I bought my first tank (33 litre) in March of '92. And when my Cory's went spastic, I upgraded to a 250 litre over Easter in '04.

I think one of the most worthwhile experiances of keeping fish, has been the realisation that an individual fish can have personality.

& why should'nt they its probley why i keep so many catfish

i am always telling people that fish have a much better memory than the myth would have us believe and that everyone of them, even the 'less inteligent' ones all have slightly diferent personalities.

But if you could pick out an element, and describe it in a sentance (or two), what fish keeping experiance stands out?

tranquility

i have tons of little fish stories i could relate regarding personality and more, but rather than do a long post that i dont have time for just now i'll tell one little story.

i have 5 harlequins that i have had for a while now. funny little fish with great personalities. one of them has a twisted spine and when i 1st got him i was worried that he wouldn;t last but he has and is very heaalthy, he is also the rebel of the pack.

they are always having little pecking order battles where usualy 2 of them will start posturing to each other and occasionaly side ramming the other one to say i'm the boss, but the twisted spine one seem to revel in fighting, he will join in a battle even when it has nothing to do with him.

another example of his rebelious nature and of fish intelligence is that i have 'trained' them not to take the cories pellets as they sink to the bottom. i do this by waving my hand in front of the tank next to the sinking pellet and this disscourages them from taking it. they have all learned now that the pellets are not for them and often now i dont need to wave my hand, but occasionaly the twisted spine guy will make a dash for a pellet and grab it, knowing that it's not ment to. it then runs off and hides out of the way. this annoys me a bit and i will use my plant grabber to make him drop the pellet if i can. it doesnt bother the little runt though as even after he has spat out the pellet he will proudly swim up and down the tank as if he is giving me the 'fishy' finger and saying 'ha, i got one up on him there'

ach, while i'm at it, another quick one ... my larger bristle nose, instead of hunting down the pellets and flakes for him self will sit and watch the rams, as soons as one of the rams finds the pellet/flake for him, he pounces and steals it from them. funny to watch, and so cat like, sitting just out of sight, paitently waiting and then pouncing when the moment is right.