VickiPS Posted May 23, 2006 Report Share Posted May 23, 2006 I've posted below about the 2ft cube tank I've just set up. So far, I've stocked it with crimson-spotted rainbows (M. duboulayi), one Empire gudgeon and a bunch of tiny "feeder" gudgeon (firetails, I guess). Still to come are a couple more Empire gudgeon, M. splendida, M. nigrans and some Pacific blue-eyes (Pseudomugil signifer 'Harvey Creek'). I'm wondering about crustaceans. My SiL asked could we have a yabby or two, but I don't know how they'd get along with the fish, and I've read that they can tear up the vegetation in a planted tank. Any advice? If not yabbies, I thought about some freshwater shrimp -- which the fish can eat or not, as they choose :) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Robbies Betta Posted May 23, 2006 Report Share Posted May 23, 2006 Yabbies are just as bad as oscars in tearing up plants. Shrimp sound like a good idea, as long as you can afford to replace them or they're big enough not to be eaten, or eat other small fish :) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
VickiPS Posted May 23, 2006 Author Report Share Posted May 23, 2006 Mmm. I'll see what the LFS can come up with. I figure if this is going to be a biotope tank, then it's probably worth keeping a couple of tubs going as QT tanks for feeder gudgeon and shrimps. Cheap enough to replenish as necessary, but if they survive in sufficient numbers in the main tank to maintain a population, wonderful! Might be worth chucking in some blackworm too, maybe, and seeing if any last past a meal? :) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Robbies Betta Posted May 23, 2006 Report Share Posted May 23, 2006 try and get crabs that way they're chunkier than shrimp but not as destrucive as a yabby? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
VickiPS Posted May 23, 2006 Author Report Share Posted May 23, 2006 Wow, hadn't thought of crabs! Good thinking, Grasshopper :) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jess Posted May 28, 2006 Report Share Posted May 28, 2006 I saw FW crabs last week!! I want FW crabs, they were hilarious. However a mudskipper is first in line. yet, it falls behind the turtle my daughter has been asking for, for the past 4 years!! I am trying to convince her Mudskippers are tops! but it's not working I have to look after it, I think my say is worth 80%! Maybe a small tank setup for Crabs would be a better option? I am not sure what the crabs would do. Aren't crabs omnivores? (closet piscivores no doubt) I know hermits are. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
VickiPS Posted May 28, 2006 Author Report Share Posted May 28, 2006 I bought a dozen feeder shrimp yesterday and popped them in -- we'll see if any survive or actually manage to breed. The little feeder gudgeons I put in are happily scooting around the bottom and making themselves at home. The tank looks like a real habitat now <_< Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jess Posted May 28, 2006 Report Share Posted May 28, 2006 aww that's great hear!! feeder gudgeons, are they not identified yet? too small? Good luck with the shrimps. Everytime I put shrimps from the river in my tanks all they did was grab hold of the fish and eat their fins.. shredders . More than likely a different species and mine were 6-8cm! Littles ones would be so much fun to watch when they come out at night! Please post more photos, I want inside that tank! (not the camera, but me!) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
VickiPS Posted May 28, 2006 Author Report Share Posted May 28, 2006 The feeder gudgeons are teeny, but I'm guessing they're mostly firetails. The little shrimp are 2 - 4cm long, so they'll have their work cut out fighting off the biggest of the rainbows. Just like nature, in fact <_< Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jess Posted May 28, 2006 Report Share Posted May 28, 2006 Cool Amazing that you get gudgeons in feeder tanks, all I get is those funny deformed barbs. Must be looking in the wrong places. Rainbows are swift too, so they will have to catch them first :lol: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Robbies Betta Posted May 30, 2006 Report Share Posted May 30, 2006 so Vicki ..... how are ur crabs doing? or should I be more correct and say shrimp <_< Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
VickiPS Posted May 30, 2006 Author Report Share Posted May 30, 2006 Wouldn't you know it --- I'd just decided to go with shrimp (easier to cope with, I thought, plus I've never seen crabs at the LFS). Anyway, just filled my bag with shrimps, paid and was walking out when a guy came out behind me carrying bags with the CUTEST little crabs -- chubby little things, sort of a light sandy colour with a solid black marking on the top of the shell. Dang! Anyway, I can still see a few shrimp lurking round the bottom of the tank, and they seem to suit the habitat, so I'm happy :dance: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Robbies Betta Posted May 31, 2006 Report Share Posted May 31, 2006 dang nabit, talk about timing, hopefully ur shrimp breed for you vicki :dance: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dpeica Posted June 20, 2006 Report Share Posted June 20, 2006 Crabs are jerks. They'll eat your shrimp, plants and fish. I personally think they're a species-tank-only animal. Good to see more people becoming interested in natives. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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