Hi Everyone

Just can't believe how time flies. Little Splash's tank has been up and running for almost a year!

This has been a "big" week for Little Splash. Her four male guppies spent the last three weeks in the QT tank without illness. Last Saturday ,it was time for the first two to be moved into the main tank. They have settled in really well and the water quality has been perfect. "Jasper" one of Little Splash's platy's is now really having fun. He had become very nervous to swim in open water in the tank after the loss of "Cola" and more recently "TJ". However, really happy to say that since the guppies were added, "Jasper" is a new fish. He is having so much fun swimming with the guppies....it is so lovely to see.

Once all the guppies are in the main tank, I will ask Little Splash to make a video. The guppies move so fast it is almost impossible to get a good photo of them.

You may recall that Fishlady was very kind and sent some Cherry shrimp to Little Splash earlier in the year. The shrimp absolutely love our tank. Four shrimp were first added in April/May time and now.......we have at least twenty visible shrimp and the number seems to be growing daily.

Splash and Little Splash

Its lovely to hear the updates on your tank. and your ( and little splash's) journey into fishkeeping.
It sounds like everything is coming together nicely now, after a hiccup or two. congratulations

Congrats Big Splash and Little Splash! The shrimp sound like they are doing very well indeed, looking forward to seeing pics/vids of the tank and its new inhabitants!
:)

After the last two remaining Guppies were added to the tank we had some "issues". One of the male Guppies took a real liking to "Jasper", Little Splash's yellow Platy and would not leave him alone. We decided to give everyone time to settle in. It did not work, Jasper was hiding in the shrimp cave and would not come out.

Little Splash decided that "Jet" needed to go back to the LFS. Since he has been removed from the tank everyone is getting on really nicely.

Since the Guppies have been added, the water quality has been perfect and the nitrate after a week is only about 20ppm. Very happy with that result.

Little Splash wanted to replace "Jet" with a young Platy. It did not feel right to keep one young Platy in the QT tank for three weeks on it's own so after having checked our current stocking level we decided to bring back two young Platys. They are only about 2cm in length and are in the QT tank. They seem very nervous and hiding quite a lot, but are eating well and so far are healthy.

These will definitely be the last additions to Little Splash's tank...apart from our ever increasing shrimp population

Here is a short video which Little Splash made just after "Jet" was removed from the tank.

http://www.burf.co.uk/Little-Splash-3.mp4

Splash and Little Splash

I always love reading your posts Splash, it's so wonderful to hear how much Little Splash is enjoying fish keeping and how well she's taken to it! It must be a lot to learn for a child.

I hope the two new platies get on well with the current tank-mates, it would be nice for you and Little Splash to have a nice quiet time as you've been through a fair few fishy dramas already!

Fab video by the way :)

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Little Splash wants to say "thanks" for your lovely reply.

Feeding time now in LIttle Splash's tank is entertaining. The Guppies seem to do a "food dance". At feeding time, when Little Splash enters the room,they wiggle from side to side, right at the front of the tank, moving slowly from side to side, near the top. This dance only stops once they have been fed. It is even more amusing when "Jasper" the yellow Platy joins in. He may not have the beautiful long tail fins of the Guppies but what he lacks in tail fin, he certainly makes up for it in effort.

We are also now suffering "Shrimp pellet wars" The fish are always fed first and then shrimp pellets are dropped by hand close to the shrimp cave. The fish have learnt about this and no sooner are the pellets down on the substrate the fish are at them. I'm sure one one of these days, there is going to be a tug-o-war between an adult shrimp and Guppy over a pellet...not too sure who would win, Fishlady's shrimp offspring are not to be messed with.

Splash

Good to hear that they're doing well!

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Ah, the food dance/bum wiggling routine lol, know it well! Would be lovely to think they recognise owner coming home/morning meet up - but no, they just want food! Ha ha

The highs and lows of fish keeping

Sorry to say that Little Splash lost her Red Platy whilst in the QT tank. There was no sign of disease but the little fella was never good from the day we bought him. He seemed really shy, not wanting to feed and spending a lot of time just resting on the gravel. In his last few days he was beginning to roll onto his side and seemed to be suffering. Little Splash did not want to see him suffer so we carefully euthanised him.:(

On a happier note, the yellow, black Platy (AKA Cosmos) has been introduced to the main tank. Initially there did seem to be some aggression towards him. After a few days the tank has calmed down beautifully and now Cosmos is out partying with the Guppies even when lights are out.

So, as things stand Little Splash has 3 Guppies, 3 Platys and loads of RCS in her tank. The tank is very lively but friendly apart from when shrimp and Platy fight over food…..guess what, the shrimp normally win. I am also very happy to say that even with the increased stock level, the nitrate is still below 40ppm by the end of the week. An excellent result all round!

Splash

Sorry to hear about the red platy, but good news generally that Little Splash's tank has settled down so well now. Hope it gives her many years of pleasure