This is one of my eyeless platinum polypterus endlicheri. Hands down my favorite fish at the moment.😊

When setting up an aquarium or pond you need to ensure the environment is right for your inhabitants. After making sure you have adequate filtration, lighting and decor for your future inhabitants, you need to choose whether you will do a “fish-in” or “fish-less” cycle. A fish-less cycle would mean you have to inoculate the system by adding in ammonia and beneficial bacteria to start your cycle. The beneficial (nitrifying bacteria) eat the ammonia which gets converted into nitrite, then from nitrite it gets converted in to nitrate. A fish in cycle means you would start off by adding a few small fish like barbs, guppies, or tetras to your system to naturally start the nitrogen cycle. Add small groups of 2-5 fish every couple weeks or until you’re comfortable with the amount of fish you have. Do small water changes (about 25%) every two weeks. Performing too large of a water change while you are cycling can kill the beneficial bacteria causing a crash that can lead to fish death. To know exactly what your water parameters are I’d recommend getting yourself a liquid test kit to better help you understand your water quality. After about 4-6 weeks you can start to confidently stock your tank and enjoy your new environment for your fishy friends.

I’ve been keeping exotic fish for 27 years and would love to swap knowledge and teach others with what I’ve learned over the years. I am a professional Pond and Aquarium tech based out of LA.