I'm struggling with that now. I love my tank densely planted but the Del loves to be snuggled in there behind plants. I'm sure that's how they are in the wild... so each WC I've been slowly pulling out / cutting back plants that he is hiding in/behind/under. I am seeing him more but he still doesn't come out a ton unitl feeeding time. I know it's still a new environment for him and this might change, but.... I don't want to rip out all of my plants, either.
The ropes are out a lot. I do plan on getting another poly or two and I think that might help. Planning on getting active ones like Palmas Polli and Senegal. Even though they're not the most exotic, I feel like if they are out a lot he might be encouraged to come out more too. Just worried about bioload. I've been watching nitrates though and it's been OK, even with the palmas. I don't have a great understanding on how much each poly contributes to bioload.
Tank - 65 gallon, 36 x 18 x 24
Stock:
1 x Ctenopoma
1 x Delhezi
3 x Ropes
1 x BN pleco
1 x Para pleco
1 x small little neon goby that I'm sure barely adds to bioload
5 x Congo tetras
3 x African butterflies
2 - 4 x Kuhli loaches (not sure how many were eaten or are still around, I have at least 2)
I love most of these fish but it's not the most active tank to look at! Would love at least one bichir that hangs out and swims around.
Or I might just need to start making more open space in the tank. I don't know. I will be moving in about a year, and upgrading tanks. I was just going to totally rescape then with more sparse plants but I just cannot ever get rid of them completely. I like my jungle, I think my fish do, too. I think my rope fish were immediately comfortable because of how lush it is. But I should be able to see my fish!
Here is it right now. I am doing a WC today and was going to pull out more of the vals - the tall weedy looking plants. They tend to take over.
Input on any of this -
Scaping and stocking?
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