Every once in a while, you see a fish that really reaches out and shakes your hand. You think about it, do some research, annoy people with emails, explain why you need another tank, the usual. Price, availability, difficulty of care; doesn't matter, because you have to to have it.
This tank is a 20 gallon long with 2 males, 2 females, an unknown number of fry and a ton of cherry shrimp. It usually doesn't look this pretty, but I needed to stash some plants for a bit. The fine gravel substrate is an experiment that has had mixed results so far. It does make a fish a bit more outgoing, but I really prefer bare bottom tanks.
https://bulk-share.slickpic.com/albu...P_15086450.jpg
Here's a trick for seeing fish that like hiding. Prop a piece of wood or rock against the glass, and they'll treat it like a cave. This female got kicked out of her old spot by the dominant female last week and chose this as her new spot. Notice the blue sheen (healthy).
https://bulk-share.slickpic.com/albu...P_15086455.jpg
I keep Malaysian driftwood in all of my pleco tanks. Fry need little nooks and crannies to feel safe, and most species will chew on it to some degree. Haven't seen anything from the L46, but L134 will straight up eat it if nothing else is available.
https://bulk-share.slickpic.com/albu...P_15086427.jpg
Cherry shrimp. These guys do a great job cleaning up scraps, but they can easily overpopulate and compete for food. They love the warm water and abundant water changes. For whatever reason, the shrimp born in pleco tanks are always less red than those in shrimp only tanks. Maybe they grow too quickly compared to the main colony (room temp, less food, less water changes)?
https://bulk-share.slickpic.com/albu...P_15086420.jpg
Lastly, here's a moving picture of the dominant male setting the mood. Discus do the bow, plecos do the wiggle. He's a bit more frantic than usual, as most of us would be if we were blinded by a flashlight on date night. Probably time to remove some fry, as they are starting to get in the way of the romance.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4FAgYDEVZQk