Algae often builds up on the glass of aquariums. Sometimes even snails and cleaner fish cannot remove the algae entirely.
The best solution is to use a scraper like Mag Float!
Tag: pet
Anubias Leaves Algae (How to remove)
Bettas tend to attack algae-eaters (shrimp, snails, fish). Hence, few algae-eaters can live together with Bettas!
This causes algae problems on our Anubias (and Bucephalandra) plant in the Betta tank.
We are using mechanical scrubbing to remove the algae, with 80% effectiveness.
Thanks for watching, and please consider subscribing!
Toy Poodle Full Grown
This is currently our most popular video: Toy Poodle Full Grown! It seems that many people are curious about the size of a full grown toy poodle.
Toy Poodle Full Grown Size
A full grown toy poodle should be 10 inches tall, and weighs about six to nine pounds (2.5 to 4 kg). The Miniature Poodle stands 11 to 15 inches tall and weighs 15 to 17 pounds (7 to 8 kg). This is the information from many other dog websites.
Charlie the poodle is 5 kg, on the high side for toy poodle, but yet less than the weight requirement for miniature poodle!
So how do we classify a poodle that is heavier than 9 pounds, but under 15 pounds? That is a mystery!
Blue Ramshorn Snail
Just added a few Blue Ramshorn Snails to the planted aquarium. Blue Ramshorn Snails are a relatively rare variety of Ramshorn Snails, their shell is a nice blue color!
Poodle and Bean Bag
Charlie the poodle dog relaxing on his favorite bean bag!
Ember Tetra Babies
Our Ember Tetras successfully breed, and produce baby fry! There are at least 3 fry at the moment.
The fry are very small (smaller than Cherry Shrimp), and almost transparent. They seem to like to hang out near the bottom of the tank.
Charlie the toy poodle playing fetch!
Toy poodle playing with poodle toy
Charlie the toy poodle loves his new toy (which is also a poodle)!
Dogs have a good life, all they do is eat, play, and sleep!
Neon Tetra Disease Treatment (Melafix)
Neon Tetra Disease is a mysterious disease that strikes mainly neon tetras, but other fishes are also susceptible to it. The online opinion is that there is no cure, some even suggest euthanizing the poor tetra to avoid it spreading.
Neon Tetra Disease Signs
The signs of neon tetra disease include some of the following classic symptoms:
- Loss of color in a patch of skin
- Fin rot
- Curved spine in advanced cases
Our neon tetra exhibited two of the classic signs (white patch and loss of color near the head), and fin rot near the tail. For more pictures and graphics of the symptoms, see the video below.
Neon Tetra Disease Cure (Melafix?)
We seem to have stumbled upon a cure for neon tetra disease using Melafix. Melafix is a herbal fish medicine based on tea tree oil, and is targeted at bacterial infections of fish.
After one dose of Melafix, and over 9 days, our neon tetra has shown a dramatic improvement (as seen in video below). The white patch of loss of color is gone, and the fin rot near the tail is gone as well. In addition, the fin tissue near the tail has grown back to normal levels.
API Aquarium Pharmaceuticals 11J Melafix, 16 oz. (11J)
In the video below, our neon tetra was cured (after around 1 week) from Neon Tetra Disease, after dosing Melafix.
Neon Tetra Disease Cause
As mentioned before, there is almost no information on neon tetra disease, even though it is a very common disease of neon tetras. Some say that it is caused by a Microsporidian parasite called Pleistophora hyphessobryconis.
There is also a closely related disease called “False Neon Tetra Disease”, which is caused by bacteria. The symptoms are so close that it is impossible to tell apart the two diseases without a microscope in a laboratory.
According to famous fish keeper Cory from Aquarium Co-op, Neon Tetra Disease is caused by Mycobacterium, which also causes fish tuberculosis.
