T.T.T (Tips / Tricks / Trivia)

Did you know that…

1. Freshwater fish owners maintain an average of 13 fish and nearly one-in-eight U.S. households keep fish as pets

2. Aquarium fish are the most popular pet in America, with nearly 12 million householdsowning more than 158,600,000 fish

3. Research and experimental evidence indicates fish aquariums lower blood pressure inboth hypertensive and normal subjects

4. There is extensive medical evidence indicating that aquariums are a highly effective means of alleviating stress even in difficult situations such as dental surgery

5. Unlike other relaxation techniques, attending to a fish tank is a spontaneously initiated activity. The brain is programmed to attend to water and the movement of fish, therefore no training or practice is necessary to experience stress reduction

6. Students who are fish owners score the highest on both math and verbal SATs, with a combined score 200 points higher than non-pet owners

7. High schoolers who keep fish or other pets have an average GPA of 3.5, versusnon-pet owners at 3.2

8. Fish keeping began with the Sumerians more than 4,500 years ago

9. The first display aquarium opened in 1853 at Regent's Park in London

10. First time freshwater fish owners spend an average of $27.00 on fish when starting uptheir new aquariums

9. All about Snake Head

Photo 9.4 : The photos and posters above is enough to tell the Snake Head character

Channidae is a family of freshwater perciform fish commonly known as Snake Heads, and is native to Africa and Asia. There are 2 genera, Channa in Asia, and Parachanna in Africa, consisting of 30 species. These predatory fishes are distinguished by a long dorsal fin, small head with large head scales on top, large mouth and teeth. They have a physiological need to breathe atmospheric air, which they do with a primitive form of a labyrinth organ.

Photo 9.5: The diagram on what is called Labyrinth Organ

They are considered valuable food fish. Larger species like Channa Striata, Channa Maculata or Parachanna Obscura are farmed in aquaculture. Snake Heads feed on plankton, aquatic insects, and mollusks when small. When adult, they mostly feed on other fish like carp, or frogs. In rare cases, small mammals such as rats are taken. The size of the snakehead species differs greatly. Dwarf Snake Heads like Channa Gachua grow to 25 cm. Most Snake Heads grow up to 100 cm. Only 2 species Channa Marulius and Channa Micropeltes can reach a length of more than 1 meter and a weight of more than 6 kg.

The snakehead is imported to the U.S. as a food fish and also for the aquarium trade where many thousands are sold every year as pets. The Snake Head fish is unique in several ways from most other fish. Similar in body-type to a muscular eel, some varieties can grow to 1.2 meter in length. The Snake Head has a flat snake-like head and toothed maw, hence it's name. What makes the Snake Head so unique, however, is its voracious appetite and its ability to breathe air. In fact the snakehead can travel short distances across land and live for up to three days out of water! It will eat fish equal in size to itself and will consume small mammals as well. There are even reports in Asia of snakeheads attacking and killing humans (“This one have been verbally recorded, happens in Pahang, Malaysia”- Elham).

Photo 9.6 : Giant Snake Head caught when fishing

The northern Snake Head is extremely adaptable to various climates including cold waters, and like all snakeheads, breeds easily. Adaptability, carnivorous appetitive, lack of natural enemies and ability to transverse land, makes the northern Snake Head a real threat to U.S. waterways and indigenous species of fish and amphibians. Tropical and subtropical breeds of Snake Heads can pose an additional threat to warmer waterways like those in Florida and Hawaii.

Photo 9.7 : A beautiful Dwarf Snake Head

Snake Heads have been found in U.S. waters in several states, released by aquarists and freed from food markets. Many states now ban the importation of live Snake Heads, however, illegal snakehead-activities have been recorded in most of these states and snakeheads are readily available over the internet.

Many people do realize the environmental impact of releasing a pet or a food fish into local waters where that fish is not native. With no natural enemies in U.S. waters, the Snake Head's prolific breeding habits and hardy natures create a real potential for Snake Heads to multiply and destroy entire populations of fish and amphibians in the waters in which they are released, including many species on the endangered list. This could cause significant damage not only to the environment but also to fishing and other recreational industries that rely on the preservation of lakes and rivers.

