Different dwarf puffer setup?

[Wiil]

Great, great information. Thanks so much!

I still don't know the species of snail... but here's a pic:


I've had the snails and shrimp ever since I started this tank. One of them has green eggs (I'm assuming that means they're fertilized since they used to be clear) so I guess I'll be expecting some baby shrimp soon. I have the driftwood on one side, so I guess a rock formation on the other would be nice. Any recommendations for a corner setup? Maybe a shale rock bed?

I'd like to have at least a partial Java moss carpet... it was going to be all over, but the look of the sand on the bottom is growing on me.

Picture of the tank before I take out the kyoto grass:



Also, yet another story further proving why you shouldn't trust your LFS... when I was much younger and my mother was doing my fish shopping for me, we got a 2.5 gallon tank (Which I still have and need to do something with; suggestions are welcome). I saw some figure 8 puffers and thought they were the coolest thing ever. I told my mom I liked them, and said I wanted two. She walked up to the owner of the store and asked "Will the two puffer fish be okay in a 2.5 gallon tank?" Owner's response? "Yes, they'll be VERY happy in a 2.5 gallon tank." <___<

[bettababy]

Its difficult to say what species your snail is based on that photo. Can you get any other shots with a clearer photo of the shell, and even better, if you can get it while its climbing on the glass so we can see the foot and head of the snail... that should help.

What kind of shrimp are we talking about with eggs? (forgive me if you've already answered this question but I don't have the ability to go back and scroll through your posts from here without losing everything I'm typing)

In regards to your decor ideas... it all sounds doable. With the java moss, once it takes hold and gets started, you can control where it grows by simply trimming it back as it expands beyond the boundaries you set. Take the excess moss and relocate it back to where you desire it to grow. Java moss can be wedged between rocks or even anchored with a piece of fishing line (be sure any knots and loose ends are not exposed where the they can harm the fish) until it takes hold on its own. Then later, once it is well anchored, simply snip the fishing line and pull it out.

I understand your frustration with the lfs's. That has gotten to be a huge issue these days for so many people. Unfortunately, the name of the game in any lfs is to make money. I have posted many times before about these issues, and this is why anyone wanting to keep any animal (fish or otherwise) that they are not already familiar with should get out and do the research themselves before spending any money. It can be difficult to find accurate info, but if you take 3 different sources (such as live person at lfs, internet, and good book from library or store shelf) and compare them, look for similarities in info to weed out the misinfo and outline accurate info, you chances of success will grow by 90%. What many people are still in the process of finding out is that obtaining accurate info online is just as difficult if not more so than relying on a lfs. Research is not always so easy. This is where patience and diligence come into play.

One way to "test" the lfs staff you need to question is to go into the lfs already armed with accurate info about the animal/fish you desire, knowing for sure you know the answers to the questions first... ask these questions to these people and see what they offer you for answers. I have done this so many times and it does help weed out the people who are just blowing smoke to make a sale from those who really know what they're talking about.

Hope this all helps you.

[Wiil]

The shrimp are ghost shrimp. Two of them have eggs, and the one that's had them the longest has started getting a little angry towards the others.

Here are more snail shots:




Thanks so much for all of your help.

[Wiil]

So were these pictures good enough to identify what kind of snail it is?

[bettababy]

The photos are better, however, I still have not been able to positively ID the species. The closest I can come to is a type of mystery snail... Sorry it took so long to reply but I have been searching through databases I have access to and still have not found it.

[iamntbatman]

Looks like an olive nerite snail to me.

[bettababy]

That is possible too... there is a close resemblance to a number of different species, so its still difficult to say for sure without seeing it in person.