Neon Tetra Disease Cure
Based on our experience, Melafix certainly seemed to cure the Neon Tetra Disease. Then again, theoretically Melafix works against bacterial diseases but not parasitical diseases. Hence, it may work for the cases of Neon Tetra Disease which are caused by bacteria, but not for those that are caused by parasites.
Rasbora pregnant? (Pregnant chili rasbora)
Recently, one of our phoenix rasboras (cousin of chili rasbora) is getting a little round in the belly. Is it pregnant (or the more technical term is gravid)?
We are not very sure, will ask in a forum soon afterwards. Possible alternative reasons is that it is bloated, overfed or even dropsy!
From our experience, it is better that the phoenix rasbora is fat rather than thin. A thin rasbora signals a possible internal parasite problem, which proves to be fatal for this small rasbora species in our experience.
For more footage of the pregnant rasbora, do check out the YouTube video below.
Toy poodle smile
Charlie the toy poodle smiling, as he happily goes for a walk. The poodle’s facial expressions are quite expressive, we can tell the mood of Charlie quite accurately from his face alone.
Photos taken by iPhone 11. The iPhone 11’s camera is really a notch up compared to iPhone XR. The quality of the photographs is noticeably better.
Apple iPhone 11, 128GB, Black – Fully Unlocked (Renewed)
More photos of Charlie the toy poodle:
Fish that won’t eat shrimp
We showcase 3 fish that won’t eat shrimp, tried and tested in our very own 5 gallon nano planted tank.
1) Phoenix Rasbora
2) Neon Tetra
3) Lambchop Rasbora
These 3 fish are shrimp safe, in our experience.
There are many baby shrimp, juvenile shrimp, as well as adult blue shrimp (blue version of cherry shrimp) living happily alongside those fish. As well as 1 Amano shrimp.
From what we observe, the fish don’t disturb or bother the shrimp as well. Music is “Foo the Flowerhorn” style peaceful music, aka the Gymnopedie No. 3.
Usually, aggressive or predatory fish like the betta tend to eat or hunt shrimp.
It is relatively easy to breed shrimp, especially cherry shrimp and its color variants. There need to be enough calcium source in the tank, what we did is put some coral chips (crushed corals) which has calcium carbonate. The most common way for shrimp to die is due to unsuccessful molting.
Praziquantel snail safe? (Prazi gold review)
Recently, we had to dose Praziquantel (EIHO Prazi Gold) in the 5 gallon aquarium due to suspected internal parasites.
Basically, we discovered that one or two of our Phoenix Rasboras were pale, skinny and looking sick.
Is Praziquantel Snail Safe?
We do have a variety of snails in the tank:
- 2 Horned Nerite Snails (Bumblebee snails)
- Mini Ramshorn Snails (Pest snails)
- Freshwater Limpets (not exactly snails, but similar)
We were most worried about the 2 nerite snails, since the other snails were considered pest snails that we wanted to remove anyway.
The online research results were mixed. We did web searches on API General Cure, and Hikari PraziPro, both of which contained praziquantel as the active ingredient. Most reviews said that they were safe for snails, but there were a few that mentioned that their nerite snails were affected by the treatment (either climbing out of the water, or even dying).
API GENERAL CURE Freshwater and Saltwater Fish Powder Medication 10-Count Box
Since the negative reviews were in the minority, we decided to dose praziquantel in our 5 gallon tank, and monitor closely. If any signs of distress were observed, we have a separate tank to place the nerite snails.
Result after one day: No signs of distress, for nerite snails, ramshorn snails, and limpets. The horned nerite snails are still crawling about rather actively doing their thing. They did not attempt to climb out of the water.
Conclusion: Praziquantel seems to be safe for snails (including nerite snails).
Hikari Usa AHK73254 Prazipro for Aquarium, 4-Ounce
EIHO Prazi Gold Review
The brand of praziquantel I used is called “EIHO Prazi Gold“. It is in liquid form, but there is quite a lot of suspended undissolved white powder in the liquid. The white powder will eventually dissolve when you put it into the aquarium. Praziquantel is notorious for being difficult to dissolve.
