The Lions of London

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Introducing rummies

Our little slice of the Amazon basin is maturing well since my last blog.  The plants have grown lush, the tips of the tallest leaves now tickling the surface of the water, such as this beautiful Amazon sword plant, echinodorus argentinensis.  The change in mood that this burst of foliage has created is lovely.  The fish, once in some sort of proportion to the green leaves, are now dwarfed by them, but this is no bad thing – it offers much more of a natural environment, in which fish find comfort and security in the good shelter provided.  This scene is being recreated around the tank, and now that the bogwood and old woody roots have developed their own colonies of moss and algae, we’ve moved past the new tank stage and into a more mature, established phase.

Black widow tetras are real characters in the Amazon biotope.  Greedy and gregarious, they are now truly settled and are exhibiting the natural behaviour and colours.  They’re a subtle fish, probably oft-over-looked for the more fanciful species, but when a shoal comes together, their shadowy movements, combined with lovely round bodies, jet-black bars behind their gills, and grey-to-black anal fins (from which they get their common America name, the black skirt tetra) are a wondrous sight.  Off-set against a tropical backdrop of real plants (you just cannot beat real plants in an aquarium – I’d never have anything else,) there really is no better occupant for this type of set-up.

As promised back in February, I’ve now introduced some more tank-mates to this biotope, in the form of the popular rummy-nose tetra.  I’ve never kept rummies before, but always admired them and vowed that at some point, when I had an established tank, I would introduce them.  Rummy nose tetras are not a fish for the absolute beginner, nor are they a species for a brand new set-up.  Sensitive-as-hell to water chemistry, they don’t tolerate change very well and sadly, I did lose a couple on the first introduction.  The survivors adapted nicely, and so I’ve bolstered their numbers with a second trip to the local fish shop, and now have a decent-sized shoal finning its way all around the habitat.  Fish like this need the security of a shoal to thrive – and thriving is how I’d describe them now.  It’s a well-known fact that a rummy nose tetra will let you know pretty sharpish if the water’s not up to standard, as their red heads fade, and can in fact disappear into a silvery-grey.  Conversely, if they’re happy, their heads will dazzle blood-red, and I’m pleased to say that’s what I’m seeing each-and-every day.  It’s a thrilling sight, and one that will never become boring.

I’ve explored a couple of other options for my tank, and did fancy introducing a group of corydoras catfish, but my research suggests that these creatures won’t be at their best on gravel, as their long and delicate barbels are more suited to sand.  So, whilst the tank is understocked, with loads of space to swim, room to grow, and with the biological filter ticking over nicely without being over-stressed, this is where I’ve decided to leave it.  Two species, living in harmony, in a well-balanced tank where nature, and not man, is the star.  It’s the fish keeper’s dream!

Our own amazing Amazon

Welcome to the Amazon.  The greatest river, and the greatest rainforest on earth, home to an extraordinary biodiversity matched nowhere else on the planet.  Green.  Pristine.  Perfect.

The Amazon river system

Francisco de Orellana's 1541 expedition down the Amazon River (source: Encyclopaedia Britannica)

Ok so Lizzie and I haven't managed to get a last-minute deal to the lungs of the world, but we have brought a tiny piece of the Amazon river to our own front room, courtesy of a tropical fish tank!  It has been quietly bubbling away for nearly two months now, and I have been busy monitoring water chemistry, establishing filter bacteria, and cultivating a number of live aquarium plants, all of which are native to the south American river system.  Everything is now settled, so yesterday, the tank's first new inhabitants moved in; a school of lovely black widow tetras.  see their video here:

Now despite the poisonous name, these are a very harmless and peaceful fish (unless you're a bloodworm or a water flea.)  Their black colouration makes a wonderful and striking contrast to the rich green foliage, and their energy and activity is infectious, compelling to watch.  These are amongst my favourite aquarium fish, and it's great to be keeping them once again - they're real characters to have around the home.  On a drab, cold, rainy Sunday afternoon, it is a pleasure to pull up a chair and watch these little critters fuss around their new home - indeed, it becomes a real escape from the downpour going on outside, to be instantly transported to some unknown tributary, high up the river system, shadowed by the forest canopy and shrouded in mystery. It's like embarking on an adventure, following in the footsteps of great explorers, and all without leaving the comfort of home.

A river taxi on the Peruvian Amazon (source: Wikipedia)

The Amazon rainforest (source: Wikipedia)

I have always liked fish, and put together my first tropical fish tank at the age of 13 or 14.  I had to abandon the hobby a few years later, but always vowed to return to it in the future.  The years passed, but the enthusiasm never diminished, and all that excitement and fulfilment came flooding back yesterday.  As for what's next - we'll be looking to add some rummy nose tetras in a few weeks time, and also some cory catfish, which will really bring this little biotope to life.