Stephen's 550L tank log (summary & continuation)

[Stephen]

What the current back log of imports there's probably very little wild stock being imported at the present time and much of it that does will be going to the European continent, usually Rotterdam.

Fish are coming through from south America in dribs and drabs.
To get space on a plane comes at a premium which puts the prices up, so they get less priority.
I have seen some of the fish from my Rio Negro list at LFS. Cardinal tetra and Rummy-nose tetra (Hemigrammus bleher) are readily available.
Corydoras are hit and miss at present but at least I have alternatives if I go with the Rio Negro theme.
Aqualife Leyland have Corydoras duplicareus and the like such as C. burgessi, C. davidsandsi, C. imitator etc.. so I have options and availability.
I can not find Corydoras amandajanea but again I can go with C. melini, C. crimmeni (gorgeous), C. nijsseni, and others as alternative options.
The Corydoras duplicareus (or the like) and the Cardinal tetra will provide the extra colour that I am looking for.
I can also swap out the Rummy-nose tetra for a smaller shoal of Bleeding-heart tetra, I have more options with the Rio Negro theme.

Corydoras duplicareus


Corydoras amandajanea

[plankton]

I've never seen c. crimmeni in real life, to be honest when I got my first C48 I thought it was either a crimmeni or kanei, until I found out that all the pics of kanei were actually C48s.....

[Stephen]

I've never seen c. crimmeni in real life, to be honest when I got my first C48 I thought it was either a crimmeni or kanei, until I found out that all the pics of kanei were actually C48s.....

I've not seen c. crimmeni in real life either, it was just wishful thinking on my part. Corydoras parallelus is another option but expensive.

Corydoras parallelus

[BigBen]

I came across some C.Virginae at Maidenhead Aquatics in Taunton (nearer to Wellington, M5 J26). They aren't yet on sale but they had a good 20+. Probably too far for you, but if not worth a call!

[Stephen]

I came across some C.Virginae at Maidenhead Aquatics in Taunton (nearer to Wellington, M5 J26). They aren't yet on sale but they had a good 20+. Probably too far for you, but if not worth a call!

Thanks Ben
I also came across some C.Virginae but I've changed my theme 5 weeks ago from the Rio Ucayali to the Rio Nanay.
I'm finding it difficult to source fish for the Nanay and seriously thinking of changing to the Negro.

[Stephen]

September Update

I am finding it difficult in finding fish that would not normally be so difficult to find.
I have spent the past several weeks looking at alternative river systems (the current theme has only 3 species; Cupid cichlids, Ember tetra and Corydoras agassizii).
The river systems that I've looked at include the Rios Marañón, Nanay, Mamoré, Negro, Araguaia, Essequibo, Rupununi, Demerara and Orinoco.
I have had another extensive look at the Rio Negro which also contains the Cupid cichlids.
In the Rio Negro there is far more choice and availability.

So I have a delemma; do I switch river themes or wait, waiting may be a long while ?

I am thinking Rio Negro (which was a previous theme but went wrong when I introduced some fish which turned out to be predators)
Potential fish stock:-
9 x Cupid Cichlid (Biotodoma Cupido)
15 x Corydoras amandajanea
15 x Corydoras duplicareus
60 x Cardinal Tetra (Paracheirodon axelrodi)
40 x Rummynose Tetra (Hemigrammus bleheri or Petitella georgiae)
Represents 100% stock and 110% filtration based on all fish being fully grown.
Bear in mind that 3 (or 5) of the Cupid cichlids will be re-homed once they pair up.

Just looking at my options.
I'm not one to hang around, so any changes will be done quickly.

September Update

The decision has been made, I will change to the Rio Negro. (The Rio Nanay theme has only been running for about 4 weeks so not a problem)

I have spoken to the manager at my favourite LFS (65 miles away).
The deal has been done.
I will swap the Ember tetra for Cardinal tetra (wild caught) and the Corydoras agassizii for Corydoras duplicareus.
The Cupid cichlids will stay as they already exist in the Rio Negro.
I will obtain another tetra and another Corydoras species probably next week (I may visit Abyss).
dilemma solved.

[Stephen]

September Update:

Here's the latest stocking plan (Rio Negro themed)

9 x Cupid Cichlid (Biotodoma Cupido) (will be reduced to 4 or 6 after they have paired up)
15 x Amanda Jane's Cory (Corydoras amandajanea)
15 x Broad Stripe Cory (Corydoras duplicareus)
60 x Cardinal Tetra (Paracheirodon axelrodi)
30 x Rummynose Tetra (Hemigrammus bleheri)
1 x Snowball Pleco, L102 (Hypancistrus inspector)

This will represent approx 95% stocking and 115% filtration.

All fish should hopefully be obtained by Wednesday 15th September.

[Andys temperate tank]

Put your bargain filter on the tank and add another 30 rummies Stephen.

[Stephen]

Put your bargain filter on the tank and add another 30 rummies Stephen.

I don't want to over-load (over-stock) the aquarium Andy, but I like your thinking

I could have 10 less Cardinals and 10 more Rummies, that'll work.
So something like this:-
50 x Cardinal Tetra (Paracheirodon axelrodi)
40 x Rummynose Tetra (Hemigrammus bleheri)

Did you notice the pleco in the list ?

[Andys temperate tank]

Put your bargain filter on the tank and add another 30 rummies Stephen.

I don't want to over-load (over-stock) the aquarium Andy, but I like your thinking

I could have 10 less Cardinals and 10 more Rummies, that'll work.
So something like this:-
50 x Cardinal Tetra (Paracheirodon axelrodi)
40 x Rummynose Tetra (Hemigrammus bleheri)

Did you notice the pleco in the list ?

Sounds good to Stephen mate. When I took my rummie shoal over 40 the shoaling behavior was even better.

I really like the snowball pleco.

Its a shame I live so far away from you. My dad can't stop his duplicareas cory breeding. You could have had some of them.