Overall, I think it is effective, as I can sometimes even see the dead worms that are expelled by the praziquantel. Also, the affected fish always seem to behave in a weird way, for example becoming more inactive and gasping a little (possibly the parasites are dying inside their body and causing a reaction). Other non-affected fish behave normally as usual.
Zee Bed Singapore (5% Discount Code)
Discount Code (PerroMart): Click here to get 5% PerroMart Discount Voucher.
Zee Bed (or Zee.Dog Bed) is said to be the best bed for dogs. Dogs spend up to 80% of their time sleeping, so a good bed is important for their well-being. Sleeping on the cold hard floor may cause problems like arthritis or sores.
Zee Bed Singapore (Simpsons Edition)
Zee Dog The Simpsons Zee Bed (2 Sizes)
This dog bed is:
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- Packed using nano-compression technology
- No assembly required. unbox and sleep.
*Remember to get the 5% Discount Code before buying!
Zee Bed Singapore (Najima Edition)
Zee Dog Zee Bed Najima (2 Sizes)
This is another design of Zee Bed, red in color. Very elegant design.
*Remember to get the 5% Discount Code before buying!
Zee Bed Classic Design (Amazon)
The classic Zee Bed design is also available on Amazon. The grey color will match most interior designs.
ZEE.DOG | Zee.Bed 2.0 for Dogs | Large | Memory Foam Orthopedic Dog Bed | Removable Microfiber Cover
Monte Carlo Low Tech (No CO2 Carpet Plant)
The above video is Day 1 (21 July 2020) of planting Monte Carlo. Hopefully it will survive and carpet in the low tech tank, without CO2!
Monte Carlo Carpet Without CO2 (Day 7 Update)
Day 7: Noticeable improvement in the Monte Carlo carpet in my low tech, no CO2 tank! I do have a mini “time lapse” photo of the Monte Carlo before and after, the difference is quite noticeable. The Monte Carlo has “rooted” itself deeper into the substrate. Hopefully it continues to improve and spread out even more.
Day 13: Monte carlo time lapse (Day 13 Photo Time Lapse), Turning a little brown!
Monte Carlo low tech time lapse (photo montage), up till day 13. Growth is noticeable, but yet there is some yellowing and browning. I think the Monte Carlo is still adapting, and possibly transitioning from emersed to submersed. I just heard that another plant, Marsilea hirsuta, may be even easier than Monte Carlo to grow. Tropica rates the Marsilea hirsuta as easy, while Monte Carlo is rated medium. Maybe will try it if the Monte Carlo melts and dies.
Monte Carlo Low Tech Day 25: Growing Upwards!
This is Day 25 of growing Monte Carlo in low tech, no CO2 tank. The Monte Carlo is growing and surviving, however the growth is vertically upwards instead of carpeting horizontally. In other words, the Monte Carlo plant is not carpeting.
How do we ensure that the Monte Carlo carpets and grow horizontally? Please comment below if you have any suggestions!
Can dog eat strawberry?
Charlie the poodle eating strawberry. He likes licking the strawberry but actually only eats a little. Maybe Charlie finds it sour.
Back to the question of “Can dog eat strawberry”? The answer is: Yes! Dog can eat strawberry.
Source 1: AKC (American Kennel Club) Strawberries are a healthy, low-calorie, sweet treat for your dog, full of antioxidants, high in fiber and vitamin C. Here’s a bonus. By giving your dog strawberries, you are also helping him stay healthy in more ways than one. For example, over time, fresh fruit may help slow down the aging process, strengthen the immune system, and help with weight management. Strawberries can also help whiten your pup’s teeth. URL: https://www.akc.org/expert-advice/nutrition/feed-dog-strawberries/
Source 2: Purina Strawberries are good for dogs. But feed strawberries to your dog like you would any other snack. Keep the portion size small. “Treats you feed your dog should make up no more than 10% of his total calories for the day,” Purina Senior Nutritionist, Jan Dempsey says. Use this as a guide so the strawberries you feed your dog won’t cause him to gain extra pounds. URL: https://www.purina.com/articles/dog/nutrition/can-dogs-eat-strawberries
Warning: Dog absolutely cannot eat GRAPES!
