After trying (and failing) to find the Mikrogeophagus ramirezi (German Blue Ram) locally, I may mail-order them. Locally, three stores have not been able to get them in. A 4th 'mom/pop' store I tried did have them, but they, and several other tanks of fish, had full-blown ich. When I pointed this out to the owner, he said 'ok' and just walked away. I hung around the tanks a little longer, and saw him net out several fish from one of the ich-infested tanks to sell to a customer.
The same store has at least a dozen tanks, all filtered together, of live plants. When they opened, it was a beautiful display of plants. But, they all have been infested with cyanobacteria for weeks now. I'm not in the market for new plants currently, but would not risk those plants. When I asked what they were doing to get rid of it, they said it will 'go away' on its own. I also saw employees cleaning and planting new plants in these tanks, then putting their hands/arms into other tanks. This stuff so easily spreads. Yikes.
I will place an order with Wet Spot Tropical Fish if nothing comes up locally this weekend. I've bought fish from them many times in the past, and have always been pleased with the health of the fish. I just hate having to chase down shipments. Maybe I'm just fussy, but I like to get my fish as soon as they arrive, and that means a day or two off work to work out the details.
I need to find out the water parameters (pH, KH, GH) they've been kept in out in Oregon so I can match it here locally. Setting up the 20gallon long for them this weekend. I'll post pics as I build this (more for my own journal, but others may be interested too).
I'll get 6 juvies, and see if I can get a pair out of them. A local fish store (that has not been able to get them in) has agreed to buy the 'extras' if I do get a pair.
The same store has at least a dozen tanks, all filtered together, of live plants. When they opened, it was a beautiful display of plants. But, they all have been infested with cyanobacteria for weeks now. I'm not in the market for new plants currently, but would not risk those plants. When I asked what they were doing to get rid of it, they said it will 'go away' on its own. I also saw employees cleaning and planting new plants in these tanks, then putting their hands/arms into other tanks. This stuff so easily spreads. Yikes.
I will place an order with Wet Spot Tropical Fish if nothing comes up locally this weekend. I've bought fish from them many times in the past, and have always been pleased with the health of the fish. I just hate having to chase down shipments. Maybe I'm just fussy, but I like to get my fish as soon as they arrive, and that means a day or two off work to work out the details.
I need to find out the water parameters (pH, KH, GH) they've been kept in out in Oregon so I can match it here locally. Setting up the 20gallon long for them this weekend. I'll post pics as I build this (more for my own journal, but others may be interested too).
I'll get 6 juvies, and see if I can get a pair out of them. A local fish store (that has not been able to get them in) has agreed to buy the 'extras' if I do get a pair.
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