a Boraras briggitae story

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haika

New Member
Awhile back (maybe around a year ago), I went in on an order with a fellow GSAS member to mailorder some special fish from back East (I think it was in NJ). I got a batch of Boraras briggitae and a batch of Danio erythromicron. Both went into separate quarantine tanks. The Boraras ended up in a 5g bowfront with bogwood, babytears and a young Bolbitus fern. They were a bit skinny from the trip but fattened up with microworms and little live daphnia. Over the course of several months the group dwindled although I never saw any bodies. One day I looked and looked, but saw no fish. This continued for another month or so (no fish), and then the tank bulb burned out. I just ignored the tank after that since I figured there were no fish and the tank got enough natural light for the low-light plants to hang in there. Then I signed up for the 2013 GSAS Home Show and started cleaning up all my tanks. I put in a new bulb and VOILA....three fish appeared out of what I thought was nowhere. They were right out there....couldn't miss them. The tank sides were covered with algae by then, so I ran off to get some nerites to clean up that mess just a day or 2 before the show. By show time there were very few 'windows' into the tank, but I hoped no one would pay attention to a grungy tank on the kitchen counter. No such luck. Steev found a 'window' into the tank and photographed what I think is the dominant male.

OK....these fish hung in there for at least 3 months without a smidge of food. They were either adults that came with that initial order or from eggs left by those adults. Not sure which. Now they are getting daily feedings, water changes and the whole 9 yards. And it looks like I'll be adding a few more to the colony next week. Take home message....don't give up until you see the dead bodies!

Betty G.
 
Betty

Betty

Well-Known Member
Staff member
Very cool and a nice surprise for you. I bet they are enjoying getting regular meals now. :)
 
F

fishloverRon

Member
Betty,
I was going to order or go get some of those from Wet Spot this year if I couldn't find any locally. Saw them last year on one of our ''softball weekends'' with our granddaughter in Portland. Looks like the are another perfect nano tank specimen. I keep a pic of one as my screensaver...!
 
pbmax

pbmax

Active Member
I got some from Wet Spot about a year ago. I'm not sure how many I still have, but a bunch come out at feeding time every day. :) They've colored up really well for me, even though my PH is a little high compared with their native waters.
 
H

haika

New Member
These will probably go into a Fluval Flora I need to set up. I think that's around 9g. I have an additional fishless 5g quarantine tank which can function as a quarantine tank for the newbies until I decide.

I've got a bunch of black sand to layer over laterite/floruite to show off these little beauties. And a bunch of trimmings laying around from my bluegrass guppy tank to plant the Flora up with. Just gotta get my behind in gear....

Betty G.
 
Salzabar

Salzabar

Member
I had to google that fish since I didn't know what it was. All I can say is wow. Very nice liitle red fish. Nano tank fish for sure.
 
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