Sometimes Fishkeeping is a Joy

[TwoTankAmin]

After the recent losses of fish I was floundering at the bottom of the fish keepers emotional curve. But, as it has done repeatedly over the years, keeping fish has also lifted me back to grinning at the top of that curve.

First, I just ordered some amazing looking B&W Hypans I have been after for some time. I had new L450 fry shooting around the tank when I cleaned it yesterday. I have the surviving L236 grown into spawning mode and had their second spawn go free swimming over the weekend. I am spotting dads in caves acting spawnerish in several tanks including the 173b and zebra tanks.

There is nothing in my part of this broad hobby (and for some, a career) that makes me smile faster than when I discover new eggs or fry in one of my tanks. I think back over 15 years to when I spotted the teeny pair of black eyes of a swordtail baby looking up at me through plants floating on the surface of my first tank and how I felt. Well I still feel the same way today when it happens.

I would note that, as far as I am concerned, newly free swimming cory and pleco fry are the cutest of them all. I may be biased however

[Jools]

I cannot agree more. I still smile a baby Bristlenoses.

Jools

[bekateen]

TTA,

It's wonderful to hear that things are going so well for you. May your joy (and success) continue, and may it also spill over into all of our tanks.

I'm impatiently waiting for action from three different spp. of plecos (mustard spots, H. guahiborum, and L201s) and my ambiacus corys, plus long-delayed-repetition from my C141. Frustrated not by deaths but by static aquaria. How healthy, comfortable, and happy are my fish if they sit there, day after day, doing nothing?

In the meantime, I've got five clutches of clowns this summer (one just a few days ago), and now almost 60 oil cat embryos. You're so right about how quickly we can be refreshed by the simplest events.

Good luck,
Eric

Cheers, Eric

[JamesFish]

Glad to see things on the up. What is not to love about egg sacks with tails and eyes wobbling around. I'm hoping to get myself a new project this year as my one went belly up.

The list is pretty basic
Dwarf cory group
Ember tetra's
Good quality platy - Sounds odd but really good colours and shapes seem hard to find these days.
Red bristlenose
Any unusual dwarf catfish group that might turn up that is realtively happy in hard water.

My 2ft is still sitting empty with just some plants and new substrate 6 weeks later so time to start stocking and add a mature filter.