We're all becoming more and more aware that international shipping costs are skyrocketing, and the cost of these little fish we love is going up as a result. If you are a UK member dealing with cost increases, you know that the worst is yet to come for our hobby.
Here's a story. A few months ago, I bought a bunch of Bororas maculatus, a close relative of the chili rasbora. My group was big, so I divided it in 2 for QT. My QT tanks basically the same as regular tanks, but with only new arrivals in them.
They looked good, so I left them in those set ups, until I needed some space and didn't want 2 tanks tied down for one species.
I just moved them. My numbers are up by about 20%, with lots of young fish added, by their parents, to my group.
The trick? Conditions were right - a softwater fish in soft water. The temp was 23, in their range though on the lower end of it. I always feed small fish with fine foods, so the babies had something to grow with. And in no circumstance will I combine 2 species in a planted QT or breeding tank.
So, are you concerned about spending a lot to have a good shoal of a social species? Buy a few and make a shoal! I've started that process with 5 pygmy Corys I found in a shop, with beckford's pencilfish and with norman's lampeyes. All have bred like this in the past. It isn't just the same old livebearers we can enjoy breeding. Egg layers can work too.
Here's a story. A few months ago, I bought a bunch of Bororas maculatus, a close relative of the chili rasbora. My group was big, so I divided it in 2 for QT. My QT tanks basically the same as regular tanks, but with only new arrivals in them.
They looked good, so I left them in those set ups, until I needed some space and didn't want 2 tanks tied down for one species.
I just moved them. My numbers are up by about 20%, with lots of young fish added, by their parents, to my group.
The trick? Conditions were right - a softwater fish in soft water. The temp was 23, in their range though on the lower end of it. I always feed small fish with fine foods, so the babies had something to grow with. And in no circumstance will I combine 2 species in a planted QT or breeding tank.
So, are you concerned about spending a lot to have a good shoal of a social species? Buy a few and make a shoal! I've started that process with 5 pygmy Corys I found in a shop, with beckford's pencilfish and with norman's lampeyes. All have bred like this in the past. It isn't just the same old livebearers we can enjoy breeding. Egg layers can work too.
