Too slow, I know. Three small updates -
1- The little test with the
Ludwigia repens 'broad leaf' bunch in one of the old SD planted tank, ended in near extermination of said little plant by the lonely two males M. lippincotianus and one male M. altidorsalis. There is a tiny bit of the plant left (after nearly 3 weeks), but it is mostly gone from both nibbling on, and just by pulling on it by the fish. So that was not successfully for that plant, by those 3 fish of Metynnis, in that very tank (I am trying to keep the various variables separate).
At the same time, all other existing (4 species) types of plants in their tank were not nibbled on.
2- I re-scaped, by taking out part of the wood (I had 2 pieces attached as one), and taking out some of the rocks. I think it is now more pleasant, simpler looking, and much easier to clean and work on. The main reason was the realization that the tank is not that big, and with the various adult fish coming, it was now clear I needed the space, both for the fish, and for the plants which are hoped to grow profusely as in my other tanks. Empty tanks always look huge; and then you add water...
Most plants are doing well, some better than others, but none is dying, and not quite flourishing yet, but certainly rooting and putting new growth and good color.
3- After one month+ in Qtene, the baby tiger SDs M. fasciatus entered the new planted tank. They have been there for 60 hours now. I had introduced 4 Otos, 1 small pleco and 2 Brochis sp. a few days earlier., and the tank itself has been running for 3 months with ghost shrimp.
The 4 little fasciatus are about 2 inches, and assertive and very active, boisterous about, swimming back and forth, much unlike the calmer, posed stance of the adults. They look great! You can barely make them out in the tank picture above, at the bottom center. Too small. For now the little ones think they are the bosses, not suspecting that soon the big dollars are coming in.
It is early to say anything meaningful but thus far they have not been eating the plants noticeably, and are eating the various foods they are used to (frozen mixed inverts, flake, pellets, nori, garbanzos). During quarentene, they knew only one plant species (Hygrophila sp.), which they did not eat (or much), and which is one that thrives in the other two dollar tanks.
The first 5 adults to come will be the 3 M. maculatus (1 female, 2 males) and 2 female lippincotianus, probably by this weekend. They will be followed sometime afterwards (week?) by 3 additional fish, 1 male M. altidorsalis and 2 male lippincotianus, to complete 12 SDs, 2 Brochis, 1 bushynose pleco, and a few otos.
I have to learn to take better pictures in the new acrylic tank. It is quite different than doing so with the glass aquaria. Perhaps a combination of inherent hazyness , unfavorable reflections and who knows what is making my pictures hazy and not quite in focus. I need to learn to improve upon that.
Cheers!
