Lake Inle, a truly unique place, is Myanmar/Burma's second largest lake, after Indawgyi Lake. Home to over 35 species, including 17 endemic species of fish, it also hosts one of the largest groups of migratory gulls. The water has a slightly alkaline pH of 7.8-8 and features large sections of floating plants. Four cities border the lake, and many villages are home to the Intha people. Outside these villages, you'll find swampy areas and open spaces in the deeper parts of the lake.
I'm drawn to Lake Inle because of its incredible biodiversity. The lake is famous for its one-legged rowing fishermen, who catch carp and other food sources. The Intha people, who are Buddhists, live in simple bamboo and wood houses on stilts. The fish in the lake are incredibly colourful and highly sought after in the aquarium trade.
To create a Lake Inle biotope, you'll need fine river sand, gravel, small rocks, crushed root tabs, and native plants. Start with a base layer of mixed river sand and gravel. Then, sprinkle crushed root tabs over this layer. Add small rocks to replicate the lake bed. Choose plants native to the lake, such as Ludwiga repens, Lemna minor, Nitella flexilis, and Rotala rotundifolia. Avoid water hyacinth, as it's an introduced species. Place larger plants in the background and smaller ones in the foreground. For livestock, consider a large group of emerald dwarf danios or Sawbwa barbs for a densely vegetated area, or display the rare Lake Inle danio for a striking effect. For invertebrates, opt for the Caridina cf. babaulti ‘green’ shrimp, which is native to the lake.
Maintaining your biotope is relatively straightforward. Perform 20-50% water changes every week or few weeks to maintain water quality. Fertilise native plants to promote growth spurts. Test water parameters every month to ensure everything is running smoothly.