Dip and Wade now measure 4-5 inches tip to tail, their bodies are about pingpong ball sized.
They share this tank with two dojo loaches (one about 4.5 inches, the other about 3.5), and always have. I know this is technically way overstocked, pretty much any way you slice it, but I do regular water changes and test my water with an almost brand new API kit regularly. The numbers are all acceptable…
Right before a day-past-due water change:
pH 7.2
NH3: 0
NO2: 0
NO3: 20ppm (usually more like 10ppm - possibly because I've been overfeeding a little recently)
All that has survived plant-wise are a couple of java ferns, and a few small crypts.
Technically, my water is safe and healthy for the fish as far as numbers go, and the dojos dart and play and eat well; they are almost never hiding in one if several available caves/nooks. The goldfish show signs of being happy - I believe my fantail is male (I've seen the stars on his gills) and he bumps and nudges the other, black moor, in the belly quite a bit. Unless I am misreading this behaviour and it’s actually territorial, I believe this is spawning behaviour? If so, I think this is a good sign that they're happy, right?
It will always be a fish-first tank, so I am torn between: buying new lighting and plants so that the plants can thrive instead of hang on to life by their rootlets (all I have is a hood with a 24 inch 18 watt fluorescent 6500k, I think?); and giving up the dream of a water garden and spending the money on sand and driftwood/silk plants, and possibly a bigger tank sooner than planned if I can strech the budget.
Lighting and plants,
or substrate and decor change - possibly bigger tank sooner?
Obviously if these fish decide to change their rate of growth and become monsters overnight, I will need to re-home them sooner than planned. I do plan on/dream of a 60 or 75 gallon for them...