Big Plans!

[NoodleCats]

I moved the 4 hoplosternum punctatum catfish to the 135g today, was fun netting them out of their old 55g. They're taking some time adapting to their new tank.

The hoplos, Urchin, Squid, Starfish, and Stingray.


my common goldfish boy Neowise


My ranchu goldfish boy Puff


and while getting more filter floss from the store, I saw this cutie and technically there's room for 1 more fancy goldfish easily, so meet Spotty the calico fantail.

His eyes are 2 different colours. Doesn't sit still for long either. He's still a baby, only about 2.5" not tiny but looks tiny compared to the other 2. Goldfish are social, so great to have companions, but I also don't want to crowd the tank. So 3 is a good number. Fancies don't grow as huge as commons or comets, but they still get a decent size if given the right care.


I'll be doing another photo update of the tank tonight as so far it has cleared up a bit more and I should have the new light setup too.

 

[fishorama]

Well, you know I love the hoplos I'm guessing 2 M & 2 F? What do you think?

 

[NoodleCats]

Well, you know I love the hoplos I'm guessing 2 M & 2 F? What do you think?

Can't say for sure, the youngster is their baby I kept, too young to say 100% but lean towards female on that one too (breast plates are very far apart and have not shown signs of narrowing, but that can change). As for adults there's 1 adult male and 2 adult females.




The new light is in. The fish keep stirring up the water, so will likely be some time before it clears up properly.



Baby hoplo


Adult male hoplo checking out his new tankmates. They're not sure what to think of each other yet.


Seeing this guy under the good lighting... ah he's so handsome.


Can you believe he was such a tiny baby when I caught him wild?

 

[fishorama]

Thanks for the trip down hoplo memeory lane. Of course I can't tell but I love them!

Your new tank & fish all look great!

 

[The Masked Shadow]

Nice tank! The scape is awesome! What kind of glue did you use to attach the rocks to the wood? Would you consider getting a different species of top water fish?

 

[NoodleCats]

Video now that good light is here and all the fish have been added.

 

[NoodleCats]

Nice tank! The scape is awesome! What kind of glue did you use to attach the rocks to the wood? Would you consider getting a different species of top water fish?

Actually, the driftwood I used 30lb fishing line wrapped around the wood and then around flagstone to keep them anchored! Used a steel file to make grooves in the flagstone to keep the line from sliding off so keeps it snug. Wrapped around several times.

Ive tried crazy glue and aquarium silicone before, it works for small jobs, but not for this large of a piece. This piece would tear right off the rocks given that chance unfortunately. These pieces are quite large.


I considered either maybe doing an upper level shoal of rosy red minnows or adding 1 more fancy goldfish... ended up going for the goldfish. Don't think I'd add much else up top considering the size goldfish get. Plus the ranchu goldfish is totally blind, so he has to compete for food and if there's faster or much more fish, that poses a problem. He usually feeds off food off the bottom. Snuffles around the dirt looking for it. He knows when it's food time, food falls on his head, he immediately goes to the bottom to start looking.

 

[The Masked Shadow]

Is he missing eyes?

 

[NoodleCats]

Is he missing eyes?

No, he's got both his eyes, but the pupils are not formed proper. He's had a run in with chemicals in the past in an accident, it affected his eyes and a couple other fish in the tank, and another one of my tanks too (the other tank was deadlier). Unfortunately while some of the eyes recovered, this boy's didn't and he's fully blind. Doesn't react to movement or much. Bumps into things, doesn't see food as it falls, blindly sifts for food too in the substrate. He and one of the platies are both 100% blind.

Can see a close up of his eyes here. Pupils are shrunken and misshapen. Have been this way since.

 

[fishorama]

All your fish look so small in your big new tank! I'm happy your blind fish are adapting so well to their new home. That was such a great save on your part!