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aquarium update

the journal of Michael Werneburg

twenty-seven years and one million words

The three otocinclus fish that I bought in replacement of Buddy the Pleco have died.

I haven't had any deaths in the aquarium since late November, and it's quite a shock to see these newcomers all fail. But I think I know why: starvation. In reading about this species after the second death among the three little fish, I've learned that fish shops have a habit of underfeeding these things, and that aquariums typically don't have enough algae in them to keep these things alive. I rather wish I'd been able to ask for some care advice when I picked up the late fish.

I won't make that mistake again. It's been so long since I had an aquarium that I've gotten pretty rusty. In any event, we've decided to get a new pleco in replacement for Buddy. Mari realized, after Buddy went back to the aquarium shop, that she missed having one of the funny-looking things around, and that she wanted another. So we went back to the store while running some errands, and picked up another (tiny!) pleco; this time it's of the "Tiger" variety and won't grow to more than 10-12cm (if it's lucky).

Mari named this one Buddy as well.

Since he seemed a bit pinched around the middle, I've tried feeding him directly. I took him from the aquarium and into a small bucket, into which I put some algae as well as a few bits of broccoli. He didn't seem interested in the food, but produced so much crap that I figure he must be eating enough.

Ganbatte, Buddy II!