Some Pictures of Natives

[eklikewhoa]

Re: Some Pictures of Natives

looks like its making friends with the snail  


i think its hard looking for plants cause some plants look different when grown under different situations. i have no idea, but if you have extras let me know.

[Mzungu]

Re: Some Pictures of Natives

Exactly. When I first got some of the plants in this tank, they looked completely different. And then for a long time I was sure I had 2 different kinds of elodea....put both trimmings in a different tank and now I can't tell the difference. Same with some rotala I have, it was compact and dark green - move to higher light and CO2, totally different.    Oh well! I should have some of this in no time, if you want some. It grows pretty quickly. I'm kicking myself for throwing those clippings away! I trimmed and left the bottom instead of replanting the tops (which tend to shoot up really fast) because this is not exactly a high-maintenance tank and I appreciate the slower growth.

[Mzungu]

Re: Some Pictures of Natives

Here are some more, Hanson just requested on another thread to see some pictures of natives   :)   :

From Coleto Creek:



From Near Lake Houston:
Fundulus notatus:


F. Chrysotus:


Sailfin Molly from Buffalo Bayou:


Not "native," but introduced Pleco:

[Hanson77]

Re: Some Pictures of Natives

Thanks a million.  That Sailfin is giving me the itch for a native tank now.  Guess I need to go ahead and set the tank up in the bedroom like I was joking about earlier.....I'm out of wall space in the living room in the apartment....LOL!!!

Should I start with a smaller planted tank to accomodate some of these guys or just go big the first time?  How much has your budget CO2 system cost you so far?

Thanks for your info. as always.
-Michael

[finfan]

Re: Some Pictures of Natives

wow, Mzungu, i love your tank, actually i almost liked the "jungle" look more than the trimmed look!

LOVE the bluefin killies, so cool looking, can't wait to have my next planted tanks, i want some of those too, i want too much and there is barely enough, time, space, money - arrrgggghhhhh

[Mzungu]

Re: Some Pictures of Natives

 That tank that I posted first, that's the biggest one I have (40g) and it's in my bedroom! Actually, I've got more in my bedroom than anywhere else!

As for the tank size, are you looking to just have sailfins? They can get pretty big, well, for my standards at least.  :)  I say if you have the funds, go big the first time!

Not sure what you mean about the budget CO2 system? I had CO2 on this tank a couple months ago, but transfered it to another tank. I'm planning on putting a new system on the 40 again in about a month. I can't stand how it looks since I've taken out the CO2! And I have a couple of those DIY systems, but I'm getting pretty tired of them.

[Mzungu]

Re: Some Pictures of Natives

wow, Mzungu, i love your tank, actually i almost liked the "jungle" look more than the trimmed look!

LOVE the bluefin killies, so cool looking, can't wait to have my next planted tanks, i want some of those too, i want too much and there is barely enough, time, space, money - arrrgggghhhhh

Thanks! You should see it now...after taking off the CO2 it has reverted to a jungle, there's so much moss in there it's unbelieveable!

I hear you about the money thing. But, a good thing is, natives are free! And if you want to buy them, which you can, just go to some LFSs and look in their ghost shrimp/feeder tanks. A lot of times you can find bluefins in there.  

[Hanson77]

Re: Some Pictures of Natives

I was referring to the system that you were buying the regulator for on the other thread.  I have heard about the diy systems with yeast or whatever and I'm sure I don't want to go that route.  I just don't want to spend an arm and a leg on a CO2 setup the first rattle out of the bat.  I have a 40 breeder that is about to be empty and thought maybe it would be a good start.  Now that I'm a bachelor again with considerably less furniture in my bedroom than before, I was considering putting a 55 or 75 in there.

As far as the Sailfins go, I've never really been into the community type fish but that one in the pic has sparked my interest.  What size do these guys max out at?

[loopy119]

Re: Some Pictures of Natives

Doesn't dry ice give off CO2? How come people don't plop a cube of dry ice in a little water in a big coke bottle with a tube and diffuser... Well, I guess it would be a daily maintenance issue, but it seems simple enough... It seems less messy and more efficient than the yeast and sugar also...

Rebekah

[eklikewhoa]

Re: Some Pictures of Natives

IIRC.....they get up to like 5" or something to that nature.

With the Co2 don't fret too much about it....I am running two different regulators right now (well actually 3 but the third is the ADA regulator which isn't really cost friendly) and they both work great! The ones that do have problems don't render themselves useless just sucks to know that you aren't getting the full effect for you money but it still works. Also most of the companies have really good customer service so that's a plus.

[Mzungu]

Re: Some Pictures of Natives

Yeah, that's what I've heard as well. 5-6". Mine have never gotten that big. But the ones from Goliad Farms are huge!!

CO2 can be expensive, which is why I went with the DIY setups at first. But then I found a bargain and now I'm spoiled! So, without going all out and fancy, you can get some reasonably priced tanks out there if you look. Although that regulator is expensive for my budget, some run much more, especially with all those automated options you have available (solenoid, etc.). I say keep a lookout on the fish boards, and when you see CO2 tanks for sale, try to beat ek and fishlady and I to them!  

I've also got a whole thread on the mollies...I'll find the link in a second.

Here: http://houstonfishbox.com/modules.ph...ewtopic&t=1044

[eklikewhoa]

Re: Some Pictures of Natives

They pop up all the time on Marsh and occasionally here....Most for pretty cheap and like Mzungu stated once you go pressurized it's hard to revert back.

[Tiapan]

Re: Some Pictures of Natives

Mzungu i bet you would have more fry without the snails in there. that is one problem with them is that they will eat the eggs before they hatch. i am gonna do everything i can to prevent them from getting in some of my new tanks because i am gonna try to breed a few fish, mouthbrooders are fine but cave layers and egg spreaders are just easy food for snails.

[Tiapan]

Re: Some Pictures of Natives

and i know i said they dont bother me (ramshorns) but for this one little reason. and i wouldnt mind some fry of those killies  :wink: or some plant trimmings. maybe Ek and i have an armwrestle over your next trim?

[Mzungu]

Re: Some Pictures of Natives



You're right, but also the 2 plecos in there probably do a great job of "cleaning up" the extra eggs. I've had a LOT more survive lately, though, because it's become so unruly in there with the moss taking over.    And any time I thin out the moss, I feel bad throwing it away, because the few times I've placed it in other tanks, a bluefin killie appears out of nowehere in a month or two! Who knows, maybe I'll have too many someday and have to give some away!