Afrikan

Definately don't apologise for the rant purplecatfish, it was interesting to hear about your experience with them and thoughts on treatment etc I have been told rather a few times about the imported guppies that bring in a certain disease/virus that knocks off the NZ kept strains that are not immune to whatever these imports come in with, all I have been told is that they bring in the "guppy virus" whatever that might be. Definately pays to be aware. An old guy here in the bay breeds beautiful Meteorite Blues, and he was very weary about buying anything imported.

Yeap I agree ilah, I would think there would be better alternatives to hoplos.. well when it comes to Dats anyway 8) Know of a Dat that had the same experience.

:bounce: :bounce: :bounce: Good Stuff!!!

:lol: :lol: snookie.. Now that's one predatory fish

Oh gotta keep the "clean up crew" that being Corys, a nice communal tank is nothing without Corys as an added feature JMO 8)

Ports can be eaten.. I remember a case of a Dat eating a hoplo

Hmmm yes and no... I keep Chocs, however, I have read information stating that they can be VERY territorial. In battle they spike each other and sadly this can also result in other fish getting spiked if they get in the way of a catfish dispute... If you have a well caved up tank, with heaps of hidey spots they should be fine, but I definately would only keep two max together if you are having other fish in the tank. And go from there. They are great hoovers, mine are shockers :lol: Yeah a nice sized Mystus would go nicely to... 8) Synos do a much better job of clean up tho as they actually sift over the substrate.

Chocolate Talking Cats would be good... 8)

What predatory fish do you have? And how large do you want the catfish to be? There are some rather nice Synodontis out there that are great cleaners and Chocolate Talking Cats are excellent also.

It could be either injury or infection/disease.

Tanks look really nice dogmatix and davidb 8)

Welcome Slightly Blue Dalmation

Awwwwwwww I love the first pic!!

Well said livingart 8)

Very true, yet if the shop did their homework after fish arriving and noticing they clearly do not look like a kuhli or loach of any kind, they should then not be sold on. So if shops buy them in and sell them knowing they are questionable then they are as bad as the supplier.

I keep Clown and Flash plecs with discus and never had a problem 8)

I agree with coelacanth... if the shop is informed or realise that they are infact not loaches (kuhli loaches).. then I don't believe that they should be selling them. My hubby (in LFS) won't be ordering any of these into the shop to sell simply because they are not what they have been labelled. If a shop knows then they should do the right thing and not sell them and keep them out the back till the matter is looked into by authorities and then go from there. Some shops may not even realise but I think anything that is brought into NZ and bought by LFS, they should then do their own homework with what they choose to get in to sell anyway So supplier and LFS are responsible if infact these continue to get distributed before the matter is addressed and the fate of these little fellows is decided. JMO 8)

What sort of Plecs are they on TM brishe? Your Golden Black Eyes would be a great idea, just keep an eye that they aren't discus suckers, so do it, some don't.

Whoops and Daffodils fishy t, you're right :lol:

Just a few Africans at the moment until fish shed finished (of which is half way done!) Peacock range: A. baenschi A. jacobfreibergi A. stuartgranti "chipoka" Mbuna Electric Yellows Johanni Maingano Non Lake Lionheads Soon back to breeding alot more when shed running

Do be aware tho that there have been cases reported that Plecs etc can suck on to the sides of discus, so more or less it's a case of give it a try... I have smaller fancy plecs with discus and never had a problem. The Plec would live happily in tropical temp however I would make it a gradual temp rise due to the fact that it's obviously been acclimatized to cold water.

Welcome madsaffa

Mine isn't overly shy and yes when hungry they will take the odd snap at a passing fish, they can do fin damage. As they get bigger they get bolder.. I had mine in with some juvenile fish (not small juvies) and watching the tyre eel predate was amazing, he actually had ambush tactics :lol: He worked in a slow motion till he was close enough and then snap! Mine prefers mysis shrimp, blood worms, earth worms, tubifex, he won't touch any form of flake or granule based foods.

Hiya Dan Awesome stuff, they bred here, I had another male that I kept in the display tank for display purposes and he was just gorgeous, dark royal blue body in colour. Seem to take a wee while to colour up more so than others. Thanks for that Frenchy I also got a lot that came in as Yellow Nyassa, they were awesome also. Definately different and alot chunkier in body.

That explains it .. my Ad Konings book is an old one, and I don't have that version book :lol: My book must be before changes were made, as it states the Nyassae as a different species and from different parts of the Lake :roll: :lol: AProphecy - Would be neat if you held onto the two Albinos 8) Would love to see what your Royal Blues look like.. compared to the lot that I got ages ago (which are now up that way)