Rando place where xXInkedPhoenixX posts about stuff....occasionally...

[xXInkedPhoenixX]

It's always a fun day when you get new fish. In anticipation for future large tank I've had a hankering to get longfin Plecos like @Guppysnail as I have always admired hers. I have an affinity for albino animals as they are often overlooked in the world so I put a call out to my local fish club and asked if anyone had any babies. Today I picked them up! I got 2 and likelyhood is I'm not necessarily lucky enough to have gotten a boy and girl (that surprise will come later) all I do hope is that whatever they are they'll be happy to live together and with my Otos and Mystery Snails until they all get an upgrade in the coming months (6-8 mos probably). I brought an old Betta cup with me and picked them up from the keeper's house, they took a trip with me to the LFS to get some supplies: 

I needed to get some new fish food and frozen, plus I'm not quite done with the Parent Tank's redmodel (tough to do with occupants). I got a couple of pieces of nice wood. While I was there I'd contemplated the last couple of days (and as I have before) getting a few Kuhli Loaches for the Medival tank. So, after some research I decided if they had them I'd get 3 of those. Unfortunately they did have them, the sad little tank had quite a few dead fish in it. You know what I did of course being the "Colossal Idiot" (sorry @Colu and @Odd Duck, here I go again) that I am when I see fish in need....I got the 3. Now the gal helping me said that they got the shipment 2 days ago so maybe I've saved the 3 she caught in time. I ended up with 2 smaller ones and one larger. They were pretty pale but that's normal in my experience. I couldn't see any VISIBLE signs of illness. 

Anyway, went home and started water/temp acclimating the Plecos as they were going to go straight into the Parent Tank. Then set up a QT for the Kuhlis. They were pretty frantic. I put in a hide, a small "natural" arch with a windelov attached that I keep aside and some floaters from the Angry Man as well as a sponge filter. Then a dropped a few small sinking wafers for when they felt comfortable to come out. I am already enamoured by them. Here's a couple of them shortly after I finished setting up the QT (hard to get a pic of!)

So with the Parent Tank. Well I did a big water change/gravel vac. Then I added more small gravel mixed with coral to brighten up the substrate. I started boiling the wood. I removed the Bacopa Caroliniana. I've decided I'm just not that big a fan of rooted plants. I love me a Java and Anubias. I may be buying more to make up for the plant mass I took out but it looks so much better without the Bacopa. I do love my Amazons so they will stay and they've been in the tank so long I will need to feed them some root tabs so I will be buying some from ACO in the near future. Here is the release of the 2 baby Plecos (short google vid): 

https://photos.app.goo.gl/AQBoF979iL3puuVk8

Here are my little red-eyed beauties checking out the tank: 

Even met an Oto first thing: 

I ended up putting 1 of the new wood pieces in and attaching a few plants (not glued just "stuck") to see what I need to do. It looks kind of like a root coming from the back of the tank. I like it so far. I also ended up removing the Amazon(s) from the green pot in the short video and placing it right down on the gravel and covering them with more substrate of gravel and coral. The 2nd piece of wood is still a floater and it's a smaller piece I think it will just lay on the substrate or go one end in and the other on a tank wall but not positive yet. It may just go in another tank- we'll see. Still one pot in the tank but it is colored like a rock so I'll be leaving it, also creates a wall for the Otos/Plecos/Snails to hide behind. Once I got done fiddling around the tank was pretty cloudy mostly from the coral so I just dosed some Prime, shut the lights off for the day and will hopefully be able to take some decent pics tomorrow. 

The Plecos are so much more active than my Otos have been so far. It might be because they are exploring. They were in a floating breeder at the keeper's house (don't know for how long) so they probably needed to stretch a fin. I caught a pic of one on the glass after lights out: 

The Kuhlis are also settling in fine they've gotten a lot of color back. I will let them relax and see if I will need to medicate them. I hope they won't need it but I'm ready! All three of them are poking out from under the hide (not in it! 😄) and they were eating!!! 

Super thrilled about my new additions! They are both species I've wanted for a long time!

Edited May 26, 2023 by xXInkedPhoenixX

[Odd Duck]

Medieval looks great and love the sword!

I have a soft spot for Kuhlis, too!

[xXInkedPhoenixX]

I got up early enough to watch tank lights go on today. Everyone in the Parent Tank doing fine it seems. The snails knocked off all the plants (which I'm not surprised about) from the wood but for the Anubias which was attached a little better since there was a helpful branch. I was happy to see the Otos taking advantage of the wood, several were sitting on it this morning. Haven't seen the Plecos on it yet but they were both accounted for this morning and seem to be sticking to the glass for now. 

