planted aquariums

[oldraider]

I've had plastic plants in my aquariums for years - super easy to care for and move around. I switched to live plants last year, and it's been a learning curve. My disabled brother-in-law loves fish, so I offered to set up a tropical tank for him. I decided to give him my Red Eye Tetras from my 55-gallon planted tank. He was stoked about it. After setting up his tank and using Tetra SafeStart Plus, I tried to catch those Red Eye Tetras. It wasn't easy - I'd created too many hiding spots with all the plants. Yesterday, I managed to catch two small ones after over an hour of trying. Today was more of the same, so I decided to rethink my plan. I took everything out except my African Sword plants - my wife gave me that "what are you doing?" look when she walked in. But it worked - I ended up with 10 more Red Eye Tetras for my brother-in-law. The rest of the day was spent replanting my tank. I won't lie, it was way easier with plastic plants.

[floriston]

I learned that the hard way too, oldraider. I think I would've had an easier time catching those Red Eye Tetras if I left the net in the tank for a bit. You know, let them get used to it, not be so scared of it. That way, they'd be more likely to swim right in when you're trying to catch 'em.

[floriston]

I've got experience with both plastic and live plants in my tanks, and honestly, each has its own set of advantages and disadvantages.

[desertstream]

Yeah I know what you mean, some fish can be real tricky to catch and all the plants just make it tougher. Ottos were always a nightmare for me, super fast and slippery, always managed to evade me.

[fineman]

You might find it easier to catch your fish if you stuck to plants that attach to rocks or driftwood, like anubias or java fern. I had a similar issue with a pleco, and I found that removing the plants attached to rocks and driftwood made it a lot easier to catch it, although it was still a challenge.

[oldraider]

I've got a good mix going on in my tank now, neon, glow light and ember tetras, plus a couple of cory. I'm pretty happy with the way things are, so I don't plan on trying to catch any more fish. I do want to add a few more to each group, just to flesh things out a bit.

[oldraider]

I was feeding my fish today and what do I see, two more young red eye tetras. I was able to catch one because he swam right into the net, but the other one's being a real challenge. I was so happy two months ago when I saw the first fry, it was a great feeling. My Ember and Neon Tetras just don't seem to breed like this, I wish they would, but I'm happy with the Red Eyes.

[boomer]

Noting a fact, not criticizing, chasing fish with a net causes severe stress - the "escape predator" response. This response has physiological aspects I'll explain after describing an easier way to catch fish, minimizing stress.

To reduce stress, use a larger net, stationary against the front glass, near the left corner if you're right-handed. Use your other hand to slowly move the fish to the left side and then toward the front. They usually swim into the stationary net. A black net can also help, as it's less visible; I found it easier after switching to a black net.

The stress response is the body's way to escape danger, whether from a predator or a net. This response channels energy to power muscles, but has long-term effects. Hormones like adrenalin and cortisol are released, disturbing the fish's balance and weakening its immune system. The recovery process can take hours or days, as the fish needs to regain its equilibrium - a balance of internal forces.

I've taken this information from The Manual of Fish Health, which explains the impact of this stress response on fish.

[oldraider]

I appreciate the advice, I was actually using a similar method, but with a large plastic spoon to guide the fish into the net. The issue I faced was the abundance of hiding spots and plants, which made it difficult to maneuver. My large castle in the middle of the tank also posed a challenge. However, once I removed most of the decorations and plants, the process became significantly easier. I currently have green-colored nets in two sizes, but I'll definitely consider investing in a black net, thanks for the tip.

[angelica]

I've never really bothered trying to save fry in my community tanks, I just let nature run its course. If I want to breed fish, I use a separate tank for that. But last night, while watching my sterbai corys chasing each other around after the lights went out, I noticed a few of them looked a bit off - and smaller than the others.

This morning, when the lights came on, I took a closer look and was thrilled to discover I've got at least three new little pepper corys swimming around. I'm really pleased, as I've never had cory fry survive in a community tank before.