Orinoco River Biotope Tank

[GouramiGirl100]

I’m turning my 37 gallon into a biotope of the Orinoco river basin. So far it’s not perfect because I chose lemon tetras which technically aren’t from there but I think close enough. I was going to do cardinal or RNT which may have been more accurate but the new shipment at my LFS of those tetras looked like there was disease and I didn’t want to deal with that. So far the tank is in the beginning stages of being rescaped. Technically this is an aged aquarium (2 years running with different fish) I just topped off the old gravel/sand with new gravel. I got this entire tank, substrate, plants, and wood from my amazing sister so everything just needed to be setup at my place. So far I have added a small school of lemon tetras (going to add more) and two German blue rams who I’m watching to determine gender.
I am going to add coconut hides (not super accurate but I need hides) and some leaf litter and bark for the bottom.
Let me know if anyone has any ideas for this region or any other smaller fish that would enjoy the tank

 

[SamMe]

Looks good! I loved my RNT when I had them, but I think the yellow in the lemon tetras when they color up a little is going to look amazing with your rams. My LFS has gray clay hides that are shaped like rocks. They aren't the roundish ones you see at the box stores. Once they've been in the tank for a couple of months, you can't tell the difference between them and the real rocks.

 

[GouramiGirl100]

Looks good! I loved my RNT when I had them, but I think the yellow in the lemon tetras when they color up a little is going to look amazing with your rams. My LFS has gray clay hides that are shaped like rocks. They aren't the roundish ones you see at the box stores. Once they've been in the tank for a couple of months, you can't tell the difference between them and the real rocks.

That sounds awesome I’m looking on Etsy for something similar to that

 

[SamMe]

That sounds awesome I’m looking on Etsy for something similar to that

I've never seen these exact ones before, so I wonder if someone local makes them. They're very natural looking. They have some brown toned ones on Amazon that aren't too fake looking and might blend in well with your substrate. As always with our aquarium wants, they aren't cheap.

 

[GouramiGirl100]

I've never seen these exact ones before, so I wonder if someone local makes them. They're very natural looking. They have some brown toned ones on Amazon that aren't too fake looking and might blend in well with your substrate. As always with our aquarium wants, they aren't cheap.

Haha yes. I found some nice ones on Etsy as well I’ll probably order one

 

[TClare]

I would consider some pencilfish or Copellas.

 

[SamMe]

Just saw a picture of the Nannostomus mortenthaleri pencilfish, gorgeous!

 

[GouramiGirl100]

I would consider some pencilfish or Copellas.

I would really like some pencilfish they’re a bit pricey where I am but I’m worried they’ll jump because I keep lidless tanks

 

[SamMe]

I love the look of lidless tanks best, but only keep one because of the risk of all my brats escaping. Puffers can't jump too high, lol.

 

[BigManAquatics]

Dont forget a snowball pleco, thats where they're from, hence the name Orinoco Angel.

 

[GouramiGirl100]

Dont forget a snowball pleco, thats where they're from, hence the name Orinoco Angel.

I would absolutely love to have one but they are upwards of 100$ where I live and out of stock online where I’m looking. I’m also hesitant to put another pleco in because I have a massive (4-5 inch) longfin BN who is going in and she’s kind of a menace lol

 

[BigManAquatics]

I would absolutely love to have one but they are upwards of 100$ where I live and out of stock online where I’m looking. I’m also hesitant to put another pleco in because I have a massive (4-5 inch) longfin BN who is going in and she’s kind of a menace lol

Yeahmine was like $25 at petco. The one at the LFS is like $90....

 

[GouramiGirl100]

Yeahmine was like $25 at petco. The one at the LFS is like $90....

I’ll have to keep an eye out!

 

[coralbandit]

Rams won't use caves IME.
They like structure like a stick and rock in the corner they can claim and defend.

 

[GouramiGirl100]

Rams won't use caves IME.
They like structure like a stick and rock in the corner they can claim and defend.

Ok thanks! I’ve added some rock caves but I’ll get some smooth rocks to pile in each corner as well w some more driftwood

 

[FishDin]

The pleco will like the caves though if they are big enough.

 

[GouramiGirl100]

The pleco will like the caves though if they are big enough.

The pleco that’s going in this tank is too big for any of my caves haha I don’t think I can find a big enough cave for her (she’s around 5 inches). She seems to be content with the underside of the driftwood in her holding tank rn like my other BN

 

[coralbandit]

I used these for my super red BNP.
https://www.amazon.com/Maxam-Wyndham-Terracotta-Watering-Spikes/dp/B083LNQ4VX/ref=sr_1_2?crid=2UU3S9ZFQUJ57&keywords=terracotta+watering+spikes&qid=1678544739&s=lawn-garden&sprefix=terracotta+watering+spikes,lawngarden,182&sr=1-2
I am sure garden centers would sell them individually.
I also have some like this;

 

[GouramiGirl100]

I used these for my super red BNP.

