135g Peruvian biotope.

  • We are currently upgrading MFK. thanks! -neo
Nice to hear your GTs are eating more. I think the new hierarchy isn't established well yet. It probably used to be alpha(passed away), female, and then the other two males. I believe that the males are still trying to be the alpha so maybe that's why their appetite/feeding pattern is not as aggressive yet.

I hope you have great luck with breeding them, spread that species to the world! :)

Good eye catching the ick early! That could have been a big mess with all them being young still.

Hahaha, watched all of them huh? This was when you were waiting for them to arrive?

So now that everyone's kind of adjusted to sharing the water, it's like you're giving them flu shots hahaha.
 
Okay, so I guess I should update.

I lost the smallest GT due to aggression and now the medium one is bearing the brunt of it. I am a little fed up if I'm honest. The aggression on these guys is just uncomprehendable, they keep tearing eachother apart. Kinda sucks that there is only two left and the smallest is riddled with parasites due to stress.

I did a 75% wc, caught both fish and forced them epsom salt. In the hope the parasites will actually go this time. I guess I will update sooner or later...
 
Hey that's tough man, I feel your frustration. I'm guessing this is the risk that comes with getting F1 specimens(especially the juvies)?

I hope that the two survivors pull through, if not, I hope at least one male survives to be your show fish. Without a doubt you provide them more than enough care and shelter. Do they not use the caves to hide from the stress?

I'm not sure if anyone does the same as me but I always put in some Aquarium Salt by API every time I do water changes. You could call it their vitamins to keep them healthy.

Is there any way you could separate the two(one in a grow out tank) or keep them away from each other(divider)? I hope you don't lose one more.
 
Mr. Rain Cloud said:
Hey that's tough man, I feel your frustration. I'm guessing this is the risk that comes with getting F1 specimens(especially the juvies)?

I hope that the two survivors pull through, if not, I hope at least one male survives to be your show fish. Without a doubt you provide them more than enough care and shelter. Do they not use the caves to hide from the stress?

I'm not sure if anyone does the same as me but I always put in some Aquarium Salt by API every time I do water changes. You could call it their vitamins to keep them healthy.

Is there any way you could separate the two(one in a grow out tank) or keep them away from each other(divider)? I hope you don't lose one more.
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I guess so, Although, when they were delivered they all had parasites and were pretty malnourished. Yet the supplier swore there were no issues and were quite unhelpful. So I put some of it down to that. The other issue was that they sent me fish of varying size, by upto an inch. Which to me isn't very helpful.

Anyway, rant over.

A store in the UK is doing an import from jeff rapps soon. So I think I will jump on that and get some more. This time a larger size. 2-2.5". 'with colour' apparantly. So hopefully coming from rapps they'll be in better health when arriving.

Also, I got the measurements pretty wrong. When out of the water the little one measured under 1.5", the medium is around 1.75" (measured last night). As for the largest one I would say 2-2.25" but a lot more bulky than the other.

The medium one will NOT use the caves. It's really bugging me. It is going about its business as normal for around 15% of the time. Around 80% of the time it's being chased and 5% the larger one will swim alongside spreading its fins. Its really wierd... Anyway, the main issue isn't really aggression, its more the size difference. If the little one begins to eat the difference wont be too noticable. However, if it doesn't. I fear the larger will simply kill it.

I am hoping for it to start growing as it looks like it hasn't grown at all vs the larger one which is like a weed. Otherwise, into the sump he goes (Smaller one).

I have tried supplementing vitamins, but I never noticed a change and it's quite expensive to keep treating about 50+ gallons of water.

Thanks for checking in and I will be sure to update how things go...
 
Hey I had no idea that they arrived in that condition! It's a shame that you might have to get a second batch but either way, I hope you end up with a great looking pair.

What can you say about the supplier you dealt with, will you be ordering from them again? What do you think of keeping the smaller one in the 135 then maybe put the bigger one in the sump? That way, the little one recovers and gets bigger while the bigger one in the sump doesn't grow as fast while behaving the way it wants to.
 
Hey I had no idea that they arrived in that condition! It's a shame that you might have to get a second batch but either way, I hope you end up with a great looking pair.<br />
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What can you say about the supplier you dealt with, will you be ordering from them again? What do you think of keeping the smaller one in the 135 then maybe put the bigger one in the sump? That way, the little one recovers and gets bigger while the bigger one in the sump doesn't grow as fast while behaving the way it wants to.
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I know it sucks! Its money I could be spending on a plec, haha. Well either way the outcome should be good.

