Tropical Fish Forum

Tropical Fish Keeping Help and Advice => General Fishkeeping advice => Topic started by: fcmf on July 13, 2018, 02:34:36 PM

Title: Restocking 54-litre tank, now that numbers are depleting
Post by: fcmf on July 13, 2018, 02:34:36 PM
This seems terribly disrespectful in light of having discovered the loss of a very characterful fish earlier today but, as I mentioned previously, it's not been entirely unexpected and my mind had been wandering (partly to deal with the likely eventuality) to various algorithms of what I might do if/when that were to occur.

A few options in my mind are to replenish the tank a little with either of the following:
* a few sparkling gourami [it was the female tetras which concerned me might harass slow-moving gourami but that is no longer a situation]
* some scarlet badis [only seen first-hand this week for the first time]
* a shoal of micro-sized fish eg ember tetra, reed tetra (only seen first-hand this week), microdevario kubotai or some habrosus cories [it was the female tetras which harassed the pygmy cories in the past but this is no longer a situation] - any thoughts on these such as whether tetra would be better to keep the 3 remaining male x-ray tetra company, the microdevario kubotai to keep the rasboras company as it looks likely that they'll outlive the tetra, or the cories for something different?

If the final option above, and assuming my tank is actually 47 litres (taking into account decor, etc), I could either go for 6 (89% stocked) with a view to adding 4 more at a later stage, 8 (97% stocked) or 10 (106% stocked). As most of the micro shoals recommend 8-10, I was thinking 8 might be the safest option - or is this a bit risky?

Views welcome; thanks.

Title: Re: Restocking 54-litre tank, now that numbers are depleting
Post by: TopCookie on July 13, 2018, 02:49:57 PM
I dunno what to suggest myself, but I love this part - the choosing & buying of new fish...  :)
Title: Re: Restocking 54-litre tank, now that numbers are depleting
Post by: Fishbeard on July 13, 2018, 05:28:42 PM
As the thread below yours, I'm going through the same sort of thing!

I think Sparkling Gouramis look great, myself. I would have liked some, but don't think they'd mix well with the Honey Gouramis I already have so based on my own tastes, I'd go with those.

I also think corys are great, they seem to be full of personality and provide a nice bit of life to the bottom of an otherwise quiet tank. I've got a shoal of 6 Pandas and it's great watching them play, and the Habrosus look like they'd provide a similar kind of "entertainment".

I can't say much about the Badis, having never seen them in the flesh and I don't really rate tetras much.
Title: Re: Restocking 54-litre tank, now that numbers are depleting
Post by: Littlefish on July 13, 2018, 05:43:58 PM
All lovely looking fish. It's a tough choice.
Title: Re: Restocking 54-litre tank, now that numbers are depleting
Post by: Matt on July 13, 2018, 06:25:16 PM
I would go for the gourami as they will offer something different to the tank in terms of swimming behaviour. The badis do best in a species only thank as they easily get outcompeted for food.
Title: Re: Restocking 54-litre tank, now that numbers are depleting
Post by: Sue on July 13, 2018, 07:37:19 PM
The only shop I've seen scarlet badis in stocked only males as females are quite drab compared to males. It is this, and the fact they need live food, that has always stopped me buying any.
Title: Re: Restocking 54-litre tank, now that numbers are depleting
Post by: fcmf on July 14, 2018, 03:42:56 PM
Thanks, folks. Anyone know much about these guys? https://www.seriouslyfish.com/species/micronemacheilus-cruciatus/ In stock at my LFS. Wondering if my lack of aquatic plantkeeping skills might be an issue.
Title: Re: Restocking 54-litre tank, now that numbers are depleting
Post by: Helen on July 14, 2018, 11:04:47 PM
What an interesting looking fish.  :fishy1:

Think I'll put it on my list of fish to consider in the future.

Leaf litter might work with a mix of real and silk plants?
Title: Re: Restocking 54-litre tank, now that numbers are depleting
Post by: TopCookie on July 14, 2018, 11:26:46 PM
They look wikkid fcmf...  I can totally get why anybody would like those guys...  :)
Title: Re: Restocking 54-litre tank, now that numbers are depleting
Post by: Littlefish on July 15, 2018, 06:22:35 AM
Stunning markings on those fish.
I've never seen them before.
Title: Re: Restocking 54-litre tank, now that numbers are depleting
Post by: fcmf on July 15, 2018, 01:04:48 PM
FYI, they are being sold as "Hugh's log suckers" but it took me a bit of googling to identify what they were and subsequently their profile on SF.
 
