It's been a while....

Yeah...the blogs have slowed to a trickle this year. For two good reasons. First my little one has just turned one in march and she is such a handful. Secondly I have another love...still to do with fish...but it's all about catching them. Yes! Freshwater, saltwater, in-shore, offshore, ponds, reservoirs, canals, you name it, you will find me there! ahahah.

But but but...I have not neglected my fishes at home. In fact lots of exciting stuff has happened.

Here's a quick update:

a. The mama apistogramma bitaeniata has passed on, for no apparent reason. Kept her with her young for about a month only to find her struggling and eventually gone one day. The youngs are doing fine, about 10 pieces left. Only concern is that they still only feed on bbs, have tried other types of food without success. Went down to the store to find a new mate for papa, but the shop only sells in pairs. Guess papa will have to be contented with the harlequins and cardinals for awhile.

b. Starting to love the O. Nasuta (gold). Bought 4 pieces around 3". Sex ratio is either 2m2f or 1m3f. The alpha has been displaying some attitude and the colour is just amazing. Currently housed in a 6x1.5x1.5 with 3 subadult N.foai and a pair of n. brevis.

c. In the other 4x2x2 tank, what was supposed an impulsive buy becomes the darlings of my tank. The trio N.sexfasciatus are starting to display the nice yellow hue on their bodies and fins. Never knew these fellas can be so pretty.

d. Bought two more female zaires (kapampas) for my 6x2x2, bringing my collection back up to 9 pieces. One more female moba under quarantine in CF. Somehow the tank seems much fuller with the additions. Notice the fishes occupying all levels of the tank more as compared to before where they will be at the bottom mostly. Always good to introduce babes.. :)

e. Stripped my first malawian babe. A nice female metriaclima estherae, the pair was used for cycling my 6x2x2 in November last year, they survived and even gave me babies!




f. And finally, my tropheus ikola finally have babies! but that's after i sold them off to this nice brother who has a knack in breeding tangans. Well finally have to admit that in my 2 years of keeping them and seeing them doing the T dance, the main problem was i had too many males. It was like 13 males to 5 females. No wonder nothing happened, but I am happy that they are in good hands.