Scuba Sam

Hi Jolliolli, it is always gulping with no change in behaviour or colour - therefore gulping not coughing we think. Thanks for your comments.

In a tank with a large silver dollar I had a plecostamus, severum, synodontis, several corydoras, and at times smaller fish like guppies. No problems from the silver dollar. I think their temperament can vary though. Sam

When I was eleven, I had guppies in a bucket on the back porch in the middle of winter - bred happily etc, BUT I was living in tropical North Queensland!! Have had guppies indoors without a heater here in Northland - seems ok if filtration is good enough. Not sure I'd try it in Christchurch - heaters cost so little now.

Its about 180 litres, has one discus - there were two but the less dominant one only lasted about a couple of weeks after it arrived on the courier. At the price they are it was a bit upsetting - keen to avoid the same thing happening to this one. Still looks a great colour, feeding from his hand, etc.

Hi Hannah, I hope you get it all sorted out. I have some baby Bristlenoses which are big enough to rehome. I am coming down to Tauranga for Easter so could pop them in the car - staying in the Avenues. My BN babies are pretty tough - they sit on an unheated tank on my kitchen table (fish being more important than eating at the table). I could bring a few down and see if they are any tougher than the ones you are getting from your LFS if you can't find any others locally. Happy to give them away - have heaps more growing in fry tank. Just a thought, Sam

I am posting this on behalf of a friend. He wonders why his discus is gulping so fast. His tank has been set up for about three months, and his discus was sent up about six weeks ago. He does daily water changes. The fish looks in good condition, it is just breathing fast/gulping. He was pretty confident that his water was in good condition from all the changes. I grabbed a sample for a test and we found the following: pH 6.0 or less Nitrate 5.0 mg/L Nitrite 0 Ammonia 0.5 mg/L Temp is about 28 degrees. The Ammonia reading is a surprise to him, and no doubt is causing problems - what do we do? Tank mates - a school of neon tetras, three zebra danios, and five corydoras. The tank is planted, with good plant growth, and well aerated with a Aqua One CF1000. Any suggestions welcomed please. Sam

:bounce: :bounce: :bounce: :bounce: :bounce: :bounce: My Aquarium World mag arrived today - thanks Caryl. It was worth the wait. Sam

Hi and welcome!!

You guys are bringing back memories of my childhood in Timaru - certainly NO ice on the ponds up here!!

Welcome to the forums StellaG. Hope you find it as helpful as I have.

Hi Bedazzled, I am happy to loan you a test kit to test for nitrates, nitrite, ammonia if that would help. I can probably even find a spare tank if she doesn't recover quickly. P.M. me if you would like to pick up the kit - Kensington. Good luck with saving her. Sam

Mine still hasn't arrived - gee I am looking forward to it - the anticipation!!

I'll try to answer some of your questions - 1/ Bristlenoses only grow to about ten centremetres. They are usually quite slow growing in my experience. They are usually placid so no problem to other fish even when fully grown. You maybe thinking of plecostomus catfish which can grow over a foot long - no such problem with bristlenoses. 2/ Most live bearers are happiest if more females than males. If you really like the mollies maybe move another fish on to another tank, or sell/swap - maybe the gourami goes so another molly can come in. 3/ Plants help. They use up nitrates, and generally improve water quality. Plastic plants are generally only useful as scenery - I would recommend sticking to real plants. Good luck getting things sorted - it looks like you might be at risk of a really common illness on here - Multi Tank Syndrome!! Sam

Congrats - you are a Granddad!! Enjoy...

Looks great!! Well done. And the new wood looks very cool too.

I had it covering everything that light fell on. Put the algae eater in, within an hour could see the tracks where he had been hoovering it up. Next day all gone. Tireless worker!! Good luck.

Posters have arrived - thanks very much to Caryl. Now we just have to decide where to put them up!! Apart from SPCA, Fish shops. Any suggestions - we thought Mill Road Vet too.

with that colour of fish the babies are often pale and hard to see in the gravid spot. Pregnant fish can definitely look that shape. Here's hoping you get some baby action today - try a water change in the tank too to bring on babies perhaps. Good luck, Sam

Have you thought about bristlenoses? They are great - they look after their babies, and are easy (like really easy) to feed. Seem tough too. I have a bunch of babies just sitting in a plastic tank on the kitchen table without a heater!! The babies are cute too - well if you are into catfish. GBAs are harder, with slower growing babies. Cheers, Sam

My most prolific breeding pair of bristlenoses is a brother and two sisters - the carefully matched non-related pairs are slow to breed or just aren't doing it. Offspring look great, so relationships don't seem to matter much IME. Good luck.

My first magazine - I can't wait!! :bounce: :bounce:

Great news about posters - thanks heaps Caryl. Bedazzled, depending on your kids, ages etc, they could probably come along - there is a TV in a side room, and we have some toys at work - up to you - maybe partner can pick them up on way through - have no idea how long meeting will go for really. Cheers, Sam

I will look forward to meeting you Smidey. For the record, Georgeous is not my son, or a blood relation, he doesn't live with me, and neither of us live at 36 Kamo Road!! Its my work address!! LOL!! His mother reckons we talk a different (fishy) language when we get together though...

Welcome to the forum - your fish tank looks really cool!!

Georgeous just sent me through the details of your contact - I actually know the lady you mentioned, and am sure she still works at the same place - will get onto it through someone working with her at the moment. Thanks for suggestion Caryl