I am sure garden centers would sell them individually.
I also have some like this;

Ok awesome definitely ordering one

 

[GouramiGirl100]

Tank progress so far! Hoping to get a pleco hide and botanicals today. Added cholla wood. My pleco uses the large fake rock cave as a hide but the rams don’t use any of the caves so I have to get some flat rocks and more small wood sticks

 

[GouramiGirl100]

Updating to say botanicals and more caves have been added I’m liking it so far, any suggestions let me know!
Inhabitants are: two GBRs, some lemon tetras, and red eye tetras. All the tetras seem to school together so that’s nice. One large BN pleco

 

[FishDin]

I see you BN has found it's cave .

 

[GouramiGirl100]

I see you BN has found it's cave .

She’s enjoying it haha

 

[SamMe]

She's like a toddler. If she can't see you, she thinks you can't see her!

 

[Frank the Fish guy]

I would really like some pencilfish they’re a bit pricey where I am but I’m worried they’ll jump because I keep lidless tanks

I keep pencil fish in a lidless tank.

There are different species of pencil fish. Mine are Nannostomus trifasciatus.

Great fish. These are the pencil fish that hover at an angle and look for stuff to snack on. They don't jump.

Also called three-line pencil fish.

 

[GouramiGirl100]

I keep pencil fish in a lidless tank.

There are different species of pencil fish. Mine are Nannostomus trifasciatus.

Great fish. These are the pencil fish that hover at an angle and look for stuff to snack on. They don't jump.

Also called three-line pencil fish.

Cool good to know! I’ll keep an eye out for them

 

[hevvyc]

That's cool, some hornwort or bacopa would look great in there.

 

[GouramiGirl100]

That's cool, some hornwort or bacopa would look great in there.

Hornwort will eventually make its way into all my tanks haha I have an endless supply

 

[TClare]

I have also never seen my pencilfish jump. Having floating plants probably helps.

 

[Blacksheep1]

I have beckfordii pencils and mine have never jumped. I mean they actually can’t through the salvinia carpet though so … they were also so cheap ! Cheaper than a neon tetra at my lfs at £2.95 ea

 

[TClare]

My beckfords were 3 for $5. The trifasciatus were 12 for $10. Only the mortenthaleri were expensive at $7 each.

 

[Frank the Fish guy]

Go pencilfish. Great fish!

 

[GouramiGirl100]

Go pencilfish. Great fish!

Ok I’ll see if my LFS can get some in!

 

[GouramiGirl100]

Well I confirmed that my two GBRs were males. After an almost bloodbath I quickly scooped one out- it was the easiest fish catch I’ve ever done! He did not suspect a thing lol. He’s in his own 29 gallon tank now which has some danios and my farlowella
The other tank

 

[GouramiGirl100]

Unfortunately my GBRs passed on exactly the same day, both suddenly within the span of a few hours. I was devastated I have no idea what happened, it was so fast- they were in two different tanks, both very aged and established tanks. Suddenly both were at the bottom in the morning and then an hour later they died. Nothing like that has happened to me in my fishkeeping time. I don’t think I will be trying GBRs again. I have very hard water and I think they just couldn’t sustain in that.
The tank now currently has a decent size school of both lemon and lamp eye tetras and one large BN pleco. Should I add a school of RNT? This was what I thought I would do but I’m open to suggestions

 

[TClare]

Should I add a school of RNT?

I am not sure how they would get on with the hard water?

 

[GouramiGirl100]

I am not sure how they would get on with the hard water?

I’ve never had an issue with keeping softer water fish until the GBRs. My feel is that they were imported outside of Florida (where I live) and this caused issues. They also got sick at the LFS I went in there today. So I’m not sure what was up with them. Still extremely upset about it. Maybe I will stick to the lamp eye tetras, although I wanted something in the tank for a pop of color

 

[TClare]

I’ve never had an issue with keeping softer water fish until the GBRs. My feel is that they were imported outside of Florida (where I live) and this caused issues. They also got sick at the LFS I went in there today. So I’m not sure what was up with them. Still extremely upset about it. Maybe I will stick to the lamp eye tetras, although I wanted something in the tank for a pop of color

Well the rams do have a reputation of not being very hardy. I haven't dared to try any from here as they never look too good in the shops. What about red phantom tetras? They are from the Orinoco and are colourful and probably hardier than RNTs?

 

[GouramiGirl100]

Well the rams do have a reputation of not being very hardy. I haven't dared to try any from here as they never look too good in the shops. What about red phantom tetras? They are from the Orinoco and are colourful and probably hardier than RNTs?

Those are gorgeous great idea! Exactly what I was looking for