The cloudiness has settled but there's still a little hanging on. To be safe I'm going to run the UV filter in there later. The 2nd piece of wood still seems to want to float so it will be a bit until I add that piece. Here is the tank so far in its remodel (I need to remove the whitened airline holder along the back wall): 

Here is one of the Plecos this morning: 

My "magenta" Mystery snail ("magenta" to me is debatable) blends in well with the new wood (spot the Oto!): 

The snails were playing king of the mountain this morning too, Magenta on top, then Knock the Nerite, and Blue Mystery. I still haven't named my Mystery Snails though Intrepid Partner claimed naming rights (and I retain Veto power): 

The Kuhilis seem to all be with me still too and ate most of the food I left out. Yay! 

Edited May 26, 2023 by xXInkedPhoenixX

[xXInkedPhoenixX]

I think I'm just about done with the Parent Tank remodel but have yet to take another pic of it. the UV filter seems to have helped clear up some of the foggy water from the disruption the rest was likely the coral settling. My two lovely albino Plecos seem to be doing well. I put in some blanched zucchini to see if anyone is interested (took the seeds out so the piece is small). Everyone seems to like the Repashy and Hikari wafers (though it's rare I catch anyone eating but the snails). 

[xXInkedPhoenixX]

So last night I visited my Mum and as always I say hello to Zaggi, formerly known as Purple. She is such a big girl! Sadly since her separation from the original tank because she was a bully-  her color is not as bright in this tank as it's a hooded tank with factory LEDs and we all know how that can be! 

I didn't get a chance to do anything with my tanks yesterday as I had a long shift so I was out before the lights were on and home far after they went off. This also means the 3 gallon QT with the 3 Kuhlis needed attention today. They of course hide so first thing was to make sure the 3 were still alive, and they are! Woot! As fast as they are it's really hard to do visual inspections but it appears they are all still healthy which is awesome since I haven't treated the tank with any meds. There was NOTHING left of the 3-4 mini sinking wafers I put in the tank so I also know they are eating. Once I did a small water change I plopped 4 more wafers in and one came out nearly right away and started eating! 

Edited May 31, 2023 by xXInkedPhoenixX

[Guppysnail]

Your plecos are beautiful. And such cute little kuhli!  This is going to be a very interesting tank. I’m looking forward to you getting it set s as ms settled. 

[Beardedbillygoat1975]

Those plecos are beautiful @xXInkedPhoenixX! Those translucent fins makes me want to go that direction. Anyone know if those crossed with snow whites would yield anything interesting? 
Our bettas are in the kids tanks and sometimes I wish they were elsewhere but the boys really derive satisfaction in their betta pals. The 3 kuhlis I have with Mrs T our female koi betta are amazing little buggers. I thought they were all dead last week but nope they were just so comfortable they were laying on their sides and then woke and ran off. Too funny! 
Beauties all around as per usual! Have fun!

[xXInkedPhoenixX]

On 6/1/2023 at 7:09 PM, Beardedbillygoat1975 said:

Those plecos are beautiful @xXInkedPhoenixX

Thanks! I really love them. Funnily enough we were just talking about genetics over here: 

The Kuhlis are amazing I'm really digging them, I know I won't see them much but I'll be really excited when I do see them, like a nice surprise every time! 

Edited June 2, 2023 by xXInkedPhoenixX

[xXInkedPhoenixX]

One of my Kuhlis is almost entirely black. Wondering if it is a "Black Kuhli"? 

I love how they stick their little heads out.

One of my albino Plecos "snail waxing" tonight with the lights off....

[Beardedbillygoat1975]

On 6/1/2023 at 7:31 PM, xXInkedPhoenixX said:

Thanks! I really love them. Funnily enough we were just talking about genetics over here: 

The Kuhlis are amazing I'm really digging them, I know I won't see them much but I'll be really excited when I do see them, like a nice surprise every time! 

The kuhlis just make me smile. Water changes often get them going and I can’t wait for this weekend when I can service their tank. 

[Odd Duck]

On 6/2/2023 at 12:30 AM, xXInkedPhoenixX said:

One of my Kuhlis is almost entirely black. Wondering if it is a "Black Kuhli"? 

There’s a fair bit of variability within some species.

This is a decent article about the various species.  I’ve haven’t done a full fact check but it all seems to be pretty in line with what I’ve read elsewhere.

https://fishtopics.com/kuhli-loach-types/

Edited June 2, 2023 by Odd Duck
Autocorrect dropped an important word “haven’t” done a full fact check. 🤦🏻‍♀️

[xXInkedPhoenixX]

I generally like to keep things light here on this journal but because he's a part of this journal from time to time it would be hard to avoid bringing it up. This morning I found my beautiful Koi Betta fish, Koianu Reefs had passed away. It wasn't a shock as he'd not been doing well for the last week. I did what I could to make him feel better but he did not recover (not here to diagnose), it was a pretty steep decline. Anyway, I will very much miss him he was a very good boy. I found some pictures from when I originally got him I'll share and a short video here: 

https://photos.app.goo.gl/DZEYmgBs3Mr7rRN78

I will very much miss his presence in my tank. He got buried in a place of honor with my Pomegranate bonsai. Swimming "upstream" symbolically to turn into the little dragon he was when he was alive.