Source: AKC No. Grapes and raisins are known to be highly toxic to dogs, though research has yet to pinpoint exactly which substance in the fruit causes this reaction. Because of that, peeled or seedless grapes should also be avoided. URL: https://www.akc.org/expert-advice/nutrition/can-dogs-eat-grapes/
Rasbora88 Pet Supplies Store
Do check out this online pet supplies store Rasbora88, currently with fish aquarium supplies in stock!
Currently there is a Free Shipping promotion to all international locations.
Recommended product: Sponge filter with suction cup
The benefit of this kind of sponge filter:
- Creates horizontal water movement for better water circulation (avoid dead spots).
- Attaches to glass via suction cup, so it takes up less valuable ground space which can be used to grow plants.
- Shrimp and fry safe, it is impossible for shrimp or fry to get sucked into the filter.
An example of this type of sponge filter:
How much to feed betta?
“How much to feed betta” or “how much to feed a betta fish” is a question that has puzzled me for a long time. I did not find any definitive answer online. I believe the rule “feed the size of the fish’s eyeball” leads to underfeeding, based on my experience. Also, it does not quite make sense to me that “a fish’s stomach is the size of its eyeball”, which is another commonly quoted guideline.
Hence, I create my own modified rule:
#1) Feed twice the size of the fish’s eyeball (eyeball includes the entire “sphere”, not just the exposed part).
#2) Adjust accordingly based on the size of the fish’s stomach. A healthy betta should have a round belly (especially after feeding) and a streamlined look at the same time. This is a bit subjective and requires experience of looking at hundreds of betta photos online to get a sense of what is a normal betta shape.
Following the above rule, I am currently feeding 3 to 4 pellets of Hikari Betta Bio-gold daily. That is a Hikari fish food specially formulated for bettas. Betta are carnivorous and require more protein.
How much do you feed your betta? Do you think I am underfeeding or overfeeding? Please comment below!
Betta Tank 2 Gallon (female betta)
New fish! A female betta from the store.
I put it in my 2 gallon planted tank, with Java Ferns and Anubias. I chose female betta as I wanted a short fin betta, and there were no “Plakat” male bettas available. The colors of a female betta are more pale and muted compared to male bettas.
The name of the female betta: Charlotte.
In the store, there was a pair of wild bettas (Betta Mahachai) which were very beautiful. However, they were quite expensive so I did not buy them in the end.
Relaxing Rasbora Schooling Fish Video
Just some relaxing video of Rasbora fish (Phoenix rasbora) schooling together in a group of 8.
Some rare footage of my Boraras Merah (close relative of Chili Rasbora) schooling in a tight formation. They don’t do this very often. Most of the time they school loosely, or even do their separate stuff. In the middle of my filming, Charlie the poodle is curious and watches as well!
Some Trivia: 7 of the Rasbora were bought in the same store, but 1 of them was from another batch. It took a few months for the 1 sole rasbora to familiarize and join the 7 other rasbora as a team. Quite interesting!
Adaptil Collar Reviews
There is this relatively new product called “Adaptil” Calm Collar for dogs. Apparently, it is supposed to contain pheromones mimicking those from a mother dog to calm the puppy. The scientific name for the active ingredient is DAP or Dog Appeasing Pheromone.
Reviews on Amazon are quite mixed, there are as many 5 star reviews as 1 star reviews. I think this shows that dogs are complex creatures, it is unlikely that one product works universally for all dogs. Similarly, for humans, there is no single medicine that can “calm” a person down.
If you have any experience with Adaptil with your pet dog, for example how long it takes to show results, please comment below!
