping us updated with a journal would be an add bonus ;)

My scrapes from scraps was basically a scaled down version of what you are describing. Here is my most recent picture, I can't get a new one because I just tore it down to setup my new 20 long. It's final state was basically the same as this photo just more of everything, more peace lily, alge, anubius, and shrimp. As for maintenence I just did topoffs every several weeks and that's it. If I would have put just a little more time into maintenence it could have been pretty nice. But it was no tech super low maintenence and enough of an ecosystem for my shrimp to breed. Build details are in the linked post and somewhere there is a "reunion" thred with updates.

That I wondered if that was it, I really liked the look of the immature fully submerged ones. I guess I'll just settle for some kind of sword.

Do they grow fully aquatic? All of these that I saw were in water between a few inches and a few feet tall.

I went to a nature preserve in East TX and saw this plant, I am wondering if anyone knows what it is or if there is anything similar in the hobby.

Well If your Elassoma breeding ever is too successful you can let me know, i'd be happy to help 😉

Just because I like the curious way corys ran there noses across the bottom looking for tasty tidbits, I've never had pygmys are they as fun and intriguing?

I have a pair of Apistogramma Cacatuodies from @tolstoy21. and I don't really care what kind of cory, I was thinking peppered as I believe they are the smallest bottom-dwelling cory, but if there is another small bottom dwelling cory that anyone knows of I would be interested. Thanks for the input.

I am setting up a 20-long for a pair of apistos that I currently have in quarantine. I am going to try to keep it as SA as I can with both plants and stocking, I am thinking maybe a few schools besides the apistos. I really don't know what plants would work well, I am still a bit of a beginner so they need to be somewhat easy, I was thinking maybe a centerpiece sword but I think those would take over a 20l so I really don't know. I would also like input on whether there is a smaller bottom dwelling cory that would work with the apistos in a 20-long. Any info and ideas will be greatly appreciated

Here's mine, I took all of the hornwort out because it was taking over. And finally got some RCS culls in there. As for plants, I still have my one Anubis a few strings of moss that converted and as of yesterday, a new piece lily. Oh, and a little bit of green algae on the glass.

I just used a bunch of patients to season my neo tank, worked pretty well for me.

I figured I might as well share my 10 gallon shrimp tank, which also has a few snails in it. What you see floating on the service is some kale

You don't have enough posts yet, you have to have 50 to see it.

I was just wandering about CPD RCS compatibility so that was helpful, so thank you.

I have no idea, but scrolling through this thread made me want one, they're so cute.

That's fascinating thank you

I've never heard of that, does anyone kno. why it works or just that it works?

You might be a NERM if you go fishing with a coworker and are more exited about the possibility of finding drift wood than catching fish.

It hasn't bloomed yet, I'll make note of that when it does. Thanks for the input