Snake Heads are known in the aquarium trade as tankbusters; they grow to be very large and require a substantial investment to keep, not only because of the tank size required but also because they must be fed large amounts of food daily. For this reason Snake Heads are often released at some point by their owners. Hobbyists should return these fish to the aquarium trade where they can be placed with other willing aquarists, local fish stores, or public aquariums. It is illegal to release non-native fish into local waters, whether a Snake Head or any other type of fish.

The threat of Snake Heads finding their way into U.S. waterways is not likely to go away anytime soon. Only strict monitoring, swift action and stiff fines can prevent what might otherwise be a potentially devastating loss to the local environment with significant economic impact.(“Next time, don’t throw your Snake Head away, you wouldn’t know how good their flesh tastes. Me? I have ate lots n lots of ‘em”- Elham).

Photo 9.8 : This fish tastes much much much better than their looks

I got so little time yet so many thing to put in this blog. Maybe next time, with more photos of this deadly fish that is invading worlds freshwater habitat and inhabitans. Until next time, please take a good care of your fish.

Prohibition of Piranhas Import, etc. Regulations

There is an error on the text link on the previous post (8. All about Red Bellied Piranhas). Here are the ‘printscreen’ version of it. The proof that Piranhas are prohibited in Malaysia by all means. If I do caught a pet shop selling the fish, I would certainly lodge a report to the Customs. I don’t wanna have the rivers filled with this deadly fish!!!


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9. All about Snake Head (the Debut)

Hi all...

Last Wednesday, on August 15th I purposely apply for annual leave from my boss just to relax and clear my mind away from work. When I get into my office recently, it seems like I were in some kind of pressurized tank and the force keeps increasing and pressing me down like hell. I knew that I had to do something before my brain explode. So, I set up a plan with my technicians to go fishing at a new place we’ve found during our weekend ‘chick-hunting nite’…hehe. Since my technician works in early morning shift, they can go out at 3.00 pm. My friend Hanif will go catch live baits while others preparing for food and drinks. The live bait that we are using is none other than the Gourami and the fish we are targeting is the Snake Head!!! We’ve found their lair in a lake inside an oil palm estate in Taman Impian Emas, Johor Bahru, a new housing area which is still under development.

We arrive there at 5.00 pm and the weather is about to change. By looking at the cloud, I bet heavy rain is on its way. To get to the perfect ‘fishing port’, we have to go deep inside the estate with our bike. The soil is wet, full of slopes, potholes and tall bushy grass making the ride so bumpy. Thank God we didn’t meet with the Cobras or Pythons that usually lurks inside the estate area or else, our ride will turn from bumpy to…deadly!!! At last, we’ve arrived. We put on our fishing equipment and raise our fishing rod. Right now it is the best time to fish because the Snake Head finds their food at this moment. How do we know?? The fish will eventually move to the surface and breath on the open air. There are lots of bubbles coming out from the water which is a sign that the fish is moving up and without wasting any second, we throw our line.

No need to wait for long. As soon as our line reach the water surface, the Snake Head quickly snap and hooked. However, we only manage to caught the young Snake Head only, and the battle is not so exciting but Alhamdulillah (All thanks to The Almighty). Here are the photos taken from Hanif’s Nokia. Wanna join us?? Girls only…Hehe


Photo 9.1 : My friend’s catch. These are called Toman Bunga (Flowered Body Snake Head)