You may check out the Amazon reviews below:
ADAPTIL Calming Collar for Dogs | A Constant Calm Anywhere You Go
Easy Red Low Tech Plant: Ludwigia Super Red
Ludwigia Super Red, also known as Ludwigia Palustris or Ludwigia sp. red (mini) is one of the easiest low tech (No CO2) red plants. Due to its small size, it is suitable for nano tanks (with trimming).
It is rated “easy” by Tropica. In comparison, most other red plants are rated “Medium” or “Advanced”.
I am trying out this low tech easy red plant without CO2. Future updates will be posted on this page as well.
Day 1 (May 22, 2020):
Day 2:
This is the second day of growing Ludwigia Palustris, also known as Ludwigia Super Red (sp. red mini). I think new growth has already appeared at the top of the stems! The new growth seems not so red though, maybe my light is not strong enough.
Day 4:
Currently, it is day 4 of growing it. I dose basic fertilizers like Tropica Premium, Seachem Potassium (weekly) and also Seachem Root Tabs (once every few months). I think the plant is adapting to the new environment, I did notice a bit of melting going on.
Day 8:
Still surviving on Day 8! The new leaves are quite cool, they are mixed red and green in coloration, with red mostly at the tips. I wonder if they will turn red completely eventually.
Day 13:
We continue with Day 13 of growing Ludwigia Palustris (aka Ludwigia Super Red) in low tech without CO2. Seems to be surviving! There is a bit of “fungus” problem after feeding Hikari frozen brine shrimp, hopefully it clears after the water change.
Stay tuned for future updates. If you have any experience on growing Ludwigia in low tech tanks, please comment below!
New Ludwigia sp. Mini ‘Super Red’ Live Aquarium Freshwater Plants Rare Repens Rubin
Mainam Ludwigia Repens Super Red Freshwater Plants Bundle Tropical Aquatic Plant Decorations
Ludwigia sp. red vs Ludwigia mini sp. red
Xiaozhuang Wong, also known as Dennis Wong (an expert aquascaper), has demonstrated that Ludwigia sp. red is actually the same plant as Ludwigia mini super red. It is the same plant, except that it grows smaller adult forms under lean fertilization regimes. This is similar for many plants. The below image shows Ludwigia plant taken from same cutting, grown under 2 different tank nutrient regimes. (Source: Xiaozhuang Wong Facebook)
Stray Feeding Drive May 2020 (SoSD)
Official URL: https://petguru.com.sg/2020/04/20/stray-feeding-drive-2020/
There are indeed more stray dogs than you imagine in Singapore. With the Trap-Neuter-Release-Manage (TNRM) Programme, we aim to reduce the number of strays out there over time. SOSD works closely with stray feeders in different parts of Singapore, in order to trap the dogs, especially the feral ones. Very often, these dogs have learnt to trust their feeders, and catching them would only be possible with the help and cooperation of the feeders who feed them daily.
Amidst the fight against COVID-19, we hope to extend a helping hand to our thankless stray feeders. 365 days a year, the stray feeders painstakingly prepare the daily meals for the stray doggies that they feed, before making their rounds around industrial areas, construction sites or forested areas to deliver food straight to the doggies’ bellies.
If you’ve been wondering how you can chip in during this difficult period, why not make a contribution to ease the pockets of the feeders?
For $98, you can purchase 1 large bag of dog kibbles, to feed 1 stray dog for 40 days.
Simply place your order below, and make payment via PayPal. Orders will close at 2359hrs on 31 May 2020, Sunday. When the donation drive ends, SOSD will coordinate the collection directly with the stray feeders at our supplier’s warehouse.
Please note that tax deduction is not applicable.
Read more at: https://petguru.com.sg/2020/04/20/stray-feeding-drive-2020/
Loki the dog euthanized
Recently, there is a sad news in Singapore about the euthanasia of a perfectly healthy dog called Loki, for purported “aggression”.
