RockyGoldy's Ancient Treasures in LAOS ... finally!!!!

It has all started with this thread over a month ago http://www.monsterfishkeepers.com/forums/showthread.php?t=189015

Then came the political unrest in Thailand which resulted in closure of their two airports - and the long, nail biting wait has begun ... but there is always a happy ending three weeks later

On 19th of December 2008 - 9pm local time, the ancient treasures from Singapore has finally arrived in Laos in two boxes. One with two large aros (blue based and red) and the other one with small black, green and HBRTG, medium x-back and three plecos (one medium L600) and two smalls (L24 and 25).

So, the fish were in boxes for around 24 hours ... very unpleasant 24 hours for me hehehe, but when i opened the boxes, and saw the contents still alive the relief was really great ...

Then came the realization that black, green and HBRTG (and two L24 and 25) are morcel sized for the red and blue based (i am not aware if aros are cannibals or not but i was not about to risk three valueable fishes) ... besides the two marble pims 13"+ are more than capable of doing away with the puny aros and plecos. So i have decided to split the content of the new aquarium in two.

Blue based and Red (~12" each) plus L600 in the new set-up while the rest go into small aquarium with neon tetras and tiger barbs.

Then came the climitization. The fish were all transfered out of bag with no particular events. During the transfer it became apparent that one pleco did not take the journey so well. L24 came out of the bag completely shattered

All aros arrived with intact fins, scales and barbels. ALL aros were faded ... probably due to stress. Only blue based showed some blueness and black looked really good. X-back was quite pale too. The red was completely colorless while the rest did not have color due to their age.

So that was the end of DAY 1 and midnight ... the fish room was a complete mess when i was done, but i did not have any energy to clean-up so it was left until DAY 2

PS: the cycling fish were left there: two marble pims, one green aro and a walking cat.

The next morning was quite surreal when i was coming down to check on my new babies ... i was kinda scared to find all of them floating upside down.

What i found was quite acceptable (errr except for L24)
See for yourself below.

Black, HBRTG and green seemed content (lots of neon tetras were missing). L25 was fine (no detereoration). L24 was dead (upside down). Heehhe i have thought to try pellets on them straight away. Black took to Hikari almost immediately. High back and green were not far behind.

Blue based was faring the best ... he has started to gain back his glorious blue hues ... X-back looked comfie but still slightly faded. the red was not so lucky ... the tail and anal fin were splitting (the rest were ok) AND he has started to acquire the slight tilt while swimming (having seen this afliction on my original green i was started to despair). L600 was hiding amongs the sponge filters.

To my horror i found that the original green was chasing the new comers around the tank. Worse, the marble pims sudden movements made the aros quite jumpy. Worse, when i tried feeding them, the pims were all over the food and swiming quite violently and "feeling" out the aros with their super long whiskers which really freaked the aros out. Nevertheless, X-back too occasional floating stick - not so for red and blue. The prawns were snatched by pims before aros could react ... decision was made - pims gotta go. But where? The original tank was still empty and awaiting setting up ... silver tank was already quite crowded ... only one place left - RTC/gar/paima land ... and so they went out.... (more on that will be posted in catfish forum). The green was relegated back to silver/jar set-up.

L600 loves peeled shrimp. When i moved a heater from sump into the tank, the L600 was all over it and sucking the algae of it as well

So, below are shots of fish on the next day. <sigh
PS: don't you guys think that the aros look quite puny in the 8x3 footer

PS1: to date i have not seen L25 eat yet ... he remains the only one that i have not seen eating ...

wmkr;2574644; said:

nice set-up bro... and congrate on the newly purchase aro... put in some black water to clam them down easier

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Thanxxx What is black water??? They are all fine now - after i removed the tank mates

RockyGoldy;2574644; said:

Well done Toy bro!

Glad to be able to see my 'babies' in another land and just sad that the L24 did not make it so well in your tank.

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Thank bro,

I think it is safe to say that they have all settled in. I am a bit anxious for L25 though ... while it looks perfect and not stressed, i have not seen him eat with my own eyes. L600 is a pig when it comes to eating. The two big aros are more picky when eating. But i have seen them take occasional piece of prawn.

Gr8KarmaSF;2574644; said:

YUM!

What was your acclimation process? Drip? Float? etc?

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i know. These are great where they are legal hehehe

Acclimation? I just floated the bags for three quarters of an hour then poured the contents of the bag into a container with a sieve at the bottom then quickly transfered the fish into the aquariums ... no struggle from fish. ... nerve wrecking exercise ... not looking to do it again

Mobatic;2574644; said:

nice tank, its great community!

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Thanx wait till HBRTG, green and black are big enough to join - should be soon judging by the amount of hikari they consume

jmotion;2574644; said:

Nice collection you got going. Btw there's a ghost in pic #4.

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that would be my boss - the gf. she arrived earlier than my babies (to surprise me)... while admitting the fish looked faboulous, she frowned upon the price tag