PICS! 20 long, dwarf compressiceps

[eklikewhoa]

Water is super clear

[aquabee]

That's awesome. And tank looks gin clear!

Right?! It's that Purigen I got from eklikewhoa!

[SunnyHouTX]

That's awesome. And tank looks gin clear!

[aquabee]

Ok, couldn't resist. Here's a few shots from today with an updated FTS. Couldn't get the male and female together yet cuz they're so active and moving all the time, but to give you an idea of the size disparity, she's barely 0.75" and he's about 1.25". He's still a little pale but is starting to show the yellow around his lips and fins, and has a little blue in the dorsal fin. Will also try later for better shots of my green/brown white trim BN pleco. He hasn't been in the mood for glamor shots today.



Male:




Hopefully-female:

[aquabee]

Very good news Bee! Can't wait for photos

Thanks Sunny! Tried to feed, but they were a little too skittish to eat just yet. I think they're still getting accustomed to the amount of activity in the tank, seeing as how they came from a very quiet, still, comps-only tank. Hehe we'll see how they do and I'll post some pics in the next few days. :)

[SunnyHouTX]

Very good news Bee! Can't wait for photos

[aquabee]

So it's day 2 of my second trial of dwarf comps! The male, who is fairly large and from an earlier spawn, is active and has just begun exploring shells as of last night. He's been a little pale but looks better this morning. I haven't fed him yet. The tiny one, which is from a newer spawn and significantly smaller than any other fish in the tank, has also been very active and has beautiful juvie colors. She's very fiesty! And I'm hoping based on her forehead shape that she is, in fact, female. She hangs out with the male about half the time. I've already been able to see the difference between this hopeful pair and the last set of 4, so that's a plus.

Will try feeding some NLS today and see how it goes! I'll take some pictures later once they're looking a little more settled. One thing is for sure though... those blue-eyed forktails (pseudomugil furcatus) are the perfect dither for the dwarf comps and other shellies! They love alkaline water, are just fast and aggressive enough to protect themselves, and are excellent for a 20 long or other smallish tanks that wouldn't be able to support the more common dither fish (common rainbows, platies, cyps and paracyps, etc). Surprising that there's no info on them in this regard online yet!

[sunkenmetal]

you need some red claws

[eklikewhoa]

Update!

[aquabee]

Tank inhabitants are all lookin good. Going to Spring tonight to get another set of dwarf comps and another pleco. *fingers crossed*

Stay tuned! I'll be doin a lotta this in the next few days as I watch them either settle or die again: .

[aquabee]

How are things going with this tank?

So things are going beautifully. All 6 furcatus and remaining 5 white clouds are awesome, eating well, swimming and having fun. I want to get more furcatus once FG has 'em in. The Purigen is keeping the water crystal clear, no tannins or anything! Today or tomorrow I'll work a little on rockscaping.

Had a long talk with Mike a few days ago. He wants to keep the meleagris/stappersii he got shipped in a few more weeks til he can sex them so he can be sure we both get at least a pair of them. In the meantime, he wants to give me what he thinks is a pair of dwarf comps. I kinda cringed at the idea of keeping dwarf comps again but the tank has been so stable lately... almost seems like a shame to not try again. He said the male he had saved up is gorgeous, always displaying, with a bright blue streak on the dorsal fin. Sounds pretty. We'll see... I'll probably come home Saturday night with a pair of dwarf comps, or I'll drive out to Spring again on Sunday to pick them up. And I'll re-scape and add the meleagris whenever they're ready.

Good lookin out, Q!

[aquabee]

Yep, those were the ones I was looking at!

Haha nice! I knew it. Those guys were too striking to pass up.

[TonyO]

Were you looking at the HY511 tetras?? Those were pretty bad@$$. Healthy and well-colored.

Yep, those were the ones I was looking at!

[eklikewhoa]

How are things going with this tank?

[Complexity]

Vicki, I took out the middle branching piece like you said, and the tank ended up looking really empty, despite the rocks. I think for now I'll leave it as is since the fish love it so much... and maybe it'll grow more on me later.!

Yeah, I thought that might be the case. It's hard when just looking at a picture. The main thing is that you like it (and, okay, your fish like it, too).