To read more, just google the following keywords:
- loki dog
- loki dog singapore
- loki dog euthanasia
- loki dog put to sleep
- #justiceforloki hashtag on Twitter
You can also find more information on the Exclusively Mongrels Limited Facebook page. Exclusively Mongrels was the organization that Loki came from (Loki was a stray dog). One of the volunteers at Exclusively Mongrels was brave to speak out about Loki’s euthanasia, but unfortunately he is now being accused by the owners for “doxxing”.
Do sign this petition on “More stringent regulations for putting dogs to sleep in Singapore“!
#JusticeForLoki: Help Exclusively Mongrels Raise Funds for Loki
Relaxing Music Piano Fish: Chopin’s Aeolian Harp Etude
Étude Op. 25, No. 1 in A-flat major by Chopin is also called Aeolian Harp Etude. It is considered to be of moderate difficulty among the etudes, but can be difficult to play perfectly…
Rhodeus bitterling fish 鳑鲏鱼
I have never seen this fish before in Singapore. In China, it seems common. It is called “Pang Pi” fish, or Rhodeus /bitterling fish. Although it is not very colorful, it is quite unique due to its relationship to the clam.
As you can see from the video, it likes to hang around the clam/mussel, and it will even lay its eggs inside. Apparently, the clam also deposits its eggs on the “Pang Pi” fish.
Clams are hard to keep, and can be quite tricky for beginners. It is hard to tell if the clam has died or not. (Even an alive clam does not move much. You can see how it moves in the video.) Once the clam has died, it will start decomposing and producing toxins which may harm the entire tank. Also, it is quite common for clams to have parasites and worms in them.
Toy Poodle Pictures
Toy Poodle Pics and Videos
Just to share some pictures and videos of Charlie the toy poodle. Actually, we are unsure of whether he is a pure toy poodle or not, some people commented that he does not look like one! Charlie is 6 months old now.
Poodle apparently descended from a water dog in Germany. Charlie the poodle loves to play water! Also, poodle is commonly said to be the 2nd most intelligent breed, after Border Collie.
Nano Fish Species [35 fish/aquatic creatures below 9 cm!]
| Fish | Max Length (cm) |
| Dwarf gourami | 8.8 |
| Black skirt tetra | 7.5 |
| Betta splendens | 7 |
| Honey gourami | 7 |
| Amano shrimp | 6 |
| Guppy (female) | 6 |
| Panda corydoras | 5.5 |
| Otocinclus | 5.5 |
| Cardinal tetra | 5 |
| Harlequin rasbora | 5 |
| Serpae tetra | 5 |
| Rummy-nose tetra | 5 |
| Zebra danio | 5 |
| Mexican dwarf crayfish | 5 |
| Cherry barb | 5 |
| Endler’s livebearer (female) | 4.5 |
| Cherry Shrimp (Neocaridina davidi) | 4 |
| White Cloud minnow | 4 |
| Sparkling gourami | 4 |
| Hara jerdoni | 4 |
| Neon tetra | 3.5 |
| Guppy (male) | 3.5 |
| Green neon tetra | 3.5 |
| Clown killi | 3.5 |
| Pea pufferfish | 3.5 |
| Assassin snail | 3.5 |
| Dwarf corydoras | 3.5 |
| Pygmy corydoras | 3.2 |
| Lambchop rasbora | 3 |
| Pseudomugil gertrudae | 3 |
| Horned Nerite Snail | 2.5 |
| Endler’s livebearer (male) | 2.5 |
| Celestial pearl danio | 2.5 |
| Chili rasbora | 2 |
| Phoenix rasbora | 2 |
Credits: All images are from Wikipedia (and/or my personal collection of fish), unless otherwise specified.
Fish Math
How to ensure a pair of male-female for fish & Shrimp
Given N fishes/shrimp, what is the probabillity of having at least 1 male-female pair?
