Greetings AC Family,

This week, we add some aquatic guests to our new El Dragon paludarium, in order to protect our new Polyrhachis ants from invading, wild pharaoh ants. You won’t believe the strange and shocking ending! Enjoy!

Ants vs. Water Beasts

So now, AC Family, let’s go over our shortlist of candidates to be the protective water beast of El Dragon: turtles, archerfish, crayfish, frogs, salamanders, house geckos, newts, betta fighting fish, white cloud minnows, and mosquito rasboras. Many of these were popular suggestions from last week’s video. Now, to narrow the list down, I had to pass each species candidate through three specific criteria: ideal habitat match, a taste for pharaoh ants but not Polyrhachis ants, and compatibility with shrimp.

For the first criteria, ideal habitat match, turtles were eliminated because there is simply not enough space. A baby turtle might live here temporarily, but it would quickly outgrow the habitat. Also, turtles would wreck the setup, potentially bending branches or plants enough to touch a wall, creating a bridge for pharaoh ants to cross or for Polyrhachis ants to escape. Archerfish were also eliminated because the water volume is only about eight gallons and too shallow, plus they would likely eat our Polyrhachis ants. Fiddler crabs didn’t make the cut either because they require brackish water, and this river is fully fresh.

For the second criteria, a taste for pharaoh ants but not Polyrhachis, frogs, salamanders, and crayfish were ruled out since they would eat both ant species. A house gecko, while capable of hunting pharaoh ants on the glass walls, would also prey on Polyrhachis ants. That left us with four candidates: newts, betta fighting fish, white cloud minnows, and mosquito rasboras.

For the third criteria, compatibility with shrimp, newts were eliminated because they eat aquatic crustaceans like shrimp. Betta fighting fish were also disqualified since they are large enough to eat shrimplets and semi-adult shrimp. This left us with white cloud minnows and mosquito rasboras. White cloud minnows, though small, grow up to two inches, twice the size of mosquito rasboras, which grow only to about one inch. This meant white cloud minnows could eat shrimplets, and I could house fewer of them in the river. Thus, mosquito rasboras were the perfect choice.

Mosquito rasboras, scientifically known as Boraras brigittae, are found in dimly lit, slow-moving streams and ponds in the forest peat swamps of West Borneo. This made them a perfect match for El Dragon’s shady, calm, and mossy river environment. They also eat mosquito larvae, which is a bonus. A school of ten mosquito rasboras could comfortably inhabit this paludarium.

Before adding the fish, I needed to ensure the river’s water was biologically prepared. Beneficial bacteria are essential to neutralize toxic ammonia and nitrite from animal waste. I borrowed filter medium from my larger aquarium, filled with colonies of these bacteria, and added biospheres to enhance the bacterial population. After wrapping the filter to protect shrimplets, I reinstalled it. Though the water appeared dirty initially due to the released bacterial gunk, it settled overnight, and the river was ready for its new inhabitants.

The next day, the waters were clear, and I introduced the mosquito rasboras. Watching them explore their new home was mesmerizing. Initially disoriented, they soon schooled together, swimming confidently through the currents. They ignored the shrimp and fed on floating debris, demonstrating their role as efficient surface feeders.

Suddenly, I noticed pharaoh ants attempting to swim across the river. Fortunately, the mosquito rasboras were quick to intercept anything on the water’s surface, keeping the invaders at bay. These tiny fish acted as formidable guardians of El Dragon.

As I checked on the Polyrhachis ants’ nest, I was shocked to find it completely empty. The ants had disappeared! Shortly after, something incredible occurred that left me speechless. What could it be? Stay tuned for next week’s episode to uncover the mystery.

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