Feeling slightly annoyed...
I went to my local MA recently to pick up some more dechlorinator and take a look at what fish they had in stock. I've been planning a few different additions recently, after having a few of my gang go to fishy heaven.
Over and above anything else, what I'm after is a tank with lots of fish with different 'behaviour'. For example, gourami behaviour I would describe as gentle inquisitive playful with their little feelers... my rams are also playful but more rulers of the tank and love how they seem to hover in the water then swim then hover as they inspect their territory, always after something to eat. Then there's the shrimp and snail's... I'm sure lots of you will know what I mean. This of course creates an unusual community but one I love.
As such, having never kept corys one part of my plan was I wanted to give one of the dwarf species a go as my tank isn't huge anyways and because the smaller bioload would allow my to look into other things like neon gobys (which I had discussed ordering in specially with the MA guy). My local MA is a new store with enthusiastic staff and a really great store in my opinion (just want to make that clear). They didn't have any dwarf corys in (though dario dario might get their own tank at some point, or dwarf puffers, or...
) but they did have false julii cory labelled as 3cm max.
To cut a long story short I got three, thinking I might come back another time and get a couple more further down the line to boost numbers if they worked out ok in the tank. What I have since found out is that they grow to at least 5cm
. Far bigger than anything else in the tank and putting me mildly overstocked. Fortunately my water quality (since I started growing Sue's Hornwort like 3 inches a week by dosing micronutrients, I think the Hygrophila might be getting going at last now too Paddyc) has been superb, perfect in fact for every test so I think Ill be OK on that front. But its certainly put a hold to my plans for other species increasing their numbers...
They are fantastic characters and I love their sail like dorsal fins as they jiggle around on the bottom, going for the occasional surf across the glass
and I've never felt comfortable with the thought of taking fish back to the store (why would you by something and put it through all the stress of being moved when you know you don't want it long term) so they are here to stay.
So rather than feel annoyed by my plans being ruined I've decided to try and come up with a new plan for my community which will also translate into a larger setup whenever I decide the time is right to get myself that aquaoak
Might even try and tweak the tank layout a bit later to give some more floor space, and plan for a sandy area, maybe an external filter to create some more room...
Keep you updated