PICS! 20 long, dwarf compressiceps

[sunkenmetal]

you need some red claws

[aquabee]

So it's day 2 of my second trial of dwarf comps! The male, who is fairly large and from an earlier spawn, is active and has just begun exploring shells as of last night. He's been a little pale but looks better this morning. I haven't fed him yet. The tiny one, which is from a newer spawn and significantly smaller than any other fish in the tank, has also been very active and has beautiful juvie colors. She's very fiesty! And I'm hoping based on her forehead shape that she is, in fact, female. She hangs out with the male about half the time. I've already been able to see the difference between this hopeful pair and the last set of 4, so that's a plus.

Will try feeding some NLS today and see how it goes! I'll take some pictures later once they're looking a little more settled. One thing is for sure though... those blue-eyed forktails (pseudomugil furcatus) are the perfect dither for the dwarf comps and other shellies! They love alkaline water, are just fast and aggressive enough to protect themselves, and are excellent for a 20 long or other smallish tanks that wouldn't be able to support the more common dither fish (common rainbows, platies, cyps and paracyps, etc). Surprising that there's no info on them in this regard online yet!

[SunnyHouTX]

Very good news Bee! Can't wait for photos

[aquabee]

Very good news Bee! Can't wait for photos

Thanks Sunny! Tried to feed, but they were a little too skittish to eat just yet. I think they're still getting accustomed to the amount of activity in the tank, seeing as how they came from a very quiet, still, comps-only tank. Hehe we'll see how they do and I'll post some pics in the next few days. :)

[aquabee]

Ok, couldn't resist. Here's a few shots from today with an updated FTS. Couldn't get the male and female together yet cuz they're so active and moving all the time, but to give you an idea of the size disparity, she's barely 0.75" and he's about 1.25". He's still a little pale but is starting to show the yellow around his lips and fins, and has a little blue in the dorsal fin. Will also try later for better shots of my green/brown white trim BN pleco. He hasn't been in the mood for glamor shots today.



Male:




Hopefully-female:

[SunnyHouTX]

That's awesome. And tank looks gin clear!

[aquabee]

That's awesome. And tank looks gin clear!

Right?! It's that Purigen I got from eklikewhoa!

[eklikewhoa]

Water is super clear

[aquabee]

Water is super clear

Yep. And the male has been spending a few minutes hangin out in each shell. Too bad he'll have to wait at least 6 months for the tiny female to grow up and pick a shell FOR him!

Did you use that Purigen you got at dirty Santa??

[eklikewhoa]

I have half the bottle in my mini L, kiko is running the other half.

It's not working perfectly yet but the tank is way over stocked and the backwood is making it earn it's keep

[aquabee]

Haha nice. Mine took a week or two at least to yield full clarity, and about 3 days to remove all the tannins from the wood.

[aquabee]

Updates! It took 6 days but last night the male comp finally ate 2 NLS pellets and the tiny one had a few munches of crushed NLS. They've remained very active and aren't pale anymore. The male has investigated each and every shell in the tank! But if their appetites don't pick up in another few days, I'll try a mix I have of frozen mysis, chopped bloodworms, and spirulina. That should be easier for them to get since they're usually really wigged out by the dither fish taking all the food.

[eklikewhoa]

Soak in garlic or try feeding thera+a

[Andrew_B]

Those calvus were raised on nothing but NLS, if they don't eat that, they're not going to eat anything. Patience...

[sunkenmetal]

Nice looking tank and fish...

Purigen is the only way to go!