Photo 9.2 : My catch. Young Snake Head

Photo 9.3 : First Snake Head landed. Not mine

8. All about Red Bellied Piranha

Photo 8.1 : Red Bellied Piranha

Hi all, I think it’ve been a quite a long time since the last vids post. Currently, I am too busy designing jigs and fixtures for new model that will be coming soon. I think I’ve not yet telling what kind of job I’m doing right now. Well, I work in a factory that assembles VCM for hard disk drive. What the hell is a VCM?? It is a device where the hard disk ‘readers’ are located. Using magnetic force, the VCM function is to move the ‘readers’ when ‘seeking’. ‘Seeking’ is the process where the ‘readers’ is searching something like files, folders, blah blah blah...enough. The customer is none other than SEAGATE U.S. As a designer, it is my responsible to make sure the VCM assemblies can be shipped on schedule by designing, setup and troubleshoot automated fixtures. My motto is, ‘Never Fail Any Shipment’. If we fail to ship the parts, the workers in our customer site will have nothing to do and they have nothing to produce. So, the company where I work right now must pay for their workers salary on that particular day. Quite tough don’t you think??

Talking about shipment have remind me on this type of fish. The infamous Red Bellied Piranha. Are you man enough to swim with this fish?? Go ahead, nothing will go wrong (“I hope”- Elham). Some says ("not me"- Elham), their reputation as man-eaters is not true. Believe it or not, there are no reports of a person being killed by a Piranha. Piranhas, in the Amazon are a common food fish. If a fisherman gets a bite from them, its shows that the fisher is careless and the fish is actually defending itself. Outside the water, they are quiet harmless. Other than ‘play dead’, the Piranhas defensive action is done using their razor sharp teeth. Their lower jaw is so powerful just like the crocs and the gators, so please bear in mind that if you’re bitten, you will lose small chunk of flesh of your own with the Piranhas shear-action-interlocking set of teeth!!!

This fish is so common in the Amazon basin and usually found swimming in schools. When raining season in the Amazon, flood will happen and during this season, the fish will be able to swim to their doorstep thus giving the local people some free meal.

Red Bellies comes from their appearance. Their belly and chin is glowing in red and on their sides glitters with flecks of gold and silver. They are mainly carnivorous while some of them feels more comfort as a vegetarian feeding on fruits and nuts. Did you know that other than scoop the flesh of their prey, their teeth will also comes handy to crack nuts. Did you also know that mainly the Piranhas is a hardcore fin + scales nippers. Yes, they mainly take a bit of a fish’s scales or fins as their source of protein.

The Piranhas may grow from 30 cm to 60 cm long with their weight more than 1.5 kilos. When breeding, the female may produce up to several thousand eggs at one time. If you want to keep them as pet fish, just go ahead. But please make sure that your tank can filled up to 100 gallons of water with heavy duty filtration, bogwood and few robust decors. The fish should live in a tropical condition with the water temperature from 24°C to 27°C with the water should be fairly soft or slightly acidic but preferably avoided. Of the 18 piranha species, only four are considered dangerous. The Red Bellied Piranha is one of those, because it will bite when it is underfed, overcrowded or threatened. They also bite anything that moves where blood is present in the water. Fishermen have lost fingers by pulling a piranha out of the water in a net and then allowing it to throw itself around on the bottom of the boat. Some species of piranhas actually have a mostly vegetarian diet, eating seeds and fruit that fall into the water. Piranhas are sold as pets, but they are extremely shy aquarium fish and only come out at feeding time. Most piranhas cannot be kept with other fish, because they consider them food. In the wild, they live in large packs and because of their enormous appetites, spend most of their time searching for food. For your information, Piranhas is prohibited in Malaysia. Here’s the proof from Royal Customs of Malaysia. (Prohibition of Piranhas Import, etc. Regulations).

Photo 8.2 : Red Pacu, often mistaken as a Red Bellied Piranha

Photo 8.3 : Pacu, another Piranha look alike

Well, that’s the time I have for now. Got to go, right now it is raining here. A wonderful time to get some sleep. Tomorrow is Monday, sigh…same old Monday, curse you Monday!!!

Fish Tank Forum Vids Bits 4

Hi all...This vids bits shows a female Guppy in the process of giving birth. Yes...the Guppy didn't lay eggs like other fish, that's why the Guppies are also called Livebearers.

Fish Tank Forum Vids Bits 3

Wanna see how zesty your tank with the Tiger Barbs inside?? Here you go..

