Otos, Pseudomugils and Lead Weights

To: Aquatic-Plants at actwin_com
Subject: Otos, Pseudomugils and Lead Weights
From: krandall at world_std.com (Karen A Randall)
Date: Wed, 20 Dec 1995 10:32:25 -0500


Subject: Fish ID questions

Greg,

> Spoke to a fish store owner today who told me about two fish tha
> good for my planned plant tank. Since one of them's an oto, I th
> ask here. Can anyone confirm the info? Thank you.
> 
> 1. An oto that doesn't grow more than 1 to 1-1/2" long. I saw th
> on the glass of his tanks. Are there otos that stay so small?

Most of my Otos are 1-2 years old.  I have at least two different 
species and none of them are over 1 1/2" long.  There may be 
species that grow _a little_ larger, but all of them can be 
considered small fish.

> 2. A dwarf rainbowfish (I saw picture only) that stays less than
> long by the name of (don't remember exact spelling) Peroichthys 

Well, again, they are small, but not quite _that_ small.  Adults 
average between 1 1/2-2", although occasionally they make it to 2 
1/2".  They were called Popondichthys furcata for years, but have 
been merged back into the genus Pseudomugil, and are now called 
Pseudomugil furcatus.  

In my experience, Pseudomugils make wonderful planted tank 
inhabitants if kept with other small peaceful fish.  With a 
sufficient amount of floating plants, you will find that you have 
a self-sustaining population.  They spawn readily, and the babies 
stay well hidden in the floaters.  They seem to find enough 
infusoria there to get off to a good start.  

I kept mine in my Discus tank, and the bright yellow flash of the 
Psuedomugils at the surface was a wonderful contrast to the blue 
Discus below.

------------------------------

Subject: Lead Weights
 
> Are the lead weights really lead?  

Yes they are.

------------------------------------------------

Karen Randall
Aquatic Gardeners Assoc.
Boston, MA