Navarre

Oooohhh a challange I like it. Pity about steel blues tho...lol

Oh the baby thing ...thought it was keeping sanity. has anyone seen mine? I think all that Meth Blue has driven it out. Out damn spot I say. Anyways....Would the Real Borelli please stand up Please stand up...? Pity these are not around as Casseroles Avitar is very nice. Would be great to put some down next to the filamentosa and the flashers and the Nanos and those Pelvachromis Taienatus reds yellows and greens. Navarre

Why did you get a warning? Yes some areas were getting cleaned out of animals just to suplly the "pet trade" which when you worked out the numbers being sold and kept ...just didnt add up so I can easly see how that would happen. not the easiest animal to start with...a wild caught skink/gecko. lol at scale number...and mouth colour...and dorsal pattern...and local...and...and...and...and..way the wind is blowing when people review maps/make ups...lol Sorry been a bad day Nav

Why use a filter at all. I have a 3 foot tank that is planted up to the yazoo. Just has a heater and lights and about 2000000 guppies that come and go. (Yes we have had this talk before) That would give you more room to have a heater and then just use water changes to remove particluates. If it was that big a deal just use an old fashioned light bulb to provide both heat and light ahla killi cupboard but singlular and in a clip on study light thingy. Nav

would liketo reply but its hard to type and keep count of all the singletons on here....hmmm might have to have another look at the post a photo thread. AND that should tell you my sex and age....lol Navarre

NZ doesnt have any export/import data with Spain ( no import standards anyway) as I have been trying to bring semen in from there for 18 mths Sorry Navarre

Hi Lynnie, Contact TM. Years and years ago he had a sump system like you are talking about for a breeding set up. You could look at several ways of doing this depending on how pretty you want it. Anything from a plastic bin thru to a glass race with all sorts of media in it. You could even put in an in line heater or put it in your roof with just a pipe running to and from. HTH Navarre

He is a bull terrier. LOL he will be fine...lol Well Done Blue and Kim. and um...Good Luck...you will need it....lol Navarre

What about Maf/DOc they might have some sources? :lol: Or you could try any local parks that have displays that you could take some from? Apart from exotics you would need a permit number tho Navarre

Redwoods has killis for sale...gardenari (spelling) and some others as do bubble and squeak occasionally also you could troll the posts and most with a number below their names are killi club members and will help you out. in ChCh try TM or Alanmin as regular posters from memory. Navarre

LOl Rainbows are not natives. Try the Herpt society Hans they can put you in touch with keepers in your area, and they can give you quality non hybrid animals which are legal. Navarre

LOL I was shocked to find out the other day in a Planning and Funding meeting, that if I needed a new hip I would not get one . It seems that I am over the BMI restrictions in NZ for a new hip. I am 36 so hopefully I dont need one that soon. I have played semi pro rugby so that may be a factor but so may be my genetic back ground but at 6 foot 2 inches (about 187cm) and 270 lbs (120kg) I didnt think I was what the doc called Morbidly Obese. I may have to give up the odd chocloate..but not ones that swim

Hi Stella et al For my discus I do the same as you do with the heart but I grate it over the tank with a microplane This might be easier for you to do as well, rather than cut frozen heart up ( maybe safer) Just be carefull about grate size of plane...to fine is to small and to coarse is big chunks so you just have to work out what works best. Another way is to use a food processor and chop it all then freeze with water into cubes (can use old blood worm trays) then just drop in a cube of heart. HTH Navarre

Having trouble posting pics here at the moment. Hopefully when I get a computer set up at home and not from work that will resolve. Think of a large Oscar with a blunt head. Hues of Red Green and Yellow with an ever apear/disapearing splodge and great big red eyes. Think that you can hand feed and train em to come to the rattle of the food tin. They are certainly not the most aggresive fish I have ever had and they pay no attention to tank mates what so ever...unless its business time. Then they are not so fond of other chocolates. Which I cant understand is a couple of chocolates is never enuff...lol

How dare you!!! Oh how rude. I am shattered Shocked Disapointed Did you read what he said? Ohhh my very Soul is mortally wounded I cant have read right...but I must have... I think he said that... Chocolates were not pretty? Somebody Grab that boy and wash his filthy little mouth out with soap...the florally scented stuff that leaves a nasty after taste. No on second thoughts dont do that cause obviously the only taste he has, is in his mouth, and we couldnt get rid of that Oh and if anyone wants any chocolate babies see my thread as posted earlier. Navarre

Hi There, i woudlnt ever leave a tank it the sun. I was told ( and there are people better at explaining this than me) that because the different glass sheets will expand/contract at different rates when heated by the sun the will tear the seals or crack the glass when left in the sun. Unless the whole tank is lightly covered ( a towel or sheet I guess) so it heats as a whole rather than a side at a time. HTH Navarre

I used to keep em. Great to keep. Good luck Hans

As well as how well planted is the tank...how big is it? What sort of filter do you have and what is its temp? Also what sort of gravel and lights If the size make and shape of the set up are suitable then Kribs are a good start as common and easy to keep as well as being pretty good as far as cichlids go( yes I have some if you are interested...lol) or you could look at a number of other fish but I think the fighter will nip the other fish you have mentioned. HTH Navarre