Fish Tank Forum Vids Bits 2

Hi all...This vids bits shows a fishing scene located at the Amazon basin. Any idea on what their catch?? Just watch. The fish is actually originates here and now, their species have been widespread.

Fish Tank Forum Vids Bits

This vids bits was shared with YouTube.com. The thing that I wanna show you is the decor that the owner use in his/her tank right now. By the way, lots of Catfish you got there. Quite nice!!! Back to our topic, that driftwood that covers with carpet-like weed is so beautiful. At my place (pet shop in my area), that thing is quite expensive. Not because of the wood, but the 'weed' itself. I forgot the name of the 'weed' but one thing for sure...the more there is, the higher the price tags.

7. All about Labyrinth Fish (Gourami and Climbing Perch) (Part 2)

On the previous chapter, I’m forgot to tell you something. Did you know that the Gourami and the Climbing Perch have a high economic value?? This 2 fish is the main source of protein in most village area. Besides being sold alive, the Gourami and Climbing Perch also sold as salted fish or fermented fish. Believe me…their flesh is soooooo tasty!!!

Photo 7.7 : Fried Climbing Perch with flavored rice, salad and tomatoes


Photo 7.8 : Fermented Climbing Perch…Yummy!!!!!

Photo 7.9 : Dried Salted Gourami in the market

Ok now, as promised I will tell you a myth about Climbing Perch. Although Malaysia is a developing country and currently in a fast paced in the terms of new land opening, tall building constructions, traffic jams occurrence, car accidents, demolished playgrounds and soccer fields and many more…some mystical beliefs still remain strongly inside many individuals. Eventhough modernization is about to taking its place right now, it cannot bypass the arts, cultures and beliefs that have been brought down from the old generation. Malaysians is divided into 3 major races which is Malays, Chinese and Indians. For Malays, we usually believe in the presence and existence of the invisible matter such as ghosts. As a Muslim, believing on the invisible matter such as the existence of genies, Satan and angels is a must. They are just like us human, a being created from the Almighty and for your information, among all the creatures that The Almighty have created, the human being is the greatest, the complete, the most perfect and the ultimate creature of all. And because of that, Satan still hold the grudge against human for not being the perfect creation from The Almighty and have made a promise with The Almighty to astray the human being from doing good deeds. The most popular deceiving method that comes from Satan is his cunning lie on how to be rich quickly.

Long time ago, people who want to make Satan as their servant must first serve for the Satan. They must undergo several training courses in the jungle, swamps and on the top of the mountain. For example, they must stay at one spot without eat, bathe or even sleep. All they do is just sit still just like yoga. How do I know all this?? Of course I know, I’m a Malaysian, it happens here and I always hear this kind of true stories that really happens during my childhood from my grandpa, my uncle, my martial arts guru and many others. Even there are some urban legend that actually covers by our reporters including a story about an Oily Man who have to have sex with 100 virgins to be immortal and about Toyol who’ve been sent by their keepers to steal some money as per instructed by them. The story about Toyol have some relation with the Climbing Perch.

Photo 7.10 : The baby corpse inside a jar

Photo 7.11 : A real figure of the mummified baby corpse

Photo 7.12 : The making of…Toyol is begin!!!

Toyol is a being that comes from baby corpse. The corpse is then mummified and kept inside a bottle or glass jar. When it ready to be used, the mummy is worshipped and during that time, Satan or genies will go inside the corpse and make it alive, just like the scientist that created the Frankenstein. When the corpse is alive, it will emerge in a form of a small boy, totally nude with green skin color. The Toyol is used for only one purpose, that is to steal money. The Toyol will go to the house which it have been instructed to. Normally, Toyol will only steal ¾ of the total amount of money that the victim’s have. They can go inside any house because they can went through any hole even it is as small as a needle tip. During their ‘working hours’ they tend to get hungry, so they will bit the toe from anybody inside the house and suck their blood but normally, the owner of Toyol will feed them with their own blood or blood from a black rooster.

