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These fish have locational variances. they live in rocky outcrops and reef formations within the lakes. these formations are seperated by large open or Utaka areas that may be a few metres or 100mtrs in size. This is a large expanse of water for many fish to cross remembering the Utaka residences are the larger hap predatory species. Ad konings has recorded accounts of natural hybridisation and this does occur. this is why some of us are so keen to keep pure what we know is pure. thats the short answer.

wood is a must for your Royal if you don't already have some it the tank. I'd chuck in some courgette, or brocolli/cauliflour stalk weighted down. That way the plecs can graze for a day or so without competing.

http://www.cichlidforum.com/profiles/re ... ?genus=124 All these will interbreed I think Maylandia is an outdated definition.

And Ryan is a good guy to ask IMO. http://www.cichlidforum.com/profiles/re ... p?genus=17 A good resource for peacock pictures , in fact they also have good info on many cichlids. Much talk on hybridising these fish, and the more people learn about them, I find, the more interested they are in the pure breeds that actually live in the wild. We don't in all honestly get the greatest array of peacocks, but lets at least do the best with what we have.

Not blue ice?

Thread title vs thread outcome Now that is Irony!!

Marto Hi Yeah sorrty mate, the direction of the thread while being informative has neglected it's objective. I would suggest you can add new fish to your setup, but add more than one and also rearrange the tank to counter the current territories within it. That way the newbies should fold into this setup with a lot less stress.

What Phil, you saying your hexagonal shaped discus are making a comeback! We've been through this before Stop using threads like this one which is about a hobbyist sharing his loss of a fish, to once again shamelessly flog your fish. Many times I have seen the outcome of such threads being fish being offered to such people for free, such is the feeling we have for other hobbyist. But not you. "Buyer decide"- in other words no responsibility on your part. Get your own thread in the commercial section and stay there. I have Utter contempt for what you stand for. I don't care how long you've been breeding/keeping fish. You earn respect not demand it. And now you have the gaul to correct the people who sold you the fish.

A well coloured line of Adults?- how do you know How long have you had these fish?

You have bought wisely and from a known breeder who have well documented source for their fish and a rep for quality Phil. On that that basis you would receive my money as well. Issues not personalities. Even Alanis Morriset got the meaning wrong!

Ask Mr pleco what he thinks about Starlight http://www.fnzas.org.nz/fishroom/starli ... 34661.html Before you go down the Mary Shelly road, perhaps ask why our importers of plecs, common or fancy persist in wanting to giving new names to already named fish or make up a name because the fish they've bought was a bargain basement price from the supplier because it was even at that stage un-named. People in the states or europe have no problems obtaining individual BN's species and I don't think they all have Science degrees, just more enlightened suppliers to the hobby. Early days but we are trying eh!

No -it wouldn't be a good idea. If he chooses to do so he should at least inform people of the cross. Even better do as Ryan suggests, but these guys are so messed up here in terms of hybrids it is more of a placebo than actually achieving much in terms of species purity, although as Ryan knows I totally support the principal. Ancistrus come from all over Sth America. Peru , Paraquay, Brazil, Venezuela etc. I'd be keen to know who has a definite species that they are breeding, and not under the title common bristlenose.

with 130 odd different species of ancistrus known so far, many of which look ing like what we know as "common" bristlenoses, such as sp.claro or cirrhosus or sp.tamboensis which share the common name then the chances of a pure line Ancistrus species that is 100% bonafide would almost impossible here. Even the so-called 'starlights' aren't right. I can only think of the medusa's that might be the exception, and they seem to be a bugger to breed. Yes they will breed and they will be hybrids, and they will be worthless in terms of money but they will hoover your algae as happily as all the other worthless hybrids out there. I give my fry away.

Mahurangi are selling Koura to LFS. They have a permit to do so. I doubt that DOC will be interested in such a case, but there are no doubts that the rules encompassing selling, transportation, and farming of native fish will require revision particulary and ironically as their numbers and future in the wild become more secure. Should this trader seem to have an endless supply then I would hope more interest from appropriate organisations.

I know this is a favourite for many.So thought This would interest a few, except for the eating part perhaps. http://www.planetcatfish.com/shanesworl ... cle_id=382

I was understood Farmed Koura should have certification which should be available at time of sale. Retailers haven't seemed to worried too much about this. I would suspect restaurants would require more scrutiny You would think that the odd bully would be OK to sell. Unfortunately it will take only one selfish person to decide there is easy money to be made by emptying their local streams, so I would support the notion of collecting only for one self.

I'm with David. I would suggest that even when your tank was more heavily planted the fish weren't entirely "happy", but you had created a whole lot of little spaces/'sanctuaries for the fish to divide up between themselves and so more easily avoid confrontation. Now as you say one fish has dominated the one space so sent others scurrying for cover. I'd either be looking to reduce the amount of species and then increase the numbers of what you keep, particularly schooling fish-safety in numbers. Tank looks great. Moving the big piece of wood on the right to the centre will also divide the space so the dominant fish wont lay claim to it all. Even getting some of the tangled wood higher in the tank will provide a greater sense of protection therefore confidence, without compromising your objective as replanting would.

Bugger!

I insist that my guys have good manners and eat together at dinner. your guy is very messy- uggggh!

I don't know if melafix will do that much or salts as plecs don't respond to them that well. Antibiotics for bacterial infection or even prazi that might flush him if he's bound up at all. Water changes, and no food is all I can suggest. Good luck!!!!

My guy on another spawn, the moment the last lot got evicted, in fact it was a bit of a catfight outside, so all good. Hopefully we have a new "stud" on the block. I mean the fish Mr Pleco!!

What is size is it? my 2-3yr alpha male would lucky if he's 8cm. Babyfish had 2 L102 in the early days and I remember one having smaller dots than the other. http://www.planetcatfish.com/catelog/im ... ge_id=3105 check stress colouration shot. I take it this is stress colouration, what's He(?) like normally. If size is good then I wouldn't dismiss your summation. I'm less likely to go with Dixon An old shot of one of mine

How is the belly? Is that sunken also or distended. Keep flow and airation up. When you say completely new water did you import anything from it's tank, even somw Bio as don't want to add to problem with too much change and shock that could cause. Any new plants or fish lately?

yep-omnivore. balanced diet. Haven't witnessed algae eating tendancies like BN's but vegetable matter is well received. I woulkd expect their aggression levels to be more pronounced than some Baryancistrus-(gold nuggets, mango's)- species of same size

I got three at same time and lost one early. Other 2 about 10-12cm I guess, so still a while from sexual maturity. Not much info on these guys, that I could find.