I just dont see why everyone is so adamantly against retics... ive never owned anything but retics. and knock on wood ive never had a major issue or death with these fish. the best advise I can offer in my experiance with them is start then on live black worms, and go from there. ours are free fed blackworms and get chopped up nightcrawlers, we're working on pellets but they are incrediably active and inquisitive fish. our newest lil girl ( weve had her a few monthes now) came in with a damaged tail and in fairly poor shape. our lfs carry " teacups" on a regular basis, i hand picked the other 2 we have and other then prazing them ( imo neccisary with any teacup type) and giving them live foods to bulk them up. they arent any harder to keep/ maintain then my other fish.
a little tlc goes a long way with these fish, and maintaining good water quality. If you understand the mechanics of the nitrogen cycle, and filtration... and how to keep your ammonia/nitrite/ nitrates in consistant good perameters tank size would be your biggest obstical. sourceing live black worms could be another obstical.