In order to prevent Toyol from stealing our money, here are the tips. Scatter some beans (green) at your living room. The more the better. Toyol will stop there and play with the beans. Usually Toyol will count the beans one by one until finish. So, pur as much as possible!!! Make it count until dawn, because they must leave before dawn or they will be history. Another tip is to tie a crab inside your house. Toyol is so scare of crab. The last tip is to KEEP THE CLIMBING PERCH!!! Toyol loves to play with the fish, and they will keep playing until they forget about their boss command. Beside the use of astray Toyol from stealing your money, the Climbing Perch is also believe can ward off evil spirits and all the bad luck away from your home. How did the fish do that?? I have no idea. Just sharing my stories and share the lessons from it. Until we meet again, please take a good care of your fish.

7. All about Labyrinth Fish (Gourami and Climbing Perch)

Hi all. On today’s chapter, I will going to share with you some info on Labyrinth Fish. Ummm…How do I start…Well, did you guys out there know the definition of Labyrinth Fish?? I bet you guys already know, but since I’m already asking, I’m going to tell it though…Hehe. Labyrinth Fish is a fish that have an organ called…Labyrinth that give them the ability to breathe air through their skin. Their name is actually comes from the thing that they have. The labyrinth organ is used when the water have low oxygen level. It consists of skin folds which filled with blood vessels that allows the oxygen to be absorbed from the air.

Inside my tank, I have 2 Giant Gourami, 3 Pearl Gourami, 3 Dwarf Gourami (1 of them died today), 1 Blue (2 Spot) Gourami, 2 Yellow (2 Spot) Gourami, 2 Climbing Perch…and the my late Siamese Fighting Fish.


Photo 7.1 : My Yellow Gourami


Photo 7.2 : Under the tail of the Black Koi is my Giant Gourami and on the left is my Pearl Gourami and Yellow Gourami


Photo 7.3 : There...its my Dwarf Gourami and my Pearl Gouramis

Taking care all of them is not an uneasy task. Even a 10 year old kid can take the responsibility for keeping that kind of fish. They only need basic maintenance and they are also hard to be infected by common disease. Maybe due to their natural environment in the wild makes the fish is so hardy. In Malaysia, we can easily caught the 2 Spot Gourami in paddy field and crops irrigation. In their natural habitat, they can easily be found hiding under floating vegetation since they usually suck or breathe on the surface, hiding under the floating vegetation is a great way to avoid being strike by predators like Kingfisher Bird or small snakes.

So…generally the Labyrinth Fish such as Gourami and Climbing Perch are not difficult to handle. They prefer dark and calm area. So make sure your tank is not too bright. If you have to do so, make sure you put some real or fake floating plants as a hiding place for the fish, and the water current must not be too strong. The fish is also a great community fish, they do well in schools and always swims with their type. They usually not bothering other species but they must never be mix with fin nippers. In natural, the Gourami is actually the weakest link of all the Labyrinth Fish while the Climbing Perch is the hardiest of them all. The Gourami easily get ‘high’ or ‘dizzy’ when they are exposed for to long out of the water. Unlike the Climbing Perch which some also called Tarzan Fish, it can climb trees (“I’m not so sure about it”- Elham) and can also walk on land (“This one is true”- Elham). At my hometown people will gather around a pond which used to be paddy field long time ago to scoop for fish after the raining season. The water from the pond is drawn out using of course…the water pump. When the pond is dried, the fish is collected and normally we have Catfish, Gourami, Climbing Perch and maybe some small snakes. We are not eating the snake of course. At that time, we can see as other fish is dying the Climbing Perch calmly ‘walks’ to find other source of water. Yes, the Climbing Perch can walk by using their special equipment located under their gill covers. There are thorny edges that will be use as foot for walking and the direction is propelled using their fins and tail. Some even says that the fish can survive outside the water for several days!!!

Photo 7.4 : Climbing Perch natural habitat...Paddy field ditches

Photo 7.5 : The male(top) is more slender than the female(bottom)

Photo 7.6 : My Climbing Perch. He didn't obey my orders to SMILE!!!

