Beardedbillygoat’s Fish & Shrimp Tank Journal

[Patrick_G]

The Oregon coast is so nice. I love to visit during grey whale season. The last time we went to Depot Bay and had a place right on the water. We saw so many whales that my kid got bored! 

[Beardedbillygoat1975]

It's been a minute since I updated things here. St. Nermy's day took up a little bit of time as did some work on the tanks. 

I entered two tanks into the 'Scapes from Scraps - 

1. My 15 g Tower Tank - this was the site of one of my biggest disasters in the last year so it was good to exercise the demons of this tank. 

Soon will be home not only to the 8 CPDs in there but also a group of red eye puffers. Hoping for 1 male and 2 females out of the group of juveniles I have purchased. The others will go in my 45 g display. 

2. My 2.5 g that I hope will be a Caridina tank. It had hung around until recently after being the site of many live food projects. 

In terms of the fish room, things are rolling along. After the disaster I came home to I have been working diligently to get these colonies healthy and happy. 

I put some Clown Killifish in with one of my blue dream colonies in my ex-plant growout tank. If I was to do a plant growout I would do something like NW Aquatics with his tubs with leica clay balls and lots of light and humidity. Anyway, the clowns are great, beautiful, really starting to color up - they were kind of white grey when they arrived. 

My blue dreams are really coming along. I have 3 lines of genetics in this group - a breeder from OR goes by Food on AB, LRBs best line, and some from Aquahuna. I am on 2 years worth of generations. 

My Tricolor Lyretail Koi Swordtails (try to say that 5 times fast) are coming around after a little bump. I think they had a parasite. Unfortunately, they spread it to the 2 plecos who have succumbed. I did paraguard and expel-p and they are looking great. I need to get a more robust guppy grass and floaters in here to protect fry. 

Stunning fish, they are still juvies so the swords haven't come on yet but the lyretails are starting to get really noticeable and the fish that are true tricolors are just wow. Really happy with this line. 

I am only getting fleeting views of the newest plecos my Ancistrus Rio Tocantin's but I really love the almost honeycomb pattern and the deep coloration. In this video of the pandas you can see one in his cave. 

Really enjoyable fish keeping of late. I have some other things to update but haven't gotten around to getting video or pics so they'll wait for later this week. 

Have fun everyone!

 

 

[Patrick_G]

Your swordtails are looking nice. My Marigolds are slightly younger and I’ve been wondering when the males will develop their swords. 

[Beardedbillygoat1975]

@Patrick_Gyou want them to develop as late as possible so that they get the best body development - early sword usually leads to stunted growth. A lot of breeders cull their early sword fish. So I think that's good for both of us!

[Beardedbillygoat1975]

We have some developments tonight. 

1. Ricefish hatching- with all the disaster I had with my Dean pond I went ahead and ordered 20 eggs from a seller in Hawaii. These are red and white lame. 

2. My young longfin albino male Enos is shacked up with one of my calico super red females!!! This is a first! So exciting. Big Daddy remains a bit of a mystery man going from cave to cave but he’s got a full belly and I’m imagining he’s waiting for the next water change. 
One of my females whose sister to the lady with Enos. 

3. The Gardneri survivors have really been thriving. They’ve got lots of room, places to flirt and mate with this the only male so far. 
He’ll eventually get about double this size. 

As an aquarist I think we live for nights like tonight. Have fun!

[Atitagain]

On 4/5/2022 at 2:26 AM, Beardedbillygoat1975 said:

As an aquarist I think we live for nights like tonight. Have fun!

Going through hardships helps us to truly appreciate what we have accomplished. 
only way to push through is to lean into the wind.

 

[Guppysnail]

The Gardneri is just gorgeous. Big Daddy looking for just the right cave is darling. 

[Hobbit]

Aww yay ricefish babies! I have several jars of babies I’m trying to raise… they grow so slowly 😝

Looks like there’s still plenty of excitement in your fish room even after all the setbacks 🥰

[Beardedbillygoat1975]

I’m kind of glad to put Scapes from Scraps behind me. Looking forward to helping but not organizing the anniversary of our lovely community this summer. 

Spent some quality time cleaning out 2 tanks that were part of the vacation carnage in my fishroom. Started the process on Friday and finished mostly yesterday. Clean empty tanks are dangerous in a fish room! I actually have some fish coming this week so I know what’s next - all I’ll say is @WhitecloudDynasty is a good dude! Oh and my wife put some of her plants in there as it’s too cold to put them out yet. So now I have to figure out watering and keeping them alive until weather warms up.

Some of the goings and comings in the fish room - lost one of my older male blue Hawaiian Moscows and have been fretting over this second breeding tank. Some of the fish had clamped fins and it was just something was off. During water change noted at least a 5 degree drop in temp - usually 72 and was 67. Mild nitrates so I think the heater gave up the ghost so I plopped a new one in. Things look better today. 

Sorry for the dirty glass! Put some salt in and some extra air. They’ve been more active and fins are starting to look better. 