Probability = 1 – (Prob. Of all Male)- (Prob. Of all Female)
If you have 4 fishes, Probability of having a breeding pair = 87.50%
If you have 5 fishes, Probability of having a breeding pair = 93.75%
If you have 6 fishes, Probability of having a breeding pair = 96.88%
If you have 7 fishes, Probability of having a breeding pair = 98.44%
If you have 8 fishes, Probability of having a breeding pair = 99.22%
5 gallon simple aquascape
If you enjoy fish / dog videos, do subscribe to our channel on YouTube!
PerroMart Discount Code
PerroMart SG is an online pet store in Singapore specializing in dog and cat food and products. It has an extremely wide range of food/products at very reasonable prices. During this COVID-19 period, it has free delivery!
For example, it has Himalayan Yak chew for dogs, which is a very rare dog chew that lasts very long and is very suitable for dogs. It also has exotic Kangaroo meat treats which are also very healthy for dogs. PerroMart also has overseas brands of dog food like the famous “Taste Of The Wild”.
PerroMart Discount Coupon
5% off coupon: PerroMart 5% Discount Coupon
Click on the above link to get a valuable 5% off coupon!
PerroMart Discount Codes
Use “PERROMART5” for $5 discount!
(The above code is valid as of April 2020.)
Absolute Bites Himalayan Yak Dental Sticks Dog Treats from PerroMart
100% Natural Himalayan Yak Chew comes from the ancient recipe of the people of Himalayas in Nepal.
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In the surrounding Mt. Everest at more than 15,000 feet, these dog treats are made using traditional methods with yak and/or cow milk, and all natural products with no preservatives, binding agents. These yak chews are gluten free, and also provide health benefits like protein, minerals and calcium. An excellent and unique dog chew for all breeds and sizes.
Aquatic Plants 水生植物
An introduction to the aquatic plants in my low tech tank:
1) AR Mini 迷你血心兰
2) Java Fern 铁皇冠
3) Dwarf Sag 矮慈姑
4) Cryptocoryne Wendtii 绿温蒂椒草
5) Giant Salvinia 槐叶萍
6) Anubias 水榕
7) Marimo Moss Ball 海藻球
Shrimp Videos
I find that shrimp are just as interesting as fish to keep in an aquarium. Shrimp are very good at tidying/cleaning up the aquarium; it is a great idea to keep some shrimp whenever possible.
The easiest shrimp to keep are cherry shrimp (and its color variants), and also the Amano shrimp. The biggest cause of shrimp deaths is due to molting problems. Below are some videos of the shrimp I have personally kept.
Easy to keep shrimp: Amano shrimp, cherry shrimp (Neocaridina davidi).
More difficult shrimp: Bamboo shrimp (aka Wood shrimp), Bee shrimp (I have not tried these yet), Sulawesi Shrimp (not tried yet either).
Hikari Shrimp Cuisine Review
I find this Hikari Shrimp Cuisine quite good. The pellets are quite small sized so you can control exactly how much you want to feed (down to each individual pellet).
Hikari Inc AHK19404 Shrimp Cuisine 0.35 -Ounce
How to feed Hikari Shrimp Cuisine Pellet (without fish snatching it away)
This was something that perplexed me for a long time. My fish would grab any food meant for the shrimp, leaving close to nothing left for the slower moving shrimp.
The solution I found was to:
- Put the Hikari Shrimp Cuisine pellets in a small container with tank water.
- Crush the pellets (I just use my finger).
- Stir to “dissolve” the pellets a little. Stirring also helps the pellets to sink.
- Pour the water with “dissolved” pellets back into the tank.
You may switch the order of steps 1 & 2 if you like (I find it easier to crush the pellets when wet).
The main reason why this works is because:
- Hikari Shrimp pellets are sinking (this is very important since shrimp can only eat sinking pellets that reach the floor).
- By crushing the pellets into powder, it is virtually impossible for the fish to snatch all the shrimp’s food.
