MrsM3197

Well, I finally broke down and bought my son the gourami he was wanting. I've been holding off for a long time because I was afraid of bringing home one with the virus, but I'd talked to several people that have said that the market is safer now and they aren't seeing as many dying. I sure hope that is correct information because this guy is really pretty. He's a dwarf powder blue, and frankly looked rather drab and plain in the LFS, but my son picked him out. After 2 days in his tank he's colored up nicely. I also got him 3 little oto cats mostly because of a small algae growth...his tank sits in front of a window,it looks good there, and I really don't mind a little algae since the oto cats that eat it are so cute anyway. So now his tank is more than abundantly stocked, a little over actually but with a little extra work it won't be a problem. My 30 gal is stocked as much as it's gonna get. So now all I have is to enjoy what I have right now....and dream of my next set up .

Lucy

He must be so happy and proud to have a tank all his own.

Isn't it nice that our children and in some cases grandchildren are learning proper fish care?
Holds some hope for the future of fishcare doesn't it?

What size tank does your son have? I hope you'll share some pics.

MrsM3197

His is the 25 gal we picked up at a garage sale for $3. Uber cool for a first time set up, and he is just as proud as a peach! I just gotta say that I have been hitting every garage sale in the neighborhood since, cause sooner or later I'm gonna find a 55 or 75 for next to nothing and it will be mine. I got a 10 gal/w stand at the same time I got the 25 (same $3, go figure!), Frankensteined it up with some leftover parts and have a QT for any emergency that might arise. If anything good came of me losing that angelfish it was realizing the importance of plan "B". Now one of my daughters is wanting a tank in her room. I can't wait to get started again!!!
I have some pics posted on...I think it's my profile. My daughter tried to help me get them posted, but I think we messed something up. The camera is good, but I don't think I could take a decent pic if my life depended on it.

Barbrella

I warn you - once you have a dwarf gourami you'll never be without one. They're just too cute and endearing for words!

I see you have him with neons and cherry barbs? That's what I keep mine with and think they're perfect tankmates.

They LOVE bloodworms!

pepetj

Good for you Melissa! Keep looking, and keep dreaming (I do the same down here).

I totally agree with Lucy. One of the things I enjoy most is when my (soon to be) four year old daughter stares at a particular fish and calls me to share her discovery of the moment. At noon, today, it was that the smallest Angelfish has one pectoral fin black while the other one is white (others share that condition too, but you know what I mean).

Pepe
Santo Domingo

MrsM3197

He is with the neons and cherry barbs, and seems to be getting along very well. I am kinda concerned for the shrimp, when they molt I'm thinking they may become snacks...or they might find a hiding spot in the castle. Even if they become snacks, I'm figuring that many people buy them just for that purpose and at $.26 a piece I'm not losing a whole lot. Besides the QT has several shrimp in it that are keeping the cycle going, as they reproduce I can always harvest some of those if I have to. I gave Mr. Gourami some bloodworms after I saw your post, and he enjoyed them much. He's such an iggy piggy I just love to sit in the bean bag in front of the tank and watch him. Of course getting out of the bean bag is a completely different matter. The old grey mare just ain't what she used to be.

MrsM3197

I understand what you are saying about the children Pepe. I don't have any little ones anymore (mine are 19, 17, 16, 15 girls and my 11 yr old son), but everyday I hear "Momma! Come look at this!" It's usually about a snail, or when one of the shrimp molted, something simple, but I blew their minds the other day when they saw William take a bloodworm from my fingers! They are so tuned in, it's easy for them to learn. I am so thankful I found this site to teach me so I can teach them!