The shrimp In my clown killis tank are really popping. Here’s a couple pics. 
Dark blue dreams a little bit of a back line on this younger female but think she’ll end up like this big momma eventually. Watched mark’s shrimp tanks and his culling and mine are similar. Tuesday night I’m going to start figuring out my numbers and considering selling off my B team as LRB calls them.

I’ve grabbed a couple videos of my Tower Tank. So I did a full redo on this with scape focused on the wood in the center extending as it goes up to create a lot of depth and height. I posted some pics recently. Inhabitants are a trio of Red Eye Red Tail puffers and a group of CPDs. 

https://youtube.com/shorts/-RW18cWFHwk?feature=share 

I’ve really loved watching them but they’re so bloody aggressive and I think eventually I’ll be down to one puffer in there as from what I can tell they’re all male. I bought 5 but already 2 were beat up so I’ve rehomed them to other tanks. I’m pretty sure they sent me 5 males. I put out an email to the folks I bought them from to see if any of their remaining stock are females. The CPDs are great and haven’t seen anything from the RERT puffers toward them. There’s a graveyard of snails though and I’ve vacuumed them up twice. I’ll get to it again tonight. The plants are jamming with all the extra nitrates. 

Have fun this week everyone!

 

 

 

 

 

[Beardedbillygoat1975]

I confirmed with the online retailer that indeed they knew I was getting 5 males. Ugghhh!!! There's no interest on their part of making it right, it was essentially we said unsexed although they are sexually dimorphic so we knew what we were doing to you, good luck and we'll let you know when we get another shipment so you can spend a bazillion dollars and ship them half way cross the country. I think I will touch base with my LFS and see if they want me to just qt them, treat them for parasites like I was going to do already and then sell them to them for them to turnaround and sell them for a bazillion dollars. In the end I think I will keep 2 - one in the tower and another with the frogs. 

Tonight will be maintenance and getting some guppies and shrimp sorted for taking to the fish store. I am out of credit after some recent heater purchases.

My youngest son is hitting me up for an axolotl again so I am contemplating taking the shellies out and setting them up in their own tank in the fish room, selling and or rehoming the other fish or just taking them to the LFS. Then I will need to start the process of getting set up for an axolotl. What I am worried about in this nearly 5 year old is that axolotl's can be boring - they swim a bit and use their environment if you provide them with some enrichment but other than feeding time it is not a ton of interaction. In the end, these always become my pets so I am taking this process slow. 

[anewbie]

On 4/12/2022 at 2:50 PM, Beardedbillygoat1975 said:

I confirmed with the online retailer that indeed they knew I was getting 5 males. Ugghhh!!! There's no interest on their part of making it right, it was essentially we said unsexed although they are sexually dimorphic so we knew what we were doing to you, good luck and we'll let you know when we get another shipment so you can spend a bazillion dollars and ship them half way cross the country. I think I will touch base with my LFS and see if they want me to just qt them, treat them for parasites like I was going to do already and then sell them to them for them to turnaround and sell them for a bazillion dollars. In the end I think I will keep 2 - one in the tower and another with the frogs. 

Tonight will be maintenance and getting some guppies and shrimp sorted for taking to the fish store. I am out of credit after some recent heater purchases.

My youngest son is hitting me up for an axolotl again so I am contemplating taking the shellies out and setting them up in their own tank in the fish room, selling and or rehoming the other fish or just taking them to the LFS. Then I will need to start the process of getting set up for an axolotl. What I am worried about in this nearly 5 year old is that axolotl's can be boring - they swim a bit and use their environment if you provide them with some enrichment but other than feeding time it is not a ton of interaction. In the end, these always become my pets so I am taking this process slow. 

Sounds like aquahuna. I had that issue with them once (but not with guppies).

[Beardedbillygoat1975]

Different place, If you want me to DM the name I can but I don't like to speak ill on the forum. 

[Patrick_G]

Those irrubescos are so cute. I almost bought one that was in a tank full of Pea Puffers. I have a feeling the trio of males is going to cause problems. 

[OnlyGenusCaps]

On 4/12/2022 at 2:50 PM, Beardedbillygoat1975 said:

My youngest son is hitting me up for an axolotl again so I am contemplating taking the shellies out and setting them up in their own tank in the fish room, selling and or rehoming the other fish or just taking them to the LFS. Then I will need to start the process of getting set up for an axolotl. What I am worried about in this nearly 5 year old is that axolotl's can be boring - they swim a bit and use their environment if you provide them with some enrichment but other than feeding time it is not a ton of interaction. In the end, these always become my pets so I am taking this process slow. 

So, I think an axolotl might be perfect for a 5 year old.  After the first few days I suspect they'll only want to interact at feeding time anyhow, and they are pretty interesting when they feed.  More so than most fish in my mind.  But then again this is coming from someone who can clearly recall the wonder of the first time I saw a newt as a kid.  It is what got me into the aquatic hobby in the first place.  That said, I understand how all pets can become dad's responsibility.  "We" are contemplating a puppy in this house.  🤨 

[PineSong]

Wow you are busy! So fun to read and see your videos--thanks for sharing them. Your blue shrimp are so nicely and evenly colored, they look perfect.