I could very easily love buffy. teh buffster if she would let me ...that is. and even some of the side kicks...not all at once you understand .....well not unless they were understanding...and not the ginge or the ones that are or were once male. If you know what I mean even like SMG in cruel intentions and I just dont get what Ryan Phillipe (or anyone else) sees in eth grin witha chin opps sorry I mean whats her name

I have found the bigger stuff easier to maintain and work with but in saying that I have seen some pretty great tanks with the sand. So is about how much work you want to do in your tank and what overall look you want. I dont use sand for example cause I like to put teh spray bar under my rocks. That means current at bottom of tank...that equals moving sand. If you have spray bar at top of tank then less current at bottom equals less sand moving except when fish do it. By the way tank sounds a great size Navarre

Hi there, Technically you can use any substrate you like. As long as it doesnt have many if any (thanks scribe) sharp ish edges then you can do what you like to get the look you like. What you then need to do is use a 'buffer". This is where you build your rockwork with limestone (easiest for us here is Oamaru stone from tip/ building site/ garden center) or dolomite (better I think as slightly different minerals and find at same as above. Or you can use what other rock work you like if you want to put something in your filter to help the "buffering". People most often do this by using a stocking or something simular and placing the buffer agent in it inside the filter (this is easier and has better effect in an external filter but people do do it in an internal) You can also build a "false" wall (see Spoons threadand talk to Rockwork) and this is lighter not always cheaper but a very good way of making up back grounds as you can hide things like heaters and filter bits in the wall. I always try and put down a base or build my background on something that can not be dug up (that includes the bottom of the tank) I dont "glue" my rocks together as that can make things very difficult to remove at times so I stack and re stack very carefully to prevent falls and provide different areas in the tank. You were also talking about breeding so having a background that you can take apart to get babies out is a big help. Once again Redwoods have a mix of substrate called Marine Mix and whilst you might need to crush some of this stuff up to make it finer it is a good blend of corals, argonite and dolomites that works very well as a buffering agent. I think It is about $10 a bag and for a 4 ft tank you would need maybe 4-5 bags max. And you can add more later. Ryan is right about filters in regards to maturing them. Keep your filters running in your established tanks as long as you can and then run them in your new tank once it is set up to help transfer all the goodies to the substrate and new filter. once that has happened and you have transfered your BNs and Lionheds you can look at adding new fish. Sorry about the novel but I hth Navarre

There are a few carriers that will take fish. everyone has different experiences and some recommend one or other. Poly boxes are cheap enough. Ask at local Pharmacy, hospital, vet that sort of thing or buy for about $6-10 at places like plastic box in Papanui. heat pads you can buy basic ones at supermarket now and these are rechargeable as you can at a chemist but try various pet shops. I know redwoods and bubble and Squeak had some a while ago but not sure about now. Also on TM but havent looked in a while. This has worked for me Line poly box with news paper. Place activated heat pad under paper on bottom Place bagged fish in poly box and pack with scruched paper or blown up sealled bags to stop sliding around. Newspaper on top then lid of box. Seal with tape. Place label on top of box. Take to courier. Label should include receavers name and addy. Your name and addy and a contact phone number for both of you. Live fish in BIG bright letters and also this way up top stow helps I think. Bagging Fish Bag suitable for size of fish, preferable a heavy duty plastic one If doesnt have round corners then tape corners to round them out. place clean tank water and fish in bag Fold top and rubber band twice. Wrap in Newspaper and tap in place. Place in second bag and rubber band. You can fill the bag with O2 as this helps with gas exchange etc but I dont have access to bottled O2 so use air from air pump. Courriers charge on size of box so bag needs to be big enough but not oversize so that weight/size is kept low. Another option is get some one you know who is travelling to take bagged fish (same as above, but in a soft chilly bag) with them as carry on luggage. dont tell anyone at airport untill they are thru security. hope that is all and hth Navarre

Dice 2 chicken breasts Brown in wok ( the impliment not the person) stir in as much green thai curry paste as you wish (I use about half a jar per dish). add pumpkin soup (two tins of pre made and a tin of water or as much home made as you like) simmer for 15 minutes or untill chook is cooked. Stir in mushrooms and/or green beans ( i like the beans) with stalks removed (fresh or frozen) simmer 2-3 mins then add a can of coconut cream. Stir in and plate up with a sprinkle of fresh corriander to garnish. Serve in deep bowls with crusty bread to sop up soup. Serves about 4 big eaters if you use 2 tins and 2 breast of chook. Can reduce to prefered consistancy good winter food and keeps for a couple of days Navarre

Grow out tanks Hi there I find it interesting that you have both gravel and plants in yor grow out tanks. I have a few tanks and I have some for display/breedingthat I have both plants and gravel in but in my grow outtanks I use no plants generally and no gravel either. This means that when I do my daily water changes I can get rid of all that fish waste and un eaten food. with big daily chanegs it can sometime upset a filet system which is another reason you dont want food rotttingin teh gravel at the bottom of your tank. But just becasue I do it this way doesnt meanits right for you. HTH Navarre

Wow those golden nanocara sound great. Would love to see an albino one. They would be expensive though surely if any were around? Navarre