Navarre

LOL Stella, Or he might stand on them and break a leg...lol...mastifs They are great I like the other option. You know how people ask about types of music and hicks say "Ohh Im not picky, I like em both. You know Country AND Western." Well I like both security options of Smith AND Western. LOL

LOL LA, Looks like he would lick you to death....Mastifs......lol. I think my guys (pics elsewhere) would be the same. Orana used to let the lions out at night but people complained so they dont do that so much any more.....pity. Navarre

I guess its hard to argue both sides of this. And it is easy to forget that both posums and rabits were introduced with the idea for food and fur ie the intent was to manage and harvest them. Now look where we are. But we have moved on. Point taken re where to next. Lets take weka that are extinct on the east coast of the main land but a gene pool was establised on the chatams 100 yrs ago (they ate all theirs). From 12 birds there are now 60000 with free range harvesting. We are now bringing birds back here. Same for Tuatara. Breeding populations are being "managed" as the inter breeding is now starting to cause probs in some areas. However we cant bring non related animals back from LA or Germany to increase the gene pool as these would be "introduced". Rediculous. Also cant keep em in private(lol) so what do you do with extra eggs? extra adults etc. I agree that the natives are under valued whole heartedly. But how do you lift the profile? Sell em..make em worth something and then ppl will want em? Maybe but then natural populations are at risk. 25 yrs ago the things that arent here now (lmao) were here. Theoretically they are permissible orgainisms. But try keep/get one..roflmao. As for fish...well thats a joke. There used o be a permit and non permit list. They got rid of one by combining them. Alot of fish are here ilegally. Fronts,Cichlisoma, Haps, Auloanocara, paradise fish,hill stream loaches, chocolates (how dare they) D. Comps...just to name a few. Then we coudl take Auckland Island pigs and Enderby rabit and cattle or Arapawa sheep and goats. So isolated they are gene pools of their own and are now invaluable to the world of Farm breeds and medicine. Goes both ways Just somethings to think about Nav

I keep telling you See these fingers...(looks at typing digits) If I touch things with them it turns fecal. Nature of the job I spose. Anyway Pity Did you see what lookd suprisingly like a green iggie swimming at the start of life in cold blood last night....at least thats on topic to both threads....cold blood...that is. Navarre

Wana sell any? Just thought Id ask? Navarre

Spoke to my mate at MAF They used to have someone monitor the Media. They have a search engine thingy that alerts the TradeMe site if a bio risk is listed on there. They do have "Persons of Interest" but these come so from many different sources its not funny. They dont monitor independant sites as a rule as they just dont have time. esp at this time of year with spring fishing and crays being soft etc. Also I agree with you MC and Stella. I feel very lucky to live in this country despite 1080. However....What we have and what we can get are very unrealistic. Also SOME species could be and have been well managed in NZ with little or no detremental impact...take RCD for existance....lol Pity tho some dont put as much value on our natives.....in the same breath some of the exotics that have been here are spectaular animals. And I would give all of my teeth and left nut for a pair of those iggies or some leps, shingles torts...and the list goes on. It perhaps is not what we are and arent that is the issue, but more the incongruencies of how what we have is being managed? I guess this will always be contentious tho espicially with what has happened in our recent past with reptiles in NZ

Firstly I DO NOT work for MAF. However I was in a life long ago an pro diver, and someone I dived with now works for MAF. Would you like me to ask them these questions? Navarre?

Add water flow. add O2 maybe see how that goes? Maybe gravel vax? HTH Navarre

Enderby Island Blues are VERY Nice Look at rare breeds site. They were easy as to catch as had never seen people. Blardy hard to breed tho.....but big so make mucho grande stew LOL Navarre

Hi Stella, Congrats on a wicked experience. The thing that supprises me every day is that the "spines" that run down their back are so soft...almost feathery. And dont let them bite... that hurts. Good luck for next time. Navarre

Well I thought I had lost them all as some had fungied. Then today I see she has picked all the good eggs lying on the bottom of the tank. On closer inpection I see wrigglers with little heads n tails...waahhhhoooooo The red grains of Sand are the Wrigglers

