DancesWithFish said:
Researching this species, since so many recommended it to me and I couldn't figure out why... seems to be a common theme with these guys. Apparently, they shouldn't be alone - some fish profile pages are even saying they believe the Otos need to share their stomach bacteria among each other? At any rate, I've heard a minimum of (3) is a decent bet, since they tend to school.
(And no, I will be going for shrimp instead myself. I don't feel with my low pH and no live plants, and their need for such a varied diet, that I can give them the best home; plus I only have a 12g and 3 of them would chip away at other schooling fish.)
Ditto with schooling fish on the Neon Tetras... I think there are better choices to subject to cycling, if you feel it's fair to do to any fish. (Neons aren't hardy to changes in water parameters from what I've read), and to take only (1) when he should be with at least five of his friends may stress him out even further.
I'm with the other guy on Fishless Cycling. If you can be SURE your ammonia source is pure... it's so simple. Ammonia burns the gills of fish, likely causing permanent damage. Nitrites blocks oxygen to their organs, causing likely permanent damage and a poor future health to combat disease. Stress itself is bad enough for these little guys, not to mention tissue damage. I'd also like to think that a fish owner's patience to wait the required amount of time in order not to subject their fish to the toxicity of their own waste is a TRUE sign of someone ready to impart on this journey, and aren't putting their own desires ahead of their pets.
This morning I started treating my tank with Ammonium Hydroxide. Try this, when you find the right stuff, take a big whiff. I didn't even get that close to the bottle. It was absolutely awful. I wouldn't want to breath in ammonia 24/7 for weeks, even if there was a fan blowing a little fresh air once in a while into the room. No way. It was awful. Toxic. The kind of concentrated toxicity that makes you take a few steps back to get away from. How awful if you couldn't. (In my opinion.)
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