Update

Some activities for the past few months.

a. Spawning round the clock

The pair of horny metriaclima estherae have bred 4 times since. I have more than 100 fries now. Had to buy a new tank just to keep them. As much as I enjoy seeing my fish breed, I am starting to wonder what I am going to do with these fries. A batch 15 has already been given away.

b. Wiped out

Two of my smaller mobas have been targeted by the alpha causing some fin tears, etc. Transferred them to the smaller 6 footer to recuperate. This is the same tank where I keep my 4x O. Nasuta, 4x N. Foai, 2 x A.Compressicepts.
Trying to treat my mobas, I overdosed the tank with Melafix. Whole tank wiped out except the Mobas. Luckily I transferred the 4 foai to another tank fearing that the mobas may gobbled them up, otherwise I think I would have lost them too.

Was quite heart wrenching. O.Nasuta are not easy to get here and they cost $70 each! the male was such a pretty sight. Well, expensive lesson learnt.


c. Snails, snails everywhere

These pesky fellas are starting to appear again, and with a vengeance. The 6ft tank was swarmed with thousands of them as I try to scoop out the dead fishes. Even the thought of it now would shivers down my spine. Did a 80% water change, add double portion of marine salt and let it cycle for 3 days.

Bought 4 mid size clown loaches and 1 green puffer. Poof! all snails gone within a day. Even tranferred the puffer to different tanks to do the job. Very useful and hardy fish.

d. More..more....Mobas!

Bought another piece of moba. There are now 10 pieces (3m, 5f, 2u) in my 6x2.5x2.5. Have ordered another 3 female from CF, but it's taking ages.

e. DOA sigh...

Received a call from Ron of the arrival of a new batch of tanganyikans. Some of the fishes were from the wishlist that I gave to Ron. Cypri. Zonatus, black bees, etc. Straight away reserved all 10 of the zonatus.

Somehow not fated to go CF. Dropped by at 10:30pm Saturday night, was surprised that the shop was already closed. Went down again the next day, 3:30pm, still closed. Have to wait until 4 plus before the shop was opened...but alas was told that all the fishes were wiped out. This is not the first time, makes me wonder if it's the quality of fishes from Airfish dropped or somehow the handling of the newly arrived fishes not done properly? In any case, feel bad for the guys at CF, was told that Airfish will not refund.

f. Buccochromis rhoadesii

Itchy fingers. Was at Qian Hu the other day and spotted two tanks of Buccochromis Rhoadesii. Kept these fishes 3 years back in my rojak cichlid tank. Was fascinated by their behavior and the colour they displayed. Anyway the fishes were labelled "Blue Emperor" by QH, who have now been known to suka suka give their own local names to fishes, particularly those from the African lakes. Googled blue emperor and got zilch results.

Anyway went ahead to buy 6 of them at $15 each. 3 died within 3 days. At first I thought it was because they were harassed by the resident mbuna, but even when the mbuna was removed, I lost another 2. The remaining one displayed some form of fin rot. This is despite it being alone with 3 clown loached in a 6ft tank! Makes me wonder the quality of fishes from QH.