next day

all the new fishes look good. Otos in the tenner are perky

and feeding off the big anubias leaves

Oliver doesn't seem to mind them. He cruises close enough to one now and then to disturb it off its perch but isn't nipping or threatening them.

I was a bit worried I'd get an ammonia spike in the forrty from practically doubling its population in one day, so checked levels this morning. Zero. Good. Put the lights back on and fed the fishes peas. I thought I could drop some pea halves in to sink for the loaches, and distract the barbs with minced bites. That didn't work. They dashed for the halves and were able to grab them and carry around, trying to hog it all-

luckily nobody choked. The kuhlis were plenty busy digging in the substrate after stray pea bites so I think I will just mince it all next time.