Guppy closer to dropping

The Guppy, Blackie, must be getting very close to dropping her fry. Her tummy is starting to square off, the gravid spot is black, with other colours there and she's spending most of the time hiding in the corners.

We did try to net her, but she wasn't having any of it. I'vertried a few times, but she always hides behind plants (there are loads) or decorations - and it's not easy to net her in a cave... Although now that the lights are off she keeps swimming out into the open - until I put the net in...

Also, the older female shrimp is once more covered in eggs, so maybe that was the shrimps mating that I witnessed a few days ago. I'm pretty sure I saw her yesterday, without eggs, so today is day 1. Must keep the oxygen levels up this time and see if we can raise any. Quite a fast turn around since the first batch of eggs were lost - less than a week ago. It must be a good sign - they at least are happy in the water.

I was also watching the Corys for half an hour this afternoon. Fascinating little fish, just watching them and the shrimp feeding on the algae pellets and a few flakes that had drifted to the bottom of the tank. The Corys really struggle to find the food then take little nibbles, whereas the shrimp appear from nowhere, steal a whole pellet and swim off to eat it in peace. The large shrimp even 'fought' off the loach - which is about 8cm long! The shrimps then sit in a plant and eat away at the pellet, although loads of it does drift off in the process - messey little eaters.

When the loach finds a pellet there's a load crscking sound - almost a pistol shot sound, as he is biting bits off. Sometimes he takes several bites before losing it, other times he can't find it after his first bite. Then he swims around until he smells out another pellet.

The bottom feeders are surprisinlgy interesting to watch. Not like the top feeders that charge at the food and then it's gone. Much more fun than I thought they would be.