[Beardedbillygoat1975]

@Patrick_Gthey are gorgeous. I really love watching them. So inquisitive and you really feel a connection with them. 

@OnlyGenusCapsthat is really helpful feedback. I think it will happen it's more a question of timing. The other things is I would need a chiller for the tank for summer time. Bigger project then just buy an amphibian and put them in a tank. The work goes on. 

@PineSongthank you for the kind words. I am now at about 2 years with working with these. I am really happy with them. It would be fun to put them in a really good display with the Blue Hawaiian Guppies. I dream of a 25 -50 g cube with them in it. I can really picture it. 

[PineSong]

On 4/12/2022 at 7:50 PM, Beardedbillygoat1975 said:

@PineSongthank you for the kind words. I am now at about 2 years with working with these. I am really happy with them. It would be fun to put them in a really good display with the Blue Hawaiian Guppies. I dream of a 25 -50 g cube with them in it. I can really picture it. 

I can, too. I love my blue platies and the fact that between them and my endlers and guppies, there is a lot of blue in this tank. It happened by accident but I'm sticking with it as a theme because it's so pleasant.

[Beardedbillygoat1975]

Well aloha everyone! I wish I was returning from a luxurious vacation on an island but alas nope. Week in the hospital. Week off with my folks. Lots of home projects. Lots of job interviews. Lots of stressed out partner stuff. Ahhh the real world, not nearly as fun as Nermland. 

As for my hobby I’ve had some good and bad. I obtained some phenomenal fish from @WhitecloudDynasty a large group of white clouds and a trio of lf rosy barbs. Well I’ve still got the white clouds but during my hospital week the Rosie’s got fin rot and by the time I medicated them it was too late probably sepsis. Ughhh. They were some of the most beautiful fish I’ve ever owned. Had great plans for summer tubing. Well plans change. 

I was struggling with aggression with my dominant male Krobia xinguensis- gorgeous fish but he was double the size of the next biggest and triple the size of the smallest of the 3. He killed all my marble hatchets, 2 mollies and I was sick of hearing from my wife and son that he was too violent. I decided that I’d rehome the male in my 45 g display where the festivum and EBA could keep him in his place. 

He’s handled the transition well. He refuses to come up above the plants, he is a wild caught fish so I think he’s naturally going to be more wary. When I can get a pic of him I will. Now in his place I got 5 more youngsters from 

My wife has been watching Fish For Thought with me lately. She’s become aware that bettas are not ok with being in tanks less that 5 gallons (controversial take I know). Anyway she authorized the purchase of a new setup for DJ Turbo the family betta. 

A 7.5 g cube was purchased. Rocks were obtained from a local agate mine. Substrate is Stratum. Goal was to create depth and a cave like feel. Experimented with a few layouts before I came upon the last one.  

Once I landed on this I then started to work on planting. I’d obtained a bunch of new crypts - undulata, pink flamingo, mioya, spiralis tiger. Threw in some AR, hygrophila, and anubias. Cycled media and overfiltration and bango a betta mansion! I also baffled the outflow with some 30 dpi foam. 

it’s been a fun project. It’s nice to see DJ Turbo having fun in the tank. 

The fish room - I think one sentiment I hear about fish rooms is they’re too small (although Cory is the corollary). Well I’d agree with this. I bought some scuds and some cherry shrimp from Goliad Farms. This eliminated the spot where my Dean pond was. I was hoping to put the Dean pond outside well my lovely wife said no thank you.

In terms of breeding projects  I’ve finally seen some baby panda corys. This is awesome. 
 

MY 45 g display tank has been coming along well. I’ve gotten some great plant growth and it’s really filling in. I ended up rehoming one of the puffers in there and he’s looking great. 

Have fun everyone. Probably have some more updates soon, hoping to get some work done in the fishroom tonight. 

[WhitecloudDynasty]

Clean water and salt goes a long way.

I'm raise 100s of babies, so I'll have some more for you in the future. But chances are I won't have full adult.

[Atitagain]

DJs tank is looking great. I really like the look of that size/ shape tank. I never thought I’d own something smaller than 20G when I got back in the hobby a couple years ago I thought “why is everyone talking about nano tanks?” It didn’t register how fun they could be.

congrats on the pandas!

[Guppysnail]

I love DJ’s new mansion. That setup was fantastic.  

[Minanora]

Happy to read an update. Things are looking good! Life is a lot like a rail car. Sometimes it can be a rollercoaster, sometimes it's a miners cart. Or anywhere in between!

Baby cories are so cute..... Looking forward to reading about your work in the fishroom!

[Torrey]

On 5/6/2022 at 11:15 AM, Minanora said:

Happy to read an update. Things are looking good! Life is a lot like a rail car. Sometimes it can be a rollercoaster, sometimes it's a miners cart. Or anywhere in between!

Baby cories are so cute..... Looking forward to reading about your work in the fishroom!

and sometimes it's a miner's cart on a roller coaster, and there aren't any seatbelts👀

[Minanora]

On 5/7/2022 at 7:02 PM, Torrey said:

and sometimes it's a miner's cart on a roller coaster, and there aren't any seatbelts👀

This.^

[Streetwise]