PWCottle

Caryl. thanks to Grant and you for publishing such a comprehensive write up on Digital cameras. As part of a computer package nearly 5 years ago, I was given a digi camera. For fish and most other photography, it was almost useless- better prints could be obtained with a cheap disposable camera.. So I stuck with my old faithful 35mm SLR. On hols last year in NZ, the SLR let me down and we had to spend 2 days chasing around N Island retaking pictures that had been lost. My family, unknown to me decided that at Xmas they would make a large contribution to a new camera. If ONLY you had published your article in Dec! It would have saved me hours of research and reading what to me are fairly boring journals. However, I am pleased to say, that by one means or another, I came up with much the same criteria - with one small addition. I wanted a camera shaped and built like an SLR. but with reasonable price/performance. The one I settled for is big and chunky and I am now in the process of learning all its little foibles and getting some reasonable fish pics - trouble is, the vast majority of fish I keep are small. Thanks again for your time & trouble regards Pete

Hi Andrew. My feeling at the moment is that the males are either infertile or immature. Most eggs are fungused within 24 hours which tends to support the idea that they are infertile. I dont think the fish are immature as they are of a reasonable size. I have played around with water and temp conditions and they still fungus too quickly. I am going to purchase some more and grow them for another 2-3 months and try again. Males and females will be in separate tanks during this time and I think I may just allow a 'free for all' in May/June. One sure thing is I WILL eventually get a spawning to hatch and grow on! Will keep you posted. Good to hear that the N's are OK. regards Pete

Hi Ira. Have already tried the usual anti fungal treatments ( even went back to dear old methylene blue) but to no avail. In general, I am against adding chemicals to fish tanks. they dont have them in the wild (or at least they shouldn't have)so I steer clear of them where possible. I will get there eventually! regards Pete

Hi Chris. Thanks for your comments. The males I am using, are about 6-7 cm long so I guess that they are mature. Still getting lots of eggs and still fungusing. In desperation, I chucked one mop full of eggs into another tank. As usual and to be expected, they fungussed - all except one which has hatched out and is free swimming. It seems to me that there is not too much wrong with the breeding set up - just some fine tuning required - or bloody mindedness!!! Regards Pete

An old fashioned 'colander' used in removing water from cooked veges is ideal for spawning danios and barbs. Place the colander in a bare tank of water so that the water level does not come over the top of the colander. Add the fish to the colander and for safety, cover with cover glass. Fish will spawn quite readily and the eggs fall through. After spawning the colander serves as a 'net' to remove the adults back to the stock tank. Pete

Thanks for your comments Andrew. I also have bred G. incisus quite successfully and G. multisquamatus. With all Rainbows, I use a Killie mop and find it absolutely OK. If I could only get over the problem of fungusing eggs, I am sure there they would be reasonably easy to raise.. Will persevere.

Does anyone have any practical experience of breeding these fish? I can get plenty of eggs but they always fungus. Have tried all of the usual things like altering pH and hardness and the use of different bacterial /fungicidal chemicals but to no avail. The 'Rainbow fish on line 'site recommends pH 7.8 and hardness of 80ppm. Still no luck! I have searched the books for clues without success - fish still haven't learned to read!!! Have also tried pairs/ trios etc. Would appreciate if any NZ aquarists have bred them and can offer a solution. Best wishes for Christmas and the New Year from UK. Pete

Cooked peas,frozen or fresh are ideal 'first' food for many cats and livebearers. I breed Sturasomas and they need plenty of greenstuff when newly hatched. Cooked peas wizzed up in a blender and then frozen in small portions are ideal. I also feed frozen peas to livebearers as part of their normal diet. Lettuce does not have much food value but it is an ideal food for apple snails which in turn produce infusoria for small fry. When in doubt, try a LITTLE.

Andrew. A great advantage to actually see the fish 'in the flesh' Definitely helps. Regards Pete

Sorry, I dont think it is a nemacheilus species of loach. To me, it looks very similar to Acanthocobitis urophthalmus. If you refer to Baensch Photo Index 1-5, page 151 .2, you will see a picture of what appears to me to be the fish in the photograph.

Bill. Yes I was kidding about the B. macrostoma. When we leave Auckland, we are off to Melbourne,Sydney, Bangkok and then home. I was particularly interested in B macrostome as it is one of the few that we cannot get in the UK. As you know, it is a very colourful fish and is highly prized. As far as I know, Brunei will not allow their export. Which is a great pity.

Hi Bill (Pegasus) Thanks for your comments. Browsing through the Anabantoids, I noticed you mentioned Betta macrostoma. Well if they are available in NZ I most certainly will be smuggling some back to the UK. I know they are not native to NZ but they are definitely not available in UK or much of Europe. Where are they? Pete

HI. I missed all of the previous N v S arguments so I refuse to get involved! We have the same problem with England v Scots v Welsh v Irish. It never ceases. If I can get to a few fish shops N or S I will be quite happy. Something funny here. There is a traitor??? in the south??? I was recommended by a 'Southerner' to visit a shop in Tauranga! No prizes for guessing their identity! Time I signed off before there is a riot. Pete

Hi everyone. My name is Pete Cottle and I am the sec of Strood & District A.S. in Kent UK. I have been keeping and breeding fish for 40 years and an F.B.A.S. a class judge for 20years. My particular interests are Pencil fish, Rainbow fish and Killies. I also keep a few of the more 'exotic livebearers -at the moment, Brachyraphis hessfeldi or as it was formerly known'Palenque' I will be in NZ during part of Sept and Oct in Tauranga-pity there is not a club there. (visiting relatives) Will try to catch up with some of you at shops etc.