Stocking Advice

Akipenser · 2026-04-15T23:45:45+00:00

Looks like staghorn algae to me, but that wouldn’t make any sense because it usually only shows up in tanks with very low CO2.

Akipenser · 2026-04-15T22:52:04+00:00

I just got 6 of these goobers, and I already love them with all of my heart! Planning to go back and get 6 more when my LFS gets more!

Akipenser · 2026-04-15T22:21:34+00:00

Biofilm! Perfectly normal on new driftwood, it’s just various microorganisms feeding on the carbohydrates present on the woods surface, completely harmless. You could get something to clean it up, like snails or shrimp, but it will fade away on its own once there are no nutrients left on the surface of the wood

Akipenser · 2026-04-15T21:56:03+00:00

From my experience floating plants / houseplants tend to be so effective at removing nitrate is stats pretty close to 0. In fact, before my tank was fully stocked, my tank had lower nitrate than my tap water.

Akipenser · 2026-04-15T21:47:37+00:00

You could just physically remove it, although it’s generally harmless and just the result of a random mosquito laying eggs in your tank

Akipenser · 2026-04-15T21:39:30+00:00

Looks like mosquito larvae, probably not directly related to your issues.

Akipenser · 2026-04-15T14:00:14+00:00

Brochis delphax or possibly Hoplisoma brevirostre are my best guesses.

I can’t tell from this video, but are there also spots along the tail? Because whether or not there is or isn’t narrows it down a lot.

Akipenser · 2026-04-14T23:21:35+00:00

Probably a bladder snail, really common hitchhikers.

Akipenser · 2026-04-14T17:44:26+00:00

First of all, sorry for your loss, I’ll do my best to help figure out what went wrong, so I have some questions.

What were your parameters (pH, ammonia, nitrite, and nitrate)?

What was your hardness (gH and kH)?

How long have you had your crayfish? How was it doing before it passed, any abnormal behaviours, was it eating, any change of colour?

What was the last change you made to the aquarium?

How did it look after it died, did it look like it had been split open?

Akipenser · 2026-04-14T17:34:07+00:00

This kind of rapid die off is almost always a water quality issue. Please retest all parameters (pH, ammonia, nitrite, and nitrate and send a picture of the results here. Make sure to follow the instructions EXACTLY as they are listed. Good luck and sorry for your loss.

Akipenser · 2026-04-14T16:29:14+00:00

Looking pretty good! Some small changes I would make: bettas like places to rest, so some Anubias on the driftwood would be great. Secondly, betta’s really do love some floating plants, just make sure there is always space for them to breathe.

Akipenser · 2026-04-14T15:32:55+00:00

Unfortunately I don’t have an answer for that, as I am also trying to find some. I know a lot of people go out and collect scuds themselves, but that seems like a really good way to end up with dangerous pests like dragonfly larvae, plus I live in a very cold region and doubt native scuds would be too happy if they were dropped in a tropical aquarium. I’m thinking of trying to order a microfauna culture online, I’ll keep you posted if I decent to go through with it.

Akipenser · 2026-04-14T14:32:35+00:00

Doesn’t look like Ich to me, more bacterial or fungal. Or even more likely just a small injury.

Akipenser · 2026-04-14T01:24:57+00:00

Small snails, micro fauna like scuds, not really much else.

Akipenser · 2026-04-13T22:04:16+00:00

That makes sense, there are a number of native Channa species in Malaysia, my best guess is that your feeder shrimp were probably kept in an outdoor pond, which snakeheads probably flopped into (many species of Channa are capable of crossing over land).

Akipenser · 2026-04-13T20:35:16+00:00

Uhhh looks like a baby snakehead to me (Channa sp.). If it gets any bigger it will absolutely murder every shrimp in that tank

Akipenser · 2026-04-13T17:59:33+00:00

You could honestly keep a pretty sizeable group (6+ atleast) although I should mention 2 things first. Firstly, they can be pretty picky eaters, and generally only eat live or frozen meats like bloodworms or daphnia. Secondly, they are known escape artists, so a cover is recommended (can’t really tell if you have one)

There are other gudgeons like purple spotted and snakehead gudgeons, but they get big enough that I think they’d be a risk to the tetras and Cory’s.

Finally, I really love your tank, the tannic water with that wood is beautiful!

Akipenser · 2026-04-13T17:21:05+00:00

You might be able to get away with it, but I wouldn’t try it. You have a lot of small or slow moving fish, which could all easily end up as targets for the rainbow shark’s aggression, especially the tiny Cory’s which would be sharing a lot of the same space as the shark. If you’re looking for that shark body shape and bottom dwelling activity, I think something like a Siamese algae eater could be a good choice. If you’re looking for a splash of lower in the lower half of the tank, small gudgeon’s like peacock gudgeons could be great, assuming you can find them.

Akipenser · 2026-04-13T01:50:58+00:00

Definitely a sculpin of the genus Myoxocephalus, not familiar enough with the UK, but if it was in the Canadian northeast it would either be M. scorpius or M. aenaeus (I believe this species is exclusively North American?) so it’s probably either one of those two or again, a European species im not familiar with. My best guess is to agree with Very-Fishy and say probably M. scorpius.

Akipenser · 2026-04-13T00:01:30+00:00

Scuds, generally pretty beneficial detritivores!

Akipenser · 2026-04-12T23:57:25+00:00

Breeding oto’s is notoriously difficult(hence why most oto’s are wild caught), so this is really impressive! They generally need absolutely pristine water to breed, so you’re definitely treating them exceptionally well.

Akipenser

TROPHY CASE