Wanted: My Birthday Wish List - KZN

Hello to everyone that reads this

Firstly, I am looking for these fish specifically and over a while to add them slowly to my tank (I am in no rush and also I only have a small quarantine so as the first batch moves out I'll seek the next batch) also, I am supporting my local pet shop first, if they say they getting stock of anything I will go with them first for fish.

Secondly, I am putting the full list of fish I'm looking for up early because I have not seen a lot of KZN activity and I want to avoid postage also if for example there is a KZN hobbyist with juvenile Panda Cory's that are soon ready to be sold or have young adults that they don't want then I would like to know sooner rather then when its too late.

My list:

8 x Guppies - I already have too many, trading at my pet store for Neon Tetra
8 x Neon Tetra - My local pet shop stocks these regularly
8 x Panda Cory -
1 x Bristlenose Pleco - local pet shop has sourced juveniles
1 x Pearl Gourami - local pet shop has sourced juveniles
4 x Zebra Loach -

Thank you for your time


*edit- removed yoyo loach
**edit- Bristlenose Pleco and Pearl Gourami have been sourced

 

@Slade,

If you can, I would rather go with the polkadot loach than the yoyo

I know some websites claim they only get to 6.5cm in captivity and 15cm in the wild, mine grew very quickly to around 11/12cm at which size they became cery feisty and hyperactive.
I would not say aggressive but they were bullies
I eventually re homed them
The polkadot loach is very pretty, in fact as they get older they prettier than the yoyo and they really peaceful going about their own business always foraging for food.

 

Well I said I wasn't going to change my list but that information definitely is change worthy... I like the look of the polka dot but the reading I did on it just didn't fit with the slightly more peaceful side I'm trying to go for in my original research, I'll scratch that from the list and have zebra loach, or ay a last resort, more corys of a different type. Thank you!

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I get the first 4 on your list .. they are all great for community tanks. They also add great movement in a well well planted tank so compliment the rest of the tank.

The last two esp the Gourami are gambles ... these can break a community tank esp when young and other fish start vanishing and if you ever happen to add shrimp to your tank by accident then I feel they are a sure no no.

When stocking a tank - look at the adult size of a fish and comparability ... unless you have 6ft tank and live feeding is the aim of the game.

Start with something like this .. https://www.tropicalaquarium.co.za/threads/freshwater-fish-compatibility-chart.2991/

Later Ferdie

 

Happy you changed to Zebra loach. Very peacefull community fish. Yoyo loaches become very big ass holes in an aquarium, for no good reason, and unfortunately polkadots will destroy any plants in your aquarium.

 

@f-fish I do know that thank you, I have researched the fish I want extensively, I was just caught out when @MariaS mentioned the Yoyo Loach grow closer to what most sites claim is the wild size. I am prepared to replant plants and return anyone that gets too aggressive/boisterous for the tank (spoke to my local pet shop that they willing to take any stock back for a little store credit).

Update to original post, Bristlenose Pleco and Pearl Gourami have been sourced by my local pet shop and I have asked them to get them for me.

 

Glad you made some changes, I must admit that I was caught out by the Yoyo loaches too.
I had bought Yoyo, zebra, polkadot and clown loaches
I knew clowns get big but that's ok as my tank is big enough, the rest, I expected to stay smaller
My main concern was that they were all peacefull as I had a bad experience with skunk loaches
Suddenly the Yoyos just grew and grew and became boisterous bullies even to my big clowns, chasing them around and causing havoc so that was a no go

I must say, my Polkadots are really peaceful and pretty but then I dont have planted tanks as @pierreschoonraad pointed out.. so I have not noticed them destroying plants
When I did have plants, I gave my loaches and Flagtail a piece of cucumber or zucchini every night and they munched on that and left my plants alone

 

That's what's nice about coming here on the forum before just buying, even though I did my research there is first hand experience that confirms or counters information I learnt. Like I've got a bunch of plants for my tank now, at least 6/12 that are planted, if I did want a loach that destroys them, I'd then have to pick one or the other or to chance it

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You are so right

Have you had a look through @DoubleDutch's thread on his tanks... MTS Syndrome?
Awesome thread to go through if you look into keeping corries and planted tanks.

 

I contacted a guy from the West Germany/ Pinetown area who is getting stock oft the Panda Cory in a couple of weeks. I'm also waiting for those. Let me know I'll forward you his details.

 

I'll appreciate his details thanks

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