#567: 150L Biotope Aquascape Swamp in Muara Tembesi, Jambi, Indonesia

MAA Rafsanjani Sidoarjo, Indonesia

Comments

This display was truly a missed opportunity. While considerable thought and attention has been used to create an authentic-looking display providing suitable habitat to the inhabitants the combination of fishes (however authentic) means that the display goes against the ethics of fishkeeping. This is due to the inclusion of the Dermogenys pusilla alongside the predatory Channa and Anabas which if so inclined will predate them. Perhaps there was a thinking that as a surface-dwelling species the Halfbeaks might be ignored by the hefty predators but both species have exhibited a great range of prey items in nature. Furthermore their mere presence is likely extremely stressful for the smaller fishes. Even the Trichopodus may not be safe from the large jaws and ambitious nature of the predator.

Give the large adult size of the Channa and the Anabas each one would require at the very least a 100x45x45cm tank for just themselves. Given the layout of this display and the combination of fishes it also renders it inadequate for the fishes included.
Had this display focused on just one predator species or on the Halfbeaks and Gouramis it would have scored very highly indeed. As such it's overall-condition score is far lower than it might have achieved.

Aside from the fish choices one point that was raised among the judges was the use of Pistia. On the one hand this is an invasive exotic species which according to competition rules shouldn't be included. However we recognise that this plant is now incredibly cosmopolitan across the tropics and has become ubiquitous in aquatic habitats globally. Therefore we are accepting its use in displays because the plant is present in the habitat but perhaps in future aquascapers might stick to only using native species to avoid any judging confusion.

It was truly disappointing not to be able to award this display a higher score as it's physical layout and presentation look like a true biotope. Sadly it was let down by the fish choices and combination.
— Tai Strietman
For me one of the important factors in biotope aquariums is placing animals that won't harm each other. Small Gourami with a large Channa is something I would never put together.
— Ivan Mikolji

Aquascape Details

Dimensions 100 × 40 × 40 cm
Title Swamp in Muara Tembesi, Jambi, Indonesia
Volume 150L
Background Print Background
Lighting Kandila S1000, Spotlight Kandila R500 used for the effect of sunlight.
Spotlight Kandila R500t used for the effect of sunlight
Filtration Filter Takari 45 watt and Takari 20 watt.
Plants Ceratophyllum submersum and on the surface Lemna minor and Pistia stratiotes.
Animals Channa cyanospilos, Anabas testudineus, Dermogenys pusilla and Trichogaster
Materials Materials: roots, wood, leaves, twigs, stones and sand.
Sand : Black
Pebble/Gravel : Black
Stone : Black
Stone form : Irregular
Silt/Mud : Black
Leaves : Many
Driftwood : Many
Submerged terrestrial vegetation : Yes
Additional Information The biotope that I made this time is the habitat of the Channa cyanospilos – snakehead, which are currently very hard to find in Indonesia. So it is considered very step and currently recorded in Indonesia, it can only be found in the Jambi swamps. Therefore I am interested in recreating this biotope, so that it can be a lesson for all of us. Because it is still rare to discuss the habitat of this fish on the Internet.


The biotope this time contains the fish Channa cyanospilos, Anabas testudineus, Dermogenys pusilla and Trichogaster – fishes that live in one habitat. And for the water plants Ceratophyllum submersum and on the surface Lemna minor and Pistia stratiotes. In the swamp there are many logs, tree branches and leaves. Water color – mixed water with slow flow, pH 7.0, temperature 27°C.

GPS
-7.6673112, 112.6859360

Materials: roots, wood, leaves, twigs, stones and sand. And for the water plants Ceratophyllum submersum and on the surface Lemna minor and Pistia stratiotes.

The biotope this time contains the fish Channa cyanospilos, Anabas testudineus, Dermogenys pusilla and Trichopodus trichopterus. Because these fish live in one habitat.


Feed daily (crickets, maggots, worms).

Fish:

- Trichopodus trichopterus (Osphronemidae)
- Dermogenys pusilla (Zenarchopteridae)
- Anabas testudineus (Anabantidae)
- Channa cyanospilos (Channidae)

Giving liquid fertilizer every 2 weeks, and cutting plants and reducing plants once a week.

Aquatic plant:

-Ceratophyllum submersum (Ceratophyllaceae)
-Lemna minor (Araceae)
-Pistia stratiotes (Araceae)


Once every two weeks 20% water change and 3 months 80% water change.
Vidio : https://drive.google.com/file/d/1BIMPnQv0q7i0yU5nz2FB3qixkVtdJZvk/view?usp=drive_link

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