Looking at a nice discus 150-250 and then a nice coral or angel/tang etc 150-250...and thats from the LFS not from some of the good guys in local clubs who can slip you the odd frag for half that sometimes...so cost of livestock not really an issue All the best Navarre

Welcome. I have never kept a marine tank. But looking around the difference seems to me to be this. On a good sized tank you will spend more for salt...skimmers etc. But if you want a big tank and big fish then piece for piece there is not that much difference...IMO. The big difference is time. Supposedly you can have a fresh tank planted or not up and running in roughly 8 weeks. It however is rapid to ripe and rapid to rot. So does require at least weekly maintainance of some sort. Salt it seems is set up much more slowly, with simular costs but the end effect is spectactular. Maintainance is less often but can be costly. I am sure if you add up my annual expences and that of a salty they would be quite close. Good luck with your choices Navarre

So I will get photos up soon. Went to work last night and notices stones all over the place. got up today at the crack of 1030 and more stones a blardy great pit and on the rock work about 200 coffee coloured eggs with big and bigger mrs Choc doing the dont come over here you little shites dance. everyone else at one end of tank. Now I know some things take time but thats what I call a whirlwind romance...man after my own heart. Waaaahhhhooooo made my day. Navarre

but amizonian how do you water change those low tanks? do you have a drain point? how do you heat that room and is reaching over those larger tanks to get to teh smaller ones a pain? Thanks Navarre

Apologies. Worked today and didnt see reminder until late Navarre

Doesnt quite look like spathipyhlum (spelling) either tho does it? Peace lillies are palladial plants. Can spend up to 9 or so mths submersed but like hot humid climes. Not really a tank plant and wont real thrive in an aquarium. Hard to say form those photos. Navarre

Crikey Thanks to all and photos will happen...just not over night...lol Will try for some today...fingers crossed..lol Thanks again Navarre

So as in the last post, I have been trying to get a few chocolate cichlids together for around 18mths now. It has been a saga. :roll: A female arrived from the Far North via Auckland, but the male didnt make it that far. Then another 2 males were lost in transit...this I say has nearly gutted me. I was offered (kindly ) an established pair but at their size and import, I decided to turn them down as they dont like coming south it seems. Then I found a place that had a couple for sale and they arrived today. :bounce: It appears after some fancy rock work rearrranging, that after I have put them in to a 4x2x2 tank that I have a male about 12 cm and a female about 15-18 cm, and a pair about the 12 cm mark. So I am now going to have to set up the other 6" to re house the largest couple in hope they bond up. ( I was hoping to leave that until I finish my new fish room ( 8x3x2.4) in the next few weeks. I think they may all be a bit on the small side yet for babies....not sure but they are certainly marking out their spots in the 4 ftr and it is getting a little rambuncious even after a few hours......I may be in for a long night...lol Anyways enuff ramblings of a fish affected persona non grata. Just wanted to say to all of those involved over the last 18mths .... ....Many Many Many Thank you's. I wouldn't have made it this far with out you and I am in your debt. Navarre

Doesnt happen often Stella, but it does happen. LOL My pleasure to be of assistance Navarre

I thought Fry =free swimming! Larvae prior to that ? Navarre

Wow. What more can I say! David you are very lucky to have access to such magnificent creatures Woudl love to see some more photos at some stage Thanks for sharing these Navarre

Synodontis Angelicus (Spelling?) They are verry niiice and whilst not that shape have the polka dot thing going on big time. Navarre

LOL Barrie...your wife makes sure your not around when I am there with no clothes on either..lol Just joking. I have used White vinager to clean this sort of stuff of glass with good effect as well.... HTH Navarre

lol Alan, brothers, New Zealanders or Queenslanders? May get that way in teh Waikato as well soon do you think. I guess with these things (torts, not nessecarily turts) being long lived hard to breed, great little critters and expensive its hard to justify breeding them and or more importantly exposing them to unnessescary risk...I must learn to spell. Anyway you know what I mean.