Looks like robbianus, short stout body, 4"over 7-8yrs. Dark brown spots over a dark background.

Great conversation. If money was no object, solar distillation would be my first attempt.

Wow! and I do remember those air-driven HOBs! Jeez! that makes me old! LOL!

From this angle looks like a female.

Hi Victor, not that I need to be right but just the way you described its behavior, hungry all the time. And just the size of the head, mouth and fins tells me there's a good chance that fish is going to be big! I still say Brachyplatystoma sp. or something along those lines. I believe he'll probabl...

Great job alga, crossing my fingers, wishing you luck and lots of O2 saturation.

Looks like a juvenile of some big sp. I'll guess vaillantii.

I think you are ok with keeping all those loricarids together. If you add more Paraotocinclus, I would strongly suggest suppemental feedings of zucchini/courgett?(sp), sweet potato, lettuce, etc. The Ancistrus will always insist on being first during these feedings, so I would suggest 2 pieces in se...

"I guess the ancistrus has to leave and maybe i can find a real friend for mrs or mr paraotocinclus" Based on the fact that you look like you have a planted tank, the Ancistrus sp. might be of greater practical value than the Paraotocinclus sp.. In my experience nothing beats a hungry anci...

Hello Victor sorry to hear about your loss. I am the guy who gave some ideas for your filtration system. You live in NY. I'm sure you could probably go to one of the local public aquariums and develop a relationship with one of the keepers responsable for caring for their tropical catfish, or maybe ...

Thats encouraging racoll. And therefore raises the question: Does L204 have a similar temperment as P. maccus? Very nice fish by the way:-)

Hi Viktor, Well I'm glad there is some selfishness on your part also. That means all parties involved are getting something out of it.:-) My fish say "hooray!" I would google the scientific genus species of the beneficial bacteria(s) we are speaking about: Nitrosomonas sp., Nitrobacter sp....

Hello J.B. Just a word of caution: I had a group of Planiloricaria cryptodon in with a Pterygoplicthys sp. and a Chaetostoma sp. on 2 seperate occasions. And in both situations the P. cryptodons were "rasped" on the dorsal caudal region of the body. I lost a couple as a result of this befo...

Please read these comments with the understanding that I can't see all of whats happening with your pond and system. Pics and descriptions can only go so far. But I'd like to congradulate you on such a big job, I can see thats major work. And rescuing unwanted, giant, fish is worth a commendation in...

Those little plecs are Fantastic!!! Congrats!

This is why I love PlanetCatfish.

This is a great testament to catfish durability. And great insight into how catfish relate to their environment. I always put 'furniture' back as close to original as possible after gravel vacs, as I know my cats are not happy when things are different. Also a great story about the angelfish. Only o...

I sympathize with your illness, but I applaud you for not allowing it to keep you from living your life. I agree with your decision to go 'big' with the 55g. A canister filter is easiest for maintenance. And I have to agree with matsP: adding more loricarids could mean more work. More oto's or anoth...

I have to agree with what Birger said. Most of the male shoutedeni I had/have are pretty hard headed. I have never kept angelica, but based on what i've read, heard and seen, the angelica will dominate and eventually (especially if they are both male) will very likely, end up killing the male shoute...

glad you're moving out of the puffer tank, those fins look pretty well 'chipped'.

Hello SamIAm, I really appreciate your concern for those fish. Maybe you can get copies of some pics/articles that show and/or speak to the fact that this fish benefits from a good 'open' bottom of the tank and round sand to 'mulm' around in, thats why they have wiskers. I think you have to approach...

Looks like cuadovittata or haugi in my humble opinion.

Based on what I've read Arbutus sp. is closely related to Archtostaphylos sp.(manzanita) which I've seen used in aquascaping. No hard evidence of it being benign to Loricarids. I would agree with the others, take the skin off and proceed with caution.

How big is your tank?

Hello Taratron, ich usually starts in the gills. I can't exactly recommend it but I have successfully treated scaleless fish for ich with "Quick Cure" at half strength and then quarter strength. I know you are resistant to treating your fish, but thought I'd just share that with you. Good ...

Looking for a small group (5-6) of young, tank raised, Corydoras habrosus.

Looks like an Otocinclus sp. of some sort. But if you send get better pics you could probably get a more accurate id.

My kinda beauty, nice fish.

Thanks Mats.

Thanks guys for the responses. Yes, I read the Bodrock report a few times. Really good stuff. What I wonder is what was the size of the gravel he used and/or size of the eggs? I need to email him about a thousand questions.

Richard, how do I get a hold of "Seegers"?

Has anyone ever interpeted the breeding report by Oliver D.(2008) on his breeding of Synodontis shoutedeni?

Yeah, that is a dilemma. Maybe keep the new fish behind a divider? Just a thought.