The Community Tank Synirr Boy And Some Mates

[jollysue]

After some questions about the community tank, I started shooting briefly and got a cute one of the Boy who is never still in 100 usg of aquarium space.

As you can see, his fins are in good shape. He has fit right in

Meet the Boss of the tank, Flash.

When I started moving around the tank to snap, Flash stayed back and watched a long time, but soon he started following me and slyly checking me out

This is one of the other apistos, an aggasazi red tail. He is more annoyed by my Boy than Flash. All Flash requires is acknowledged Lordship.

 

[Naughtygirlrlw]

Hubba-hubba Flash!

 

[Amerce]

Hi I didn't think you could put a betta in with a brightly coloured fish, I have apisto's - cacs and panduro's do you not have any problems with th betta and the apisto's being territorial ?

 

[sukie]

Flash is such a good name!! He looks like he's got flames for fins!!

 

[jollysue]

I have had no problems. When I put my miniatures in they staked out their territories with a few stares and tail flicks. When I put in the Community Synirr Boy he was a bit intimidated at first by Flash and the two Aggasazi Males--and really all the fish have territories--my Boy found a place to hide and observe. He soon found his spaces. No one really messes with him. There is no way he is going to take on Flash, and Flash is satisfied that the Boy isn't trespassing. Cockatoos are territorial but not overly aggressive. I wouldn't even have tried a heavy finned Betta. It was just dumb luck that this boy decided to fit in and not go kamakazi. Occasionally My Boy dodges the aggasazi or one of the apisto females or the Emperors, but doesn't get in any scrapes.

This tank mix was suggested by Lucky62. I spent some time in the New World Cichlid Forum discussing it with Cichlid hobbiests. It has taken close to a year (it seems) to bring the fish together. The primary requirement is the same as that of a sorority tank: lots of hiding places and territories. There are fish at all levels and each species has staked out some space or hidy spots. It is a very busy and interesting tank.

I will try to get some more shots up of the community tonight.

 

[Elise]

you have some gorgeous fish! Their colors are all so beautiful!

 

[Synirr]

Loooove the apistos, just gorgeous! It's nice that the little guy can share such a big tank with them

 

[jollysue]

One of the things that makes the tank work is it's size: 100 usg, 5' L x 1.5' W x 2' H. I've tried to provide hiding places and caves. The plant growth is down from a medicine meltdown a few months back, but it's still apparently sufficient, and it's supplemented by artificial plants--especially the floating ones.

Here are some broader shots of the activity in one section of the tank: lots of Tetras.
But just to prove this belongs in the Betta forum--there to the right, midway in the Chinese junk's mast is the tail of My Boy busy about his business.

This is the little brother of Flash's nemesis, as well as that of My Synirr Boy, an aggasazi red tail. He was suppose to be a lady, but he outed.

And this is Flash's main squeeze

 

[Bubblegrrl]

You have a beautiful tank and I'm green with envy lol Really lovely Really healthy and happy looking fish too

Deb

 

[jollysue]

From your lips to God's ears and knock on wood--three times.

Oh, yeah, thanks

 

[england]

i have a comm tank with a fighter with no probs....................love the aggasazi does he need any special water requirments eg soft hard?? would like some for myself

 

[jollysue]

No. the aggasazi is an appistograma--New World Cichlid. He's fine with soft water. Check in the New World Cichlid Forum. I bought my apistos from apistodave on Aquabid. Many in the lfs are too inbred I think. But you can try. My lfs is a good one and none of their Orange Flash Cockatoos looked at all as nice as Flash--or even my standard Cockatoo from Dave.

Nelly, I do nothing to affect the tap water but add conditioners like Stress Coat and sometimes Prime. There is a lot of drift wood, but none is new.

Apistos like clean water, not fond of meds, but are tolerant of broader ph parameters, I believe.

 

[Elise]

it's like where's waldo, I swear you said the last section of pictures had the betta in it, but honestly, I couldn't find him!

 

[jollysue]

It's just his tail--to prove he lives there with all them. I don't know how to circle, but I'll work on it. Oops it was there. The pic disappeared and left a note behind! Where's Waldo?

Well, this boy just got his name. Waldo is in the house, er, tank!

Behind him is a white rock cave midway up the junk's mast

 

[Elise]

Ha! I actually saw him this time!