His new friends, the Mudmen, will keep him company: 

On a positive note, I've decided to keep his tank, the Accidental Tank going and I will be breaking down the Flex. The inhabitants from there will go into the Accidental Tank which includes Serket my rescue GloBetta: 

As well as her now 4 friends, Kirby the Hillstream, her Endlers Flare and Phoenix and BFG the Nerite will join the other Nerites in the Accidental Tank, Sergeant, Little Red and Serious Black. 

This is moving towards eliminating tanks. Intrepid Partner and I will eventually be getting an 180 gallon tank. Then of course Betta won't be an option in the tank so as they pass their tanks will be broken down and any tankmates will just be added to the larger tank in future since everyone else are peaceful community fish or snails. The only exception will be the Medieval tank. He really likes that one and wants to see that one continue even after Valere passes whenever that may be. So while this is very sad for me to lose one of my fish friends, we all go through these times and I find comfort in that. I will miss his fishy face and will remember him as the Betta that got me back into Betta. SIP Koianu my little friend!

[DaveO]

Ever evolving. 

[xXInkedPhoenixX]

As @DaveO put it. Ever evolving. Agreed friend. 

I have pushed forward from my lovely Koianu's death and made his tank new again. I've had nothing but frustrations from the Flex in the last year as far as keeping it clean and making it look nice, filtering and etc, etc. So I'm actually glad I will be tearing down that tank in the near future. 

This weekend I started rescaping the Accidental Tank- it will no longer be a grow out as I've decided that if I got new Oto babies before I move to a larger, all-in-one community tank, any babies will stay (unless they are eaten!) This means it gets it's own style and look more like one of my permanent tanks. I loved the sculpture that I specifically bought for the Flex AND I'd recently bought a Fu Dog for Koianu's tank (though he passed before I could restyle it). Then I had a small epiphany- I will still use both and I needed another Fu Dog (they're not supposed to be solo anyway). Got some new larger gravel. Performed some Reverse Respiration thanks to @dasaltemelosguy, to make some of the anubias look better before placing them. And here is my new tank: 

Most of the hardscape from the Flex was used (the granite where I feed them in the front left and the "rock" cave to the right with anubias attached along with the sculpture in the middle as mentioned). I also of course included almost all the rock and plants from both tanks. Now I think it needs a new name. Whatcha think? 

Everyone seems happy, exploring the new home. Got pics of everyone but Kirby who is probably reclaiming the rock sculpture on the right of the tank. Here are the last remaining 2 Endlers (from my old group of 5): 

And then we have BFG who will joining Sergeant, Serious Black and Little Red: 

And last but not least rescue GloBetta, Serket: 

Who looks so much better in real tank lighting unlike in the Flex. 

Since the Flex is empty I decided that I was going to use it one last time briefly as a QT. I went to the LFS got 4 more Endler males and 1 Hillstream loach for the redesigned tank.....they only had 1 Hillstream in a 20 gallon tank with 3 Julii Corycats. Yes, I know Corys should be kept in groups of 6 or more - but this is all they had. Funny thing is if there were 6 I would have left them there. I cleaned out their tank. I'll get 3 more when I get them all out of QT. The Corys are intended for the Parent Tank which has basically become bottom feeder heaven. Anyway, here is everyone in QT: 

Then last mention is the Angry Man. My most planted tank and the least of my troubles when it comes to any of them. Not that any of my other tanks, besides the Flex, are really issues but truly I do so much less to that tank and have to tinker with my others so much more in comparison. It gets the "extra" Dwarf Water Lettuce from the Dragon Tank now and I throw out the excess from time to time. Other than recently throwing in some ACO root tabs and having to manually pull soome hair algae from the tallest java ferns this tank is everyone's favorite in this house (followed very closely by the Medieval tank recently):  

And of course ruler of that tank is my beloved Bolivian, Punk, who still is doing quite well: 

 

Edited June 13, 2023 by xXInkedPhoenixX
Oi, pictures.

[nabokovfan87]

Punk is just the best.

[xXInkedPhoenixX]

Everyone in QT in the Flex still doing good. I am kind of biting my nails about a couple of posts I've seen that Julii Cory tend to hide...that sucks because they are intended for the Parent Tank that I had hoped to liven up more with Corycat antics since my Otos and even new Pleco tend to just hide in. (I will mention that I haven't seen the 2nd Pleco in almost 2 weeks sadly I think it passed away somewhere in the tank- the other one is alive and well and getting bigger.) So far though the 3 Julii are super active in the Flex, constantly moving around. Granted they don't have a lot of places to hide in the Flex and that will not be true in the Parent Tank. 

