Decor for DP?

[tress29]

My Mother's Day present is a DP, yeah! We're setting up a 5 gallon with supplies from our other tanks. I've got pebbles and a moss ball from the ADFs, a filter cartridge from the molly tanks, and I may "borrow" some potted plants from the CPDs. I have two larger decor items available, but didn't know how either one would be received by a little puff. I also have a mopani wood log (that's still giving off tannins!) Let me know if any of you have used similar items, and how happily they were used!



Also, I have a RO drinking water system. Should I use all RO, or mix it with the tap water? Thanks for your input.

[bertie 83]

How are the readings on your tap water? You should not need ro water for the dp. As for decor as long as the tank has lots for the dp to explore and an open space for swimming anything goes, just make it visually complex and he won't get bored

[tress29]

Well, I decided to go with the piece of mopani wood. The other items were just too big. The wood, clay pot, gravel, moss ball and anubis all came from the ADFs. I even stole their cartride filter and heat pad. (Looked at heaters and then forgot to buy one!) I'm gonna run the cartridge in there to help seed the tank. Don't worry about the frogs though, they moved into the 10 gallon tank with the celestial pearl danios.

Instead of taking the filter cartridge from the mollies, I took their whole filter, even the water inside. The tank kits are identical, and my son will never know! I did get a prefilter for the uptake though.

The undulata came from the 10 gallon tank. I suck at live plants, so haven't taken it out of the pot yet! It's pretty full, I may be able to split it so each tank gets one. What are some easy plants that won't melt like my java fern did?

Well, here's the new tank. What do you think?

[bertie 83]

Not enough for a dp to explore IMO. Needs some tall decor in there

[tress29]

Not enough for a dp to explore IMO. Needs some tall decor in there

I'm gonna head to my favorite lfs after church tomorrow. I got a huge driftwood for our 75 gallon tank project there. Hoping they have water wisteria.

The rest of today will be spent bathing and clipping the brat dog! This is my two year old toy poodle, Eli.

[bertie 83]

Water wisteria is great

[Pufferpunk]

That poodle is way overdue for a grooming! Let's see the after pic.

[tress29]

Let's see the after pic.

Luckily he's in the grass and you can't see how bad I am at feet!

[Nuclear_Glitter]

I've never owned a poodle, so I'm curious. Is there a way to keep them from getting all that black liquid-y stuff from around there eyes? Or at least to prevent it from staining their fur?

[Nuclear_Glitter]

And as far as the tank goes, I definitely recommend adding more decoration. You can purchase a bag of silk or cloth type pants from Wal-Mart (or wherever) to add some middle and upper decor.

[tress29]

Is there a way to keep them from getting all that black liquid-y stuff from around there eyes? Or at least to prevent it from staining their fur?

Tear stains show up in light colored dogs, usually of poor breeding. Eli is a rescue from a puppy mill in the area. When I don't keep his face clipped short, they get worse, or at least look worse!

I bought a potted Lutea today to put in the back corner. Looks sword-like without the high light requirement. Still looking around for water wisteria. Think I saw an ad on Fish Lore...

[Nuclear_Glitter]

I used to have a white cat who was allergic to herself and I had to clean her eye-area, when there was a season change and she would shed more, with a wet, warm washcloth and every now and then her fur would be stained like that for a couple of days.

[hadla]

I used to have a white cat who was allergic to herself

im sorry but that is just too funny! XD

[Nuclear_Glitter]

I used to have a white cat who was allergic to herself

im sorry but that is just too funny! XD

It was definitely strange.

[Pufftastic]

DPs are busy little buggers -- they love to explore really dense tank decor, and they kind of "helicopter" around tall stuff in the tank. This was my tank when I first started keeping DPs. I added quite a few more plants after this was taken!



I know that my tacky pirate theme isn't everyone's taste, but it gives an idea of how DPs like tanks chock full o' stuff.