My shortlist/thinking is currently down to either:
* sparkling gourami [for their different activity];
* microdevario kubotai (when the current LFS stock is replenished; current remaining stock are not as good as previous batches) [for their combination of activity and colour - keeps Mr FCMF content];
* ember tetra [for their colour albeit I've rarely found them that colourful in LFSs];
* habrosus cories (if LFS is able to order some more in) [as bottom-feeding fish, now that none of the remaining inhabitants scavenge for fallen food];
* the fish in the previous link [as bottom-feeding fish, with varied behaviour from current stock].

I have slight reservations over the 3rd and 5th, as I fear their small sizes may be at risk of getting stuck behind the filters; while filter wool can be helpful, a downside of my current main filter is the way that the bottom part floats out/away from the glass. The 4th and 5th are probably 'required' more than the 1st, 2nd or 3rd, while the colours of the 2nd and 3rd are probably the most tempting.

Shame there's not a colourful species of mini bottom-feeding fish as that might "fit the bill" perfectly. Shrimp might take on the role of scavenging for fallen food but I don't think I could handle witnessing them eating a dead fish or me finding a semi-eaten body or a skeleton... and maybe the same also applies to the 5th option above and potentially an albino bristlenose plec. I know some folk have said they haven't witnessed this but, if what occurred earlier this week when the second of the two female tetras succumbed during a few days' break away, I think the temptation might have been too much if I'd had any of these inhabitants. Maybe I need some sort of "therapy" to get over my heebie-jeebieness of such scenarios!

QT is set up with silk plants and ornaments in lieu of real plants, with an old mini catappa leaf from the main tank and a couple of new mini ones, minus the filter media, ready for the new arrivals once ultimately decided upon and purchased.

Views / additional suggestions welcome; thanks. ;D
Title: Re: Restocking 54-litre tank, now that numbers are depleting
Post by: Matt on July 15, 2018, 03:01:14 PM
The cories are a nice idea. They would both inhabit a part of the tank theat is not currently inhabited and be 'hoover' for any leftovers.

Depends if you want another colour in the same region of the tank or some activity where you don't have any currently...

How about panda garra?
Title: Re: Restocking 54-litre tank, now that numbers are depleting
Post by: fcmf on July 15, 2018, 03:23:06 PM
How about panda garra?
Darn - first glance at the pic and they looked like what I was looking for, then I scrolled down SF to the tank size required - 90x30cm. Argh - I need a larger fishtank!
Title: Re: Restocking 54-litre tank, now that numbers are depleting
Post by: Littlefish on July 15, 2018, 04:18:54 PM
How about panda garra?
Darn - first glance at the pic and they looked like what I was looking for, then I scrolled down SF to the tank size required - 90x30cm. Argh - I need a larger fishtank!

I love my panda garra in my river tank, they have a lot of character, but they are quite big fish when fully grown, are very active and very boisterous. Half the time I wonder if they need such a big tank because they are often chasing each other, bickering, and fighting. Possibly not the right fish for any peaceful community.  ???
Title: Re: Restocking 54-litre tank, now that numbers are depleting
Post by: Helen on July 15, 2018, 10:32:55 PM
Not to put a dampner on your suggestions, but I suspect that any substrate dwelling / scavenger fish would make short work of fallen tank mates. I have learned to accept that I only find bodies if they've got caught on the filter or are floating amongst the surface plants.
Title: Re: Restocking 54-litre tank, now that numbers are depleting
Post by: fcmf on December 02, 2018, 02:36:58 PM
Resurrecting an old thread but on the same issue. Neon green rasboras now in the tank - currently 7 (3 of the original complement of 8 and the 4 newer ones), along with 5 harlequins and 3 x-rays. I have an inkling I might lose a couple more harlies and the pop-eyed tetra in the coming months.

Not to put a dampner on your suggestions, but I suspect that any substrate dwelling / scavenger fish would make short work of fallen tank mates. I have learned to accept that I only find bodies if they've got caught on the filter or are floating amongst the surface plants.
I'm assuming this would also refer to cobalt blue gobies / stiphodon semoni? Just tinkering around with whether there's anything that might happily inhabit the bottom of the tank and a pair of them spring to mind as do-able... albeit my water with the pieces of limestone rock in it is just-about at the lowest end of their hardness requirements. Shrimp would be the obvious choice but I simply couldn't bear to catch sight of their "activity" in the event of a tank fatality.
Title: Re: Restocking 54-litre tank, now that numbers are depleting
Post by: Sue on December 02, 2018, 03:17:57 PM
I have not seen my stiphodons eating any dead fish, but that doesn't mean they don't. I lost a rasbora a couple of weeks ago and they didn't seem to take any notice.

