The Great White Hand

Thank you for the advice! My piano movers took the tank down this afternoon with probably 10-15cms of water and the fish. Everything got a hell of a stir up. Filters were down, but not dry for about 25mins and replaced about 70% of the water. fingers crossed - so far so good. Tank fits beautifully at the new place! Regards, TGWH

We're moving house, only two doors down but have to move the tank and Loopy still has my other net so don't want to net all the fish (4 discus, 11 rummy nose, blue rams, 6 corys, 4 ottos, some harlequins.) ant tips on moving a half full tank AR 980 (215ltr) on and Aqau one stand. any advice welcome! Regards, TGWH

Hi Loopy I'm so sorry for your loss, losing any fish is upsetting ,but to lose so many must surely be devastating. Every fish keeper can certainly sympathize. When you've had time to grieve and consider what you want to do, maybe you might like to look at you having a go with one of my discus breeding pairs? Kind regards, TGWH

Hi One of the things that makes this forum GREAT is how people help each other out! Ray (kd123) has lent me a UV sterilizer to see whether it removes the minute particulate that plagues me (funnily enough others don't see it! Its there though) and my planted Discus tank (I'm sure it doesn't worry the Discus either). Ray, I really enjoyed seeing your tanks (the most perfect lotus I've seen and some beautiful fish) and having a chat with another fishkeeper. Let me know if and when you want the Fluval 2+ and I'll deliver it over when I drop off some twisted val to Craig (let me know when you want the val Craig) Regards, TGWH (Guy)

Hi adodge I have a pair of blue rams 1 BN 6 cories 11 rummy-nose 12 Harlequins 2 Neons 1 SAE 4 Ottos's 4 Discus (2 breeding pairs) A pretty textbook planted discus set=up. I run the tank at 28.6C, too hot for Harlequins and neons and some cories (Sterbai are good, Peppered like it cooler) Only thing I've noticed since the Discus have started breeding (have a thicker mucus coat for the fry) is that they attract the ottos's ( a few people seem to have this bother, particulary when not a lot of algae around). I had a dwarf gourami to start with I wouldn't recommend one with Discus Regards, TGWH

I got 11 rummy-nose tetras from Craig (Lambo) for my planted discus tank. Its been so long since I added new fish that I'd forgotten how enjoyable it was to see new fish enjoying their new home and their impact on their tankmates. the rummys like flowing water so they love playing in the external filter inlet pipe along the back, now the cories and the rams are doing the same thing. I sincerely recommend this fish to anyone with a planted discus set-up, very attractive and they seem to school so nicely. I intend to replace my harlequins and neons with rummys as they expire. Regards, TGWH

Hi Blue Great tank as always, was this the one on TM? I've had the same problem with a few of my otto's so the're now tending the plants at John's (Organism). Is the level of aggression OK, with your discus pairing? In my AR980 my four discus are two pairs as well as a pair of blue rams, all seem to be frequently spawning and I'm over the agro. Regards, TGWH

Hi BK No one wants to pick it up! Its going to cost me about $300 and my time. I wish a mover would take it. Regards, TGWH

Hi Taking an empty furniture trailer from CHCH to Blenheim Friday 21st Tommorrow morning) and on to Nelson Saturday 22nd (Morning) to pick up treadmill. I may be in position to take something up for a little consideration. It will need to be pretty starightforward and non-hazardous. Regards, TGWH

Hi Any opinions or interesting articles on the merits of both, particularly direct comparisons. I'm thinking of changing from colorbits, I suppose I'll do what I usually do and have both (I've a cupboard/freezer full of fish food LOL). My four discus (8-12cm) typically have two blocks of frozen (thawed) bloodworm and a bit of flake (JBL premium) and about a tablespoon of colorbits a day. What do those quatities sound like to you? Regards, TGWH

Hi Great looking tank, congratulations! Are you using Co2 for the plants? What are your tank/light/filter specs? Whats your feeding regime? Ferts? I'll post some pictures of my tank soon Regards, TGWH

Hi I've just put one of my ottos into isolation had turned into a discus mucus sucker. My theory is as my discus (2 pairs) have been laying eggs like crazy, their mucus coat thickens and they become more attractive as a source of food (for discus fry of course) coupled with the reduction in algae in tank (increased courgette and plecochips to offset a bit). Anyway, one otto (of four) off to new home (maybe to look after the plants section at Organism). Regards, TGWH

Hi Alan, your point is well stated. certainly any serious breeder should be facilitating the development of "pairs" given the criteria you mentioned. It is so ironic, that some people desperately want to foster "pairs" so they can breed (which is fascinating in and of itself and essential to the hobby of fishkeeping) and someone who just wants to look at their pets in their tank has everything bloody pair up I'm looking to pass one pair on to someone who will breed them and If that goes well, will loan them the other pair to them so they can breed them as well. Regards, TGWH