- Some, if not most, of the powder will reach the tank floor, where the shrimp can find and eat it.
Another way to feed shrimp exclusively is the usage of a shrimp feeding tube and feeding dish.
How much Hikari Shrimp Cuisine Pellets to feed
This depends on how many shrimp you have, and also your tank setup. Ideally, shrimp such as cherry shrimp or Amano shrimp can survive on algae and biofilm. Hence, if your tank is well planted, you only need to feed lightly. Personally, I only feed the shrimps once a week, at around 2 Hikari Shrimp pellets per shrimp.
If your tank is bare (no plants), you need to feed more, maybe once every day or once every two days.
Supplementing with Hikari Shrimp food is good because it contains essential minerals like copper (shrimp need small amounts of copper) and other minerals that can help shrimp molt.
Toy Poodle Male Temperament
Just adopted a toy poodle (male). It is supposedly the 2nd most intelligent dog (after the Border Collie).
I was quite surprised that it is quite a well-behaved small dog, that seldom barks. It is currently 3 months, and only weighs around 1.5 kg.
Male vs female toy poodle temperament
Apparently, for poodles, it can often be the males that are more affectionate and loving and the females that are more dominant and challenging of authority. (Source: https://poodlereport.com/male-vs-female-poodles-what-are-the-differences/)
Another poodle website source claims that “males tend to be more affectionate, playful, easier to house break and train, attentive and more demanding of attention. They adore their people and want to please. Most importantly if you have more than one person in your family, male dogs love everyone equally and share their affection with everyone. Female dogs tend to be a one person dog.”
Mosquito Rasbora & Neon Tetra
Mosquito Rasbora (Boraras Merah / Phoenix Rasbora) can live peacefully together with neon tetras!
The neon tetras mostly ignore the smaller mosquito rasboras, except maybe during feeding time where they try to snatch the food. There has been zero aggression between the mosquito rasboras and the neon tetras.
Mosquito Rasbora are surprisingly clever and have distinct personalities. One of my mosquito rasbora prefer to hangout near the top of the water together with the neon tetras, while another prefers to swim low near the roots of plants.
Tetra Vacation Food Review (Holiday Fish Food)
Just wanted to give a positive review for the Tetra Vacation “Slow Release Feeder” Holiday fish food, which feeds up to 14 days.
I went for a vacation for around 12 days, and came back to zero fish/snail/shrimp deaths, and perfectly healthy fish!
The fish I had were:
- 5 neon tetras
- 2 lambchop rasboras
- 2 Rili Shrimp
- 1 Amano Shrimp
- 2 Horned Nerite Snails
All were surviving well after the vacation. It was quite clear that the shrimp and snails were able to eat the food as well (I saw them eating the food, as well as their poop on the feeding dish).
Tips for using the Tetra Vacation fish food
- I think the key is not to put too much. If you only have a few tetras, estimated of 1/8 of the entire block will be more than enough. The entire block is overkill and may increase the chances of polluting the water.
- Buy a plastic dish (food safe), such as Melamine Plastic Sauce Dishes, 1 oz, 2-3/4″, White (Set of 15)
to hold the food and prevent contact with substrate. I found that this reduces the chance of the Tetra holiday food turning mouldy. This is a cheap but still viable alternative to the proper method which is to use a Shrimp feeding dish such as Senzeal 2X Aquarium Glass Shrimp Feeding Dish Bowls Reptiles Water Food Dish Feeder Bowl Round
.
to hold the food and prevent contact with substrate. I found that this reduces the chance of the Tetra holiday food turning mouldy. This is a cheap but still viable alternative to the proper method which is to use a Shrimp feeding dish such as 
.Tetra Vacation food packaging looks like the ones below:
Tetra Vacation Tropical Slow Release Feeder, 2.12-Ounce
Tetravacation 14-Day Feeder For Tropical Fish. 4 Pack (4.24 Oz Total).
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