Don't forget they need well oxygenated water which means a higher turnover through the filter than most fish. [Though I have to admit that my tank doesn't exactly have a high turnover  :-[ ]
Title: Re: Restocking 54-litre tank, now that numbers are depleting
Post by: fcmf on December 02, 2018, 04:39:32 PM
Thanks, Sue - your experience is helpful to know.

Hmmm. I can provide the higher turnover but, having just moved the second filter out of the tank recently and finding that this seemed to benefit the fish and particularly those who seemed to spend most of their time sheltering from being buffeted about, perhaps this isn't the wisest choice.
Title: Re: Restocking 54-litre tank, now that numbers are depleting
Post by: Matt on December 02, 2018, 06:53:29 PM
My experiences match Sues exactly both that they avoid dead fish on the substrate and that I keep them without much flow and they do fine!...
Title: Re: Restocking 54-litre tank, now that numbers are depleting
Post by: fcmf on December 02, 2018, 07:54:28 PM
Ooooh, the temptation... this might just complete my family.  :))
Title: Re: Restocking 54-litre tank, now that numbers are depleting
Post by: Matt on December 02, 2018, 08:42:31 PM
You know they dig into the substrate right?  Didn't know if that might put you off, or if you're comfortable with that?
Title: Re: Restocking 54-litre tank, now that numbers are depleting
Post by: Sue on December 02, 2018, 09:30:50 PM
I have a couple of slate caves for the gudgeons and the stiohodons had excavated under one so it was almost on the bottom glass with a hill to one side. When I did a water change on Friday I lifted the cave and smoothed the sand flat, then put the cave on top of the sand. By Saturday, the cave was in a hole again with a hill to one side.

In your sized tank I'd go for 1 m 2 f, or just maybe 3 f. The males are those with a hint of colour but the females are just black and white. Once they've settled, males colour up nicely.

I still don't know what exactly mine are, they were described as indigo blue gobies at the shop because that's what the wholesaler called them.
Title: Re: Restocking 54-litre tank, now that numbers are depleting
Post by: fcmf on December 03, 2018, 02:39:17 PM
You know they dig into the substrate right?  Didn't know if that might put you off, or if you're comfortable with that?
Thanks - this doesn't bother me at all... all that bothers me is seeing my own pets being eaten. :yikes:  In fact, if they ate any fallen fish food, so much the better. I do know Mr FCMF disliked kuhli loaches when he saw them, so we'll see what he thinks if we ever get to see any of these.

I have a couple of slate caves for the gudgeons and the stiohodons had excavated under one so it was almost on the bottom glass with a hill to one side. When I did a water change on Friday I lifted the cave and smoothed the sand flat, then put the cave on top of the sand. By Saturday, the cave was in a hole again with a hill to one side.
In your sized tank I'd go for 1 m 2 f, or just maybe 3 f.
I like the sound of their antics even more :D - in fact, their description is remarkably close to my own last night when I spent quite a lot of time hunting for my mislaid keys and glasses ::) - and thanks for the advice re numbers and sexes.
Title: Re: Restocking 54-litre tank, now that numbers are depleting
Post by: Sue on December 03, 2018, 03:03:25 PM
To me, stiphodons have a sort of frog like appearance with their eyes rather than the snake like appearance that puts people off kuhlis, and they are stiff bodied unlike the bendy khulis. Stiphs also have the endearing habit of lying on things with their heads slightly raised as though they are keeping a look out for something.

The shop where I bought mine did not have enough females on the first visit, so I went back when they had more in. The second time they had another species as well, though I cannot remember what they were. They were reddish in colour, and the ugliest stiphs I have ever seen - and three times the price of the "indigo blues"
Title: Re: Restocking 54-litre tank, now that numbers are depleting
Post by: Littlefish on December 04, 2018, 10:45:45 AM
To me, stiphodons have a sort of frog like appearance with their eyes rather than the snake like appearance that puts people off kuhlis, and they are stiff bodied unlike the bendy khulis. Stiphs also have the endearing habit of lying on things with their heads slightly raised as though they are keeping a look out for something.


Their cute little faces, and habit of resting with their heads up, make these little fish absolutely adorable. Watching them feed, with their little mouths going like the clappers, is very entertaining. The thing that always gets me with my gang is when they poke their heads out of burrows. A while back I saw 3 sharing a burrow, all poking their heads out in a row, and it was so cute.

I'm planning a rework of my river tank soon, so I can glue/silicone small pebbles to the bottom of the larger rocks, so that they don't collapse into the sand when the stiphs burrow under them.

I'll admit that I may be slightly biased towards these fish.  :)