I will not order from them again. The first time I ordered I paid for before 12 delivery and it didn't arrive until 4.30, but they wouldn't refund the extra delivery cost.

Well I did think of removing the aggressor, but leaving the smaller one in the tank would end badly IMO. It would get no food because of the SDs whereas the larger is an aggressive feeder. Whereas in the sump the smaller one will be left in peace with no competition for food.

I will assess things after work and see how its going. This morning they were both out front together with no chasing so who knows. .
 
Update:

The tank in general is okay... The params check out perfect, but the clarity seems to be suffering, not so sure why? If anyone can give me some indication as to why that would be great. There is a general cloud, I put it down to the treatment and the reintro of some media (carbon). But any tips would be appreciated.

As for the fish they couldn't be better! The two terrors are both doing great, one is still significantly larger but both are growing! The larger of the two has begun to develop a hump and an elongated dorsal, so I think it may be a male. They have both coloured up dramatically, the larger has become lighter and the smaller darker (not sure if they are stress colours though!?). For the time being though, I have given up sexing them, I decided what will be will be...

The SDs are getting huge! They are about the size of tin can lid. They eat everythimg that moves, and if they can eat it they will at least swim around with it in their mouths. There is a small one which obviously doesn't have the genetics as its kinda like a dwarf. So far they have left all the amazon swords alone. But thats because they are so well fed!

Cories are fattening up and putting on some size. They're always busy, but they don't touch the algae so I need to get a pleco!

The tetras are doing okay, always squabbling but thats to be expected with so few if them. They do for the most part stick together though. They make a lovely addition to the tank (if they stay!).

I will add some pictures when the tank clears a little. At the minute the pictures wouldn't do any justice.
 
Regarding the water clarity, perhaps it's just the sand? You could try adding more filter floss on your filter to trap the sand. It could be that your current is just constantly stirring up some sand as well. Aside from that, maybe your water treatment is a cause as well.

It seems that your guess on their sex is right, but who knows, hahaha. I think you have a pair and this would save you from spending more on a new batch. I'd like to see some new pictures of your fat SDs!

I wouldn't get a pleco for algae reasons, there's a high chance that it will eat the plants first? It's always easier to scrub off algae than depend on one pleco to clean it up. If you think about it, the pleco will produce more waste than help clean up the tank.

So how many tetras are left? 5?
 
Mr. Rain Cloud said:
Regarding the water clarity, perhaps it's just the sand? You could try adding more filter floss on your filter to trap the sand. It could be that your current is just constantly stirring up some sand as well. Aside from that, maybe your water treatment is a cause as well.

It seems that your guess on their sex is right, but who knows, hahaha. I think you have a pair and this would save you from spending more on a new batch. I'd like to see some new pictures of your fat SDs!

I wouldn't get a pleco for algae reasons, there's a high chance that it will eat the plants first? It's always easier to scrub off algae than depend on one pleco to clean it up. If you think about it, the pleco will produce more waste than help clean up the tank.

So how many tetras are left? 5?
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Since I last updated the water has cleared an awful lot. Not quite as polished as I wanted, but these things take time. I don't think it was the sand though, the circulation despite, being powerful, isn't angled correctly to force any sand around.

However, I had a few extra £££'s so I have ordered what I like to call a 'Shed Load' of media. That should be here tomorrow if not today. Even though the current media handles the bio load. All the fish are growing at an alarming rate. Especially the SD's! I will get some pictures this weekend when my girlfriend comes over with her camera :D

I think although they may be M+F, the larger one is to aggressive, so an extra few will help disperse aggression and strengthen the bong in a pair. Also, In all breeding attempts I have seen - both on youtube and on here - have large quantities of them, I guess this is the way to go.

As for the pleco, I was thinking of adding some BN's to clear up some of the algae. I like it to an extent, but everything has algae on it now XD. I know the BN's don't come from peru, so this may bug me too much. I will have to have a little talk with myself on that one.

Still 5 Tetras, considering picking more up, since the largest GT went they have been happy as ever.

Mr. Rain Cloud said:
You should check this out! http://www.monsterfishkeepers.com/forums/showthread.php?481042-Stalsbergi-spawn

How's your fish coming along???
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I saw this! Fantastic! Gives me some hope. Also gives me reason to get more - seems to work for him!
 
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