PFS should work well.
I use either the API liquid test, or the API 5 tests in one strips.
I have A/B-ed them and found when compared are both in the ball park.
Mormyrid fish in aquaria
- Thread starter MormyridGirl89
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I use either the API liquid test, or the API 5 tests in one strips.
I have A/B-ed them and found when compared are both in the ball park.
Bloodworms, brine shrimp, mysis, and some reef fish mix…don’t remember what was in it but probably enriched brine shrimp and such. It would be a good idea to soak them in Vitachem
I’d avoid beef heart
Thank you so much! I like the strips because they're less intimidating, lol. Would you recommend I test the water weekly? Daily?
I know they're wild caught, so I'd like to try to mimic its natural environment in terms of water colour, lighting, plants, wood, etc as closely as possible. I've noticed a lot of African tanks have water that's a brownish/reddish colour. How is that done and is it beneficial?
Thanks again! I'm going to have to get over my fear of handling worms. Stupid question, but there's no way to just keep blood worm or any of their foods alive in the tank/sand so they can forage and feed like they would in the wild, is there?
These are called "black water tanks", and water gets the color of tea because tannins from plant sources have been added,
Some people use sunken wood, a layer of leaf litter, some people hang a porous bag of peat moss in a filter or hang bags of Rooeboos tea in the tank.
The tannins are mildly anti bacterial and the natural habitat of certain species in soft water habitats in the Amazon, or Africa.
Because a couple of my tanks are outside and influenced by rain and surrounding vegetation, and falling leaf litter, they get seasonally inundated with tannins.
I really like that colour. Last question (Ipromise), would tannins like this be beneficial for an elephant nose? I know it's stupid, but I just know I'm going to get emotionally attached to this fish, so I want to make sure everything is perfect. Sorry for all the questions!
Since M.petersii are found in areas with lots of fallen branches and leaf litter, tannins would seem to be a natural part of that type habitat.
Whether or not it would be necessary in an aquarium, may be taken under different aquarists interpretations. But.....
Since they seem sensitive to man made chemical additives, minerals, and often do poorly in your average aquaria, my tendency would be to go the natural route.
The Ram cichlid is an example of a similarly sensitive fish, that many people seem to have trouble keeping healthy.
IMO it's because many aquarists don't under stand that Rams come come from very soft water, low pH (5 to 6) habitat inundated with antibacterial tannins.
And the average water in th US is above neutral in pH (7 na d up) , moderately hard, mineral rich and devoid of tannins.
This water holds an entirely different species of bacteria rams are un-evolved to resist.
Whether or not it would be necessary in an aquarium, may be taken under different aquarists interpretations. But.....
Since they seem sensitive to man made chemical additives, minerals, and often do poorly in your average aquaria, my tendency would be to go the natural route.
The Ram cichlid is an example of a similarly sensitive fish, that many people seem to have trouble keeping healthy.
IMO it's because many aquarists don't under stand that Rams come come from very soft water, low pH (5 to 6) habitat inundated with antibacterial tannins.
And the average water in th US is above neutral in pH (7 na d up) , moderately hard, mineral rich and devoid of tannins.
This water holds an entirely different species of bacteria rams are un-evolved to resist.
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Bloodworms are usually sold frozen. Some people advocate raising live blackworms in the substrate for various reasons but most would advise against live foods due to potential pathogens. I doubt they last long anyways with the elephantnose constantly scouring the substrate.
You could try raising a bunch of scuds or planting heavily and adding a large colony of cherry shrimp before you get your elephantnose. Maybe they’ll breed up big enough numbers so they’ll always be some around for the fish to forage. Have no clue…it’s uncharted territory but you can try it
Funnily enough I bought 4 elephant nose today not kept them for about 10 years but when I did have them they seem to do ok and grew quite quickly and eat really well
I'm going to see how my new 4 are in a bit They have been in now about 4 hours
I'm going to see how my new 4 are in a bit They have been in now about 4 hours