Some also claim, the Labyrinth Fish must breathe together underwater and on the surface as well. If the fish is kept underwater for too long, the fish will eventually drown!!! Just like the whale and dolphins.

Almost all species of the Labyrinth Fish didn’t care much about the water quality. They can live is almost every water condition but not is the sea. In their natural habitat, the water condition is ranging from slightly acidic and medium hard to soft water and the temperature from 20°C to 27°C. You can feed them with fish pallets or flakes and enjoys so much on bloodworms and tubifex worms.

For me, this Labyrinth Fish especially my Gourami and Climbing Perch didn’t gave me much problem from the day I bought them until today. They come with different type of variation, some of them is so beautiful yet is so easy to taken care of. I am recommending this fish for all beginners out there. Go find them!!! Wait, did you also know that there is a mystical beliefs about the Climbing Perch?? Maybe you have never experience it before but in Malaysia they are so popular about this kind of mystical thing. All the 3 biggest races in Malaysia which is Malays, Chinese and Indians have their own story on this kind of fish. But this beliefs is not so strong today compares to long time ago. Wanna know more?? Meet me in the next chapter. Until then, Please take a good care of your fish.

6. All about My Tanks

Photo 6.1 : My top tank

Hi there. Today I am going to reveal my collection of fish to you. I have 3 set of tanks. 2 of them I got it for free from my friend and the another 1 my father bought it for me when I was 10. Wanna know my friend who gave it to me his tanks?? Do you see my picture at the front page?? It’s the guy behind me (the ice cream monster). Actually that guy, named Boy is an 'industrial trainee' (a must subject for all degree and diploma courses) working under my supervision for about 6 months. After finishing his training, I am so relieved that he managed to get CGPA 4.0 on that particular subject.

Before I continue, let me tell you a story behind all of these photos. Actually, I am using my company digital camera (Olympus) without acknowledging other staff, my supervisor and my boss and it happens on Thursday 26/7/2007. The next day (Friday), my boss and my supervisor will be going to Tioman Island to attend Team Building Courses (for Snr. Engineers to Snr. Managers level) sponsored from our top management team. At 8.00 am when I was about to had my coffee before going to work, my boss suddenly call me and ask for cameras...Darn it!!! How the hell he knows?? Realizing there's no place to hide, I just telling him that the camera is with me for personal use. He didn't ask me more but told me to return back the camera because he wants to use it during training. To makes things worse, he told me that the bus is about to leave in no time. I put on my helmet, lock the door and start my bike. On normal day with morning traffic jam , it took 20 minutes to reach my office but on that day, I managed to get there in just 15 minutes. How?? Everytime I reach the traffic light, it already turns green and other vehicles seems to move slower. When I arrived at the entrance of my working place, the bus have just started its engine and the participants were loading their items. My boss cheat on me!!! But at least I've got what he want. One thing that makes me wonder till now is...Why is my boss who owned an MPV and received monthly salary reaching RM4,000 but still cannot afford to buy his own digital camera?? A total weirdo!!! Oh well...lets continue with our topic.

How did I manage to get my friend's tanks for free?? Actually his father is also a fish lover. When he moved to his new house in Johor Bahru, he had lot of things placed outside of his new home waiting to be moved inside including his father's 3 large fully grown Flower Horn fish. Due to lack of supervision, his 3 precious Flower Horn was abducted (stolen) by...no one knows. Shocked and traumatized from that tragedy, his father decided to keep just a single Koi, an Angelfish and a Common Pleco.

When I got to his home to take his tanks, the only fish that seems to survive is the Pleco. The Koi and the Angelfish are dying for no reason. Seeing from his father reaction, looks like he have gave up already on fish keeping.

Now, after with me for almost a year, here it is... Seems too crowded already. I think I’d better go find another set of tank to get some spaces on the current tanks since fish growth will become slower if the swimming spaces is too minimum. I also decided to have minimum décor and bare floors, so I put 3 resin decors that looks like drift wood on top of the tank floor.

