We now have, in the 210 gallon tank, 2 Bala Sharks. Along with 2 Eclipse Cats. We now have the capability for population control. Chris finally accepted the fact that allowing the mollies to breed unrestrained, is not a good idea.
The sharks eat only flake food, along with frozen brine shrimp, if I choose to put it in, which I don’t, because it really craps up the water. So they will do nothing about the molly population. But they are pretty. Agile, streamlined, with large fins. Silver in color, with black tips on their fins. They will get to about 12″, at the most.
Joe & I had gone to PetsMart because I needed filter media, fish & bird food, & the Eclipse cats. I told the girl working the department that I needed 4 of the catfish, but in 3 bags. The look on her face. Total confusion. I explained that 2 were going in the 210, 1 in the 55, & 1 in the 50. She got it then. Then Joe started in, AGAIN, about getting sharks. He wanted the Rainbows, but was told that Gabriel & Michael would torture them to death. The Balas were suggested, & we agreed, I thought, on the medium size ones. I walked back just in time to stop her from getting the large ones, at $10.00 a fish! Then she had to wait again, while Joe & I “discussed” the size of the fish I was willing to pay for. He wanted the large, I opted for the small, we settled on the medium. She also pointed out that after Gabriel & Michael get bigger, they may start picking on everyone in the tank, so we needed to be prepared to move them. We can do this. The 55 is right next to the 210, & the mollies in there can be moved easily. I didn’t tell her I already knew this & have a plan in place if it happens.
Of course, the filter media I needed they were out of, still, so I’m going to have to get it online. Takes longer to get it, but I guess everyone with the XP filters uses it, instead of the expensive stuff.
I know the catfish are hardy little suckers, & today we’ll see how tough the sharks are, because it’s housekeeping day. Filter cleanings & water changes, in all 3 tanks. The mollies are filthy little buggers, & a 1′ long plecostemus isn’t too neat either. Especially when they try to make up for lost production & move the decor in their tanks. I put stuff where I want it, then they move it. The Return is the worst at it. Jaws pretty much leaves his alone. The Revenge isn’t big enough to be a pain yet. He’s only about 5″ to 6″ long. So we’ll see how the sharks handle housekeeping. At least they don’t bite. The girl told me they are “sort of” related to minnows, only bigger.
I did see a Blood Parrot Cichlid, which was really pretty, & a Red Belly Pacu, that I won’t get. The Pacu will get to 2′ & does bite. The cichlid now, I may have to change my mind, & risk it. Especially if I end up with a cichlid tank. The reading I’ve done on them all state that if a single is in a tank, it’s a shy fish that takes awhile to warm up to its owner, & isn’t as aggressive as it would be in a school of them. It also stated that a pleco has been known to attach itself to the side of the fish, because the pleco is basically a lazy fish & will hold on & wait for food to come to it, as it falls out the cichlid’s mouth. This is hard on the cichlid, needless to say. I believe further checking is in order before I do this, because I have a pleco in each tank.
Time to get a move on, plus I want another cup of coffee. After housekeeping on the tanks, a made from scratch lasagna is in order.
