Online vendors like to give their customers little extras, added to their order. But owners of small tanks should take the time to politely request "no extras please". These are the reasons:
* They may send as extras a species of fish that cannot live in a small tank.
* They may send extras of the same species that you ordered, but lead to an over-stocking situation.
* If you order one specimen animal it can't breed, if they add another you may end up with a breeding pair providing unwanted eggs or fry and a population that quickly booms out of control.
With a small tank, less is more. So when you have worked out exactly what you want, and if you decide to order online, be sure to specify "no extras please"!
Sunday, August 2, 2009
Sunday, July 26, 2009
Tank Profile: One Gallon with Yellow Shrimp
Tank: 1 gallon square with palm "hang-on-back" (HOB) filter and clip on light.
'Scaping: blue gravel, rocks, two types of plant.
Stock:
3x yellow shrimp (Neocaridina heteropoda var. yellow)
1x red ramshorn snail
Top tips:
* A single ramshorn snail cannot reproduce and will help control algae.
* Keep water and gravel clean by using a baster or dropper to remove water from under the gravel where feces and mulm will tend to build up.
* Do partial water changes often, things can go wrong quickly in a micro-tank!
If you would like to have your 1-5 gallon tank profiled please send your information, one or more pictures and a username and link to your own website or blog. Be sure to include your own "top tips" for keeping a small tank in tip top shape!
'Scaping: blue gravel, rocks, two types of plant.
Stock:
3x yellow shrimp (Neocaridina heteropoda var. yellow)
1x red ramshorn snail
Top tips:
* A single ramshorn snail cannot reproduce and will help control algae.
* Keep water and gravel clean by using a baster or dropper to remove water from under the gravel where feces and mulm will tend to build up.
* Do partial water changes often, things can go wrong quickly in a micro-tank!
If you would like to have your 1-5 gallon tank profiled please send your information, one or more pictures and a username and link to your own website or blog. Be sure to include your own "top tips" for keeping a small tank in tip top shape!
Saturday, July 18, 2009
Best Aquarium Shrimp
#4 Tiger Shrimp
Tigers come in blond (pictured) and blue coloring. They are a dwarf breed but can be more difficult to keep. This one is my sole survivor of six.
#3 Yellow Shrimp
Neocaridina heteropoda (var. Yellow) previously called Neocaridina denticulata sinensis (var. Yellow)
#2 Ghost Shrimp
This is a larger shrimp. I would suggest them for aquariums of 2.5 gallons or more. The ghost shrimp is particularly entertaining to watch.
#1 Red Cherry Shrimp
Tigers come in blond (pictured) and blue coloring. They are a dwarf breed but can be more difficult to keep. This one is my sole survivor of six.#3 Yellow Shrimp
Neocaridina heteropoda (var. Yellow) previously called Neocaridina denticulata sinensis (var. Yellow)
#2 Ghost Shrimp
This is a larger shrimp. I would suggest them for aquariums of 2.5 gallons or more. The ghost shrimp is particularly entertaining to watch.#1 Red Cherry Shrimp
Spixi Egg Watch
I am attempting to hatch my first clutch of Asolene spixi (a.k.a. zebra apple snail) eggs:
Spixi laying
Day 1
Day 2
Day 8
Day 17: Baby Snails
I have a new clutch in a better place to get a good look at it:
1/18/10
1/26/10
Spixi laying
Day 1
Day 2
Day 8
Day 17: Baby Snails
*****
I have a new clutch in a better place to get a good look at it:
1/18/10
1/26/10
Tuesday, June 16, 2009
Apple Snail comics
The follow comics (more to come) may be used for any non-commercial publication or website if attributed to "psyche skinner" and/or linked back to this post. Notification appreciated (psycheskinner at gmail.com).
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)