Before I end up frying them....

**grey_fox** · 11th Apr 2007, 11:56

I've got a school of rummies and they're the greediest bunch of fishes I have ever seen, or in my case, the greediest in my tank. I feed them quite a substantial amount of food but they're still hungry!

Why I say this is for a few reasons.

1. They are constantly searching for food even on a full belly (literally bloated right after eating)

2. They destroyed my intended H.C lawn.

3. They tried eating my bolbitis but failed.

4. They tried snacking on my arm's hair whenever I stick my hand into the tank to trim, etc.

5. Planted tenellus and saw them taking bites out of the plants.

To me I believe that it is a few bad apples that spoil the entire lot of them. This time, I'm turning the tables on them and I'm thinking of catching them out and then frying them to make myself a snack... red nose ikan bilis

....however before I do that.

Anyone has any suggestion how to curb this greediness and their habit of only destroying my lawn plants. They somehow don't really bother the bigger soft-leafed plants, for example, Blxya japonicas.

So before I make the first batch of fried red-nose ikan bilis, please suggest some methods of curbing this bad habit of theirs.

**Jungle-mania** · 11th Apr 2007, 12:12

I had a similar experience with a batch of rummies and danios before, I removed them, period, end of my problem.

**bryan** · 11th Apr 2007, 12:31

You probably need a bunch of bigger and bossier fish to intimidate them. I have no problems with my rummies which I keep with rainbowfish and alot of yummy plants. My bro-in-law has a tank of cardinals and cherry barbs which managed to starve and peck a 6 inch whiptail to death.

**grey_fox** · 11th Apr 2007, 13:44

The bigger bosses in my tank are 6 mid sized and 2 large discus. Yes, the red noses try to avoid them at all cost, swimming away if they should go near but still I don't really expect the discus to do much.

Maybe I'll introduce a juvenile oscar to finish the job for me

Jokes aside, look like I've not much choice but to get rid of them.

**Quixotic** · 11th Apr 2007, 14:17

Never had any problems with them except that they are always hungry and looking for food. Lest we forget, some characins are omnivores too.

If they are always destroying the plants, it may very well be that they are not fed well enough. For my fishes, they are fed every day, and considered well fed when I see them with bloated stomachs.

Or... there are some very naughty individuals among them. Removing them is an easier way, but depends on what you want to replace them with as well. Barbs, for example, have a liking for vegetable matters too, especially fine leaved plants (but is not a problem when well fed). Your mileage may vary.

**grey_fox** · 11th Apr 2007, 15:16

I feed the fishes everyday and yes, they eat till their bellies get bloated. Anyways, this has been the case ever since I had them.

I suspect its the "naughty" individuals that get the whole thing going and of course, for the rest to end up joining in and well, looks like i'll have to remove all of them. I don't really know what I should replace them with still. Probably a smaller group of shoaling fishes.

Ember tetras any good?

**valice** · 11th Apr 2007, 15:19

Embers will look too small in your 5ft tank.

**Quixotic** · 11th Apr 2007, 15:21

Originally Posted by grey_fox

Ember tetras any good?

Good, never a problem with plants, a bit small though, max 2cm SL. I think pencilfish is quite common with discus as well.

**grey_fox** · 11th Apr 2007, 15:46

How about probably 200 embers?

What about white cloud minnows? I fancy pencil fishes actually.

**bryan** · 11th Apr 2007, 15:49

I would suggest rasboras or pencils, I trust they will leave your plants alone.

**valice** · 11th Apr 2007, 16:04

Originally Posted by grey_fox

What about white cloud minnows? I fancy pencil fishes actually.

Can check out the Vietnamese white clouds at Eco Culture. Got sexy lipstick somemore.

Not sure if they school since they are rasboras.

**ranmasatome** · 11th Apr 2007, 16:05

shoaling rasboras?? hmm.. how about rasbora vulcanus?? OR if you like the red red characin type..how about hyphessobrycon sweglesi...or yellowish/greenish with red tail?? hyphessobrycon roseus.For pencils... just get an entire group of rocket pencils..so cute.

**Justikanz** · 11th Apr 2007, 16:07

Embers don't school as well. 200 might give you a loose swarm...

My rummies are ok in my tank... But then again, that could be the reason why my tenellus are missing...

Now, if they eat algae... Heh heh...

**grey_fox** · 11th Apr 2007, 16:07

Wah, need to google the names la, i might go for the rocket pencils. Actually any shaolers with a small mouth will do.

**valice** · 11th Apr 2007, 16:12

Err... Rocket pencils as in Nannostomus eques?
Wouldn't they look funny in your 5 ft tank all swimming at 45degs upwards?

**grey_fox** · 11th Apr 2007, 16:16

time to google the names mentioned here. Think I'm referring to another sort of pencil fish. Those that are smaller but swim normally?

**ranmasatome** · 11th Apr 2007, 16:16

ya.. thats why cute mah..

**Justikanz** · 11th Apr 2007, 16:19

I think you are referring to the golden pencil fish... They can even spawn for you...

You looking for South American fish only?

Oh oh... You can try a small school of Cigar fish...

**valice** · 11th Apr 2007, 16:23

Nannostomus beckfordi? Can also check out Nannostomus marginatus (my current favourate). The next more common pencil fish these days is the 3-line pencil (Nannostomus trifasciatus). But they will set you back by quite abit if you going to fill them up in your tank.

Cigar?! They grow to nearly 3 inches long leh!

**Justikanz** · 11th Apr 2007, 16:27

Inches or Feet?

They take forever to grow THAT big... And frankly, they look good.

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