Sixty Gallon Journal

[gwand]

Entry #31
The TR a. thomasi and WC a. caudalis are quite pretty and their colors are evolving. This is really apparent when the light strikes them on a certain angle. The WC p. pulcher male remains very drab but I rarely see him. I never see the female. None of the fish are comfortable with me when I come close to the glass to watch and/or feed. Even though I only feed three days a week, there is still no mad dash for the food. I offer Omega One pellets, Tetra flakes, Repashy and frozen blood worms.

 

[gwand]

Entry #32
I caught the briefest glimpse of the female p. pulcher. She has a pink, purple and lavender belly. I wish she would stay in view for a longer period of time.

 

[gwand]

Entry #33
I am seeing more of the p. pulcher female. She approached the front glass for the first time. She has yellow streaks on her head and a pinkish lavender belly. Unfortunately she doesn’t hang out long enough for me to get a pic. The male makes an appearance only to chase other fish away from his cave. He is really drab; grays and black striped. He was supposed to be chocolate and yellow.

 

[gwand]

Entry #34
P. pulcher female finally revealed herself. Also was able to get a pic of the male.

 

[gwand]

Entry #35
A breakthrough. All of the fish fed in front of me for the first time since their arrival. Even the p. pulcher couple are out feeding.

 

[gwand]

The p. pulcher female is revealing herself more often. She arrived an ugly duckling but has now colored up. The a. thomasi rule the tank.

 

[gwand]

Entry #35
The male p pulcher has bilateral proptosis with a cloudy right eye. Water parameters are fine. Maybe an injury. I’m not sure. I added aquarium salt to the water following Colin’s instructions. API Melafix arrives Wednesday. If the eye condition is not improving I will transfer him to the QT tank for treatment. He will be hard to net. He is almost always hiding.

 

[gwand]

Entry #36
The male p. pulcher died. I’m not certain if the death was a result of injury or infection. He was exceedingly territorial in the absence of spawning. So I suspect combat injuries with Anomalochromis thomasi. Water parameters are fine. All other fish in the tank appear healthy.

 

[gwand]

Entry #37
The wild caught yellow tail Congo tetras, Alestopetersius caudalis, have really come into their own. Beautiful silver creatures with a black and yellow tail. I wish they would swim in the front of the tank glass so I can get a picture for you. But alas they prefer the rear glass wall. When they briefly come to the front glass they disperse as I draw near with my camera.