Photo 6.2 : Inside my top tank...Kois, Gouramis, Red Tinfoil Barbs and Goldfish

Photo 6.3 : Inside my top tank...Bala Shark and...I didn't know the name of the yellowish fish at the center

Photo 6.4 : Black female Koi on the left, on the right (in front of the Red Tinfoil Barb) is the unknown fish name. You know what type of fish is that?? Let me know

Photo 6.5 : My Angelfish and Pangasius Catfish. The decors is made from resin

Photo 6.6 : Survivors from the previous tank owners...Common Pleco

The photo above is taken from my top tank, under it is another tank. Also quite crowded. The top tank have a pair of Red Tinfoil Barb, A pair of Angelfish, A pair of Bala Shark, A pair of Mad Barb, A pair of Giant Gourami, 5 Kois 4 Dwarf Gouramis, 3 Pearl Gouramis, 1 Pangasius Catfish, 1 Clown Knifefish, 3 Two Spot Gouramis, 2 Corys, 3 Common Goldish, 1 Common Pleco (only survivor from the previous owner) and 2 other fish that I didn’t know its name.

For the bottom tank, I’ve decided to fill it with Cichlids only. At first, I am keeping Guppies, Swordtails and Tetras but after I put in 5 Soldier Cichlids (Venustus), nightmares started to happen. The small fish is devoured one after another. I started to realized something terrible had happened when I found out my tetras have gone…all 10 of them. Then my guppies and my swordtails also received the same fate. Then I bought another 3 more small Neon Tetras for observation. When I put them inside the tanks, the Cichlids started to chase the Tetras around the tank but did not eat them. At night when I was going to bed, I switch off the light for the tank and suddenly…the bottom tank’s water began to splash. I watch to see what could have happened and then I saw my 3 little Tetras is already inside the mouth of 3 Cichlids. The head of the Tetras still outside their mouth and it seems that the Cichlids are having a hard time swallowing it. Few moments later they’re gone. After that night I finally conclude that the Cichlid is an aggressive fish especially when the surrounding is dark. So…the Cichlids must be kept with other bigger fish or other Cichlidae species. I have 5 Venustus, 4 Auratus, 2 Blood Red Jewel Cichlids, 2 Blue Jewel Cichlids, 3 small Lavender Mbunas, 4 Blue Mbunas, 4 Yellow Cichlids, 2 White Cichlids, 6 Nile Tilapia and of course 1 Common Pleco.

Photo 6.7 : My Blue Mbuna, Yellow Cichlids and Auratus

Photo 6.8 : For my bottom tank, I put old barrel resin decor since the Cichlids likes to play hide n seek

Outside of my house, I also bought a crafted cement flower pots and transform it into a small pond to breed Guppies. Also a small plastic flower pots, clay pots and my childhood tank for catfish breeding. Here is my breeding centre…

Photo 6.9 : Cement flower pot(center) and plastic flower pot(right)

Photo 6.10 : Views inside the cement flower pot. Its a breeding pond for my Guppies

Photo 6.11 : Underwater vegetation is put as a spawning place, hiding place and playing area for Guppy's fry

Photo 6.12 : Adult Guppy, Breeder and few young Guppies


Photo 6.13 : Guppy's fry is hiding from my camera. They are so shy...Unlike their parents

Photo 6.14 : Inside the plastic flower pot, hundreds of catfish fry

Photo 6.15 : The clay flower pot

Photo 6.16 : Inside the clay flower pot, 40 days old catfish, 100 of them lurking inside the cloudy water

Photo 6.17 : My childhood tank with few young catfish. Inside is a real drift wood

Photo 6.18 : The catfish didn't realize me, actually the water is more cloudy

Photo 6.19 : The catfish is a shy fish, the drift wood is their hiding place

What is your opinion or comments on my collections?? Anything from you to share?? Just mail to me to be published on my blog. Until then, please take a good care of your fish. See you on the next chapter.