Hi Alan, my current four discus turned out to be two breeding pairs, (one lot of fry and one lot of fertilised eggs eaten). At this stage I wish none had paired up, because now I almost certainly need to get rid of a pair, because of aggression in my tank. Four cichlid singletons are bad enough let alone when they pair up. I don't want to breed them, but they are my pets and I like the way they look in my planted tank and am not looking forward to getting rid of two of them. Regards, TGWH

Hi I might have the names wrong: The checkerboard? (looks very similar to the "leopard" with fry you posted on Aug 15, Discusguru)? is an awesome blue/brown/black 11cm fish (see my tank photos or photos or "photos of my discus" when it was smaller) and the 7cm blue turq? looks quite simarlar in hues but less vivid and not as attractive markings. Both nice shapes The San Merah is dark apricot and the orange/sunrise is a bright orange. Regards, TGWH

Hi jolliolli I think I'll almost certainly need to get remove one of the pairs from my tank. I'd love to see these fish breed but I'm not interested in doing it myself as this stage. If you've got a set-up for breeding or are interested in setting one up maybe we could sort something out? I'd like to keep one pair as my tank can handle two discus easily. {Options are: a single fish ( I couldn't bring myself to break up a pair even if I didn't want them to breed): a breeding pair (which I have two of) or 4-5 discus tank mates (which I thought I had but haven't got now)} Regards, TGWH

Hi Two of my discus (7cm Blue turq and 11cm checkerboard (#1 fish in tank)) have paired up. they are laying eggs every couple of wks or so and are giving the other two discus (7cm San Merah and 9cm Orange/ Sunrise (former #1 fish)?) a hard time, shooing them into a corner. The tank is a AR980 (215tlr), using the hood filter and a CF1200 external filter, but marginal size-wise for four discus. Should I get rid of either the other two as this doesn't look like a good long-term proposition? AMENDMENT TO ABOVE: Make that two breeding pairs, just found the San Merah and the Sunrise protecting a bunch of eggs on a twisted val. Regards, TGWH

Seasons greetings! I'm taking my girls (wife and 3 and 5 yrs old) camping at Pohara. We would have been there now but our little one came down with chicken poxs about 4 days ago, so won't travel until she is not contageous to others. What are your favourite things (sights, cafes, activites, etc.) in golden bay? Any local knowledge most welcome! A happy and safe New Years to all! TGWH

Hi I thought something was up (the pair darkened in colour, were all over each other and moved the other discus to the far corner and organised the smaller fish into schoals), my awesome 11cm checkerboard (from Redwood) and my little blue turq have paired up and layed and fertilised eggs on the filter intake. I'm pleased because the blue turq was unwell for a while, so I hope this means it is feeling better? I imagine they won't survive in the community tank? Am I correct in assuming they find the tank conditions good? Regards, TGWH

Hi You guys are freaking me out. My AR980 is about 1 cm down in the front corner (where the curve is) due to uneven floor and my not noticing when I set it up. The tank itself is sittng flat on an Aqua One stand. I fill the tank about 95% full. I do my 50% wc every 2-3 days for the Discus, but pour water in as I'm syphoning out the window so never gets light enough to lift. Do you think 1cm is putting much extra pressure on the curve? Regards, TGWH

Hi I've had him about 14mths, so probably not more than 18mths old. Ideally, Blue Rams have a life span of about 3 yrs don't they? Ble Rams are my favourate fish, even more so than the discus! Regards, TGWH

Hi My male blue ram died today (left the female widowed), he was looking colourful and healthy and happy, regular spawnings etc. until we saw him floating this afternoon. I've had him about 14mths. No obvious reason, he had been involved in some minor niggle with my No. 1 Discus though. I'll wait a while but should I get another pair or just a male for the female? Any thoughts welcome! Regards, TGWH

Hi Sadly, mass seems to be growing at the base of the other pectoral fin. Brown red and white about 4mm x 4mm x 4mm. Still eating, but looking a bit worst for wear. I'll keep on monitoring and doing 50%WC every 2 days. Touch wood, other discus are fine. I'm not going to treat with anything else. Worst case scenario how do you humanely euthanase a large fish like a discus? Regards, TGWH

Hi A bit too radical for me tHE cONCH. Fish seems happy, eats well, is assertive, etc. I'll just see how a more conservative approach works first. As always really welcome your advice. Regards, TGWH

Hi Discus pectoral fin has split and I think it may actually fall off at the mass. Do they regrow? Regards, TGWH