Anyhow, saw the new Hillstream Loach along with the rest of the QT fish- this one's name we've decided is Dyson (to go along with Kirby): 

Speaking of Kirby, little one was out exploring the new tank this morning: 

Hopefully Kirby will like their new friend when they are added! 

My little Betta Invictus is always amazing me. He's so pretty and he's always excited to see me in the morning (I mean, food right?) He got 3 bloodworms today. 

And of course, Punk: 

[DaveO]

On 6/14/2023 at 1:57 PM, xXInkedPhoenixX said:

this one's name we've decided is Dyson (to go along with Kirby): 

🤣 Good one

[Odd Duck]

Glo Dog tank in a nod to Serket and the foo dogs?

I like the tank, BTW!

[xXInkedPhoenixX]

Ok, I'm nerming out people. On a total whim I put it out to my local fish club that I was looking for a girl. Didn't think anything would come of it....this weekend, PUNK is getting a girlfriend!!! Here she is!:

So, on the subject of sexing Bolivians. There has been discussion on the forum about fins and coloring and even face shape helping to determine sex. I am still standing on the information on this video, based entirely on vent size and shape: 

They are not easy animals to sex that is for sure. So in going on the above information I would like to say I'm 99% sure that Punk is a boy going JUST on the sex parts seen. Now if I were to go on his fins I'd probably say I had a girl. But, I don't think so- about to put my money where my mouth is. So based on info in the above video, small pointed vents are boys. This is what I see on Punk, it is always small, and always poiinted: 

THEN the forum member who is graciously selling me his female sent pics (they also said they were 90% sure they had a female, because again, it's really hard to sex them). According to the video the vent on the female is prominent and blunt. Well, not the best pic but clearly bigger than Punk's (sorry Punk! 😄): 

Forum member says it is very obvious in person. Girl or Boy, pretty sure I have the opposite of whatever Punk is! So hopefully soon we can see if they like each other and make pretty babies! Whatcha think Punk:

 

Edited June 16, 2023 by xXInkedPhoenixX

[Guppysnail]

Congratulations Punk! 💕❤️  Oh how exciting. 
Im so eager to see how they make out and the beautiful babies. 
Punk always looks like he is getting ready to say something very profound and philosophical   

 

[nabokovfan87]

On 6/16/2023 at 11:04 AM, xXInkedPhoenixX said:

Ok, I'm nerming out people. On a total whim I put it out to my local fish club that I was looking for a girl. Didn't think anything would come of it....this weekend, PUNK is getting a girlfriend!!! Here she is!:

Exciting!  That's so awesome. 🙂

On 6/16/2023 at 11:26 AM, Guppysnail said:

Punk always looks like he is getting ready to say something very profound and philosophical   

 

On 6/16/2023 at 11:04 AM, xXInkedPhoenixX said:

Whatcha think Punk:

*insert something here about never stepping into the same river twice and then demanding a bloodworm*

That guy is too fun.  Love Rams!

[Chick-In-Of-TheSea]

@xXInkedPhoenixX keep an eye to make sure one ram doesn’t pick on the other, or prevent the other from getting something to eat. Just something that was mentioned over on my Bolivian ram journal from a couple of followers.  It seemed to only occur with 2 Bolivian rams in a tank. (I don’t believe the genders of those rams were known.)

[nabokovfan87]

I found this and had to share...

https://www.catfishstudygroup.org/pdf/journal/2014_2.pdf

[xXInkedPhoenixX]

On 6/17/2023 at 3:40 PM, Chick-In-Of-TheSea said:

keep an eye

Thank you very much, yes I'm aware that there are possibilities that this won't work out at all and I have contingency plans. Even if they won't co-habitate in the 20 now, the tank in the future is in the range of 180-190 gallons and there were already plans to have more Bolivians. I am also painfully aware that Bolivians like to pick their own partners (that's what "they" say), however, in my research so far there's still a good chance this will work as well. I watched this video today which was very helpful: 

I plan on putting her in a floating breeder possibly up to overnight when I get her tomorrow afternoon and observe for a while. See if Punk even notices. Just to see if that's a good way of introducing them even though I know he's more a bottom level dweller I've seen him come up when he is curious. My own experiment. (I'm like the guy in the video, I love being told I can't do something.)

@nabokovfan87 thanks for that share! I think I've seen them before but forgot how awesome they are. Wouldn't that be a cool fish to have! 

Edited June 18, 2023 by xXInkedPhoenixX

[nabokovfan87]

On 6/17/2023 at 7:45 PM, xXInkedPhoenixX said:

Wouldn't that be a cool fish to have! 

I'ma have to book a flight one day to go find some. Beautiful fish.