The Puffer Forum

It's low end brackish, I'll start a thread and post some pictures. I'm trying to get video of it eating, but it blends in really well with the sand and my camera doesn't do a great job distinguishing between the two.

I really like your tank, that gives me some ideas on that to add in my tank. did you cure the branches be fore adding them to the tank?

I submerged them in a utility sink full of hot water overnight and the next day I would scrub them down with a wire brush. Then I would soak them again in hot water overnight and scrub some more. I did this numerous times, it really depended on the wood. They are all pieces that I found in the woods behind my house. I only selected dead, very dry branches, with the least least amount of bark possible. Most of it still floated when I put it in the tank, but the fish really enjoyed it, and it really didn't take long for the pieces to become waterlogged. I do have a piece in one of my freshwater tanks that was almost completely covered in bark. It took me a couple weeks of soaking and scraping, but it was worth it because it's quite eye catching. You almost forget about the brown algae that covers it and every other surface in the tank!

almost completely covered in bark

to easily remove bark the best way is to cook it in the stove for about 30min

Dither fish in theory will ignore the breeding pair -such as 3 or more Danios in a FW moderately deep tank to totally ignore substrate spawners activity and are readily chased away by most Cichlids if they show interest in the "hoppers". A target fish would be best if another member of the same species, but is not always - but is more likely to have an interest in the spawn or fry. I prefer my targets in adjacent tanks (can be seen and displayed to, but not attacked) and I do not often use dithers (if I do, I want them to prefer alternate foods - and that is not always easy at all - fry are usable protein to just about everybody).

Lil' Swimz$: I believe this is a light BW st-up, that is usual for these fish, but omplmpa3 can answer more accurately.

The South American FW flounder is very rare in captivity and is, or was when I saw it offered last, horribly expensive - unlikely to be risked with other specimens.

I should clarify the fish I call "flounder" is also called a flatfish or sole, I believe "sole" may be the most accurate of the three names. I believe my species is Trinectes maculatus, but perhaps RTR will be able to clarify. I WILL post some pictures tonight, after I do some water changes. Darn MTS!!!

That is the hogchoker, the commonest in the "hobby" trade in my area, and a BW fish. Best with a sugar sand substrate. It is a predator, but mainly of worms and other such inverts, but can be fin nipper and may kill smaller aquarium fish. Best in a species tank IME. I like the fish, I am embarrassed to admit - one of my most well-known "invisible" fish - which I am notorious for keeping. I loved their "empty tank" - you had to search for the eyes... or drop in some small worms and watch the sand explode. They are not tropical, but temperate.

An update on the Chromide fry: they have all disappeared. Yesterday morning I could only find three and when I returned home later in the day I was unable to locate any. The parents were no longer guarding the pits, in fact the pits appeared to have been filled in. One thing is for certain, far fewer fry were lost during the night after I placed a night light near the tank. The next time I discover eggs, I will be sure to illumination is provided during the night. I think that will have a huge impact on the fry's population.

I'm glad it helped, it should aid the parents.