acara

No,what I typed above is all it says.Will have to wait and read next months article.They're not usually very in depth,just cover the very basics,15mins cover to cover and thats it done.

New Life Spectrum. Wouldnt use anything but.

Just picked up,and currently acclimatising 4 juvenile L411 'Monte Dourado' tonight,absolutley chuffed,and got em for a very good price.

I picked up the latest Practical Fish Keeping mag today and was absolutley chuffed to see a small paragraph on the page advertising next months issue.Here it is, The lost world revealed! New Zealand's geographical isolation made the islands unique for flora and fauna,but their native fish may soon be reaching our shops,says Rupert Collins. I'm very excited about the prospect,but have mixed feelings about it.I would dearly love to have NZ native biotope,like some I have seen on this forum,and always thought I'd have to wait 'til I got home,and that could be many years away. I didn't realise that they are,or will be,being exported.I have seen many kakariki sold in pet shops in the UK,and here in Ireland,but never heard of fish.Does anyone know any more?

Not much here either,plenty in the UK,but hard to get them over. My folks will be over for my wedding end of June,but I won't have fry by then,otherwise we could try the old 500ml or 1ltr coke bottle.My bro is flying direct through Brunei,so he could've taken them.

Sorry :oops: I will be back home to NZ,although it will be years away.

The Blagdon Koi Air range are very good,was at a mates place last night,he's running a shed off the one pump(the Koi Air 65,only 42Watts).Thousands of fry from corys,L-nos,killis,discus,angels,hoplos,etc. http://www.blagdonwatergardens.co.uk/Blagdon_Air_Pumps

Picked up 2 pairs of Betta albimarginata last night,absolutely chuffed.Will get some pics when they are settled and coloured up.

You can get lino that has a thermal backing(polypropylene?).That could be an option.

Also looks like what our local Maidenhead has stocked as 'panda barb'.

I would get more clown loach,they need to be kept in groups.120ltr would be too small though,once they get a bit of size on them. Otherwise it looks quite nice.

I would be careful not to feed whiteworms too often,I try to limit it to a couple of times a week.

I do,and have,fed live white worms(sparingly),earthworms(a favourite),mosquito larvae,brine shrimp,dapnia,grindal worms,microworms. And also most of the above in frozen form,also mysis shrimp,lobster eggs,cyclops,bloodworms,frozen mixes,etc.

Just saw this post now.I have bred them,but am down to just one male at the moment,although a shop in Galway has wild caughts at the moment,about NZ$10 each.They are a stunning little fish,and my male got 1st in category at last years show.Great characters,I prefer them to splendens.The fry are tiny. Prob not much help to you over there though.

I have some friends here who have them,1 has 14,another 12,and the 3rd won't say how many! Nice looking fish,but you never,and I mean never,see them.They are extremely shy,and I've sat for some time watching(or trying to) them.They are very slow growing,and take a long time to reach breeding age.I've met a guy over in the UK who has eventually had some luck with breeding them.Theres occaisionally a few on the market here,and a friend who owns a LFS has promised them soon,at about NZ$400ish,but to be honest,I wouldnt dream of paying that much for something I will not see.Having experienced them(not kept them myself),I would definately not bother with them.Quite simply,the hype about them is unwarranted,although they are attractive. I believe a lot are being smuggled out lately. If you have the time and money,go for it,but I think theres nicer plecs out there.Just my 2 cents.

Sterbai and oiapoquensis are a good choice.

Thanks guys,and thanks for the links,had seen the 1st,but not the 2nd,looks like I'll be spending a lot of time on that.

Hi guys I picked up the last two pairs of these at my lfs yesterday.I was in a few days before when they arrived,and asked for 2 pairs to be kept aside to pick up a few days later.When I went back,he told me they lost all of them,except 2 pairs,1 male looking poorly.I was so taken with them,I broke all the rules and took the 4 fish.1 pair died in the bag,the other pair were dead this morning. Has anybody kept them before?If so,what can you tell me about them?I can find very little info about them on the net,and there are few killis keepers here,none having experience with these little stunners.I hope to get more one day,but will be better prepared. Heres a pic link. http://images.google.ie/imgres?imgurl=h ... n%26sa%3DG

I'm sure I have a copy or few,but they're at home,and I'm down in NZ at mo,you shoulda posted 2wks ago! Won't be home till end of month,if you're still looking,let me know.

I'm visiting NZ next week for a couple of weeks and am REALLY looking forward to all the good food I miss so much.Not quite what you're talking about though,I cant wait for burger rings,pies,real burgers,real fish and chips,watties tomato sauce,peanut slabs,paua,mussels,summer rolls,raro,milo,banana lumps,minties,pinkys,toasties,seafood,kumara chips,L&P,assorted beers,the list goes on...... Sorry,I know its not what you meant,but I'm just so excited! Reckon I'm going to put on a stone in 2 weeks!

Try placing a piece of cucumber or courgette in the tank before dark.About an hour or so after dark,pull out the piece of veg and it should have a few on it.Repeat until you have most of them. Assasin snails are very good at eating them,but the puffer owners may not appreciate this!

I was security supervisor in M&S Grafton St for that time period!!And I got the use of the staff sales and staff shop,M&S food at quarter price or less I've got the belly to prove it,or is that the Guinness? Now I'm in the same line of work on the other side of the river,boy I could tell you same stories!!!! Had a look at Living Arts website,really looking forward to that. Will see if the weathers ok for sea kayaking at Cathedral Cove,glass bottom kayaks in a marine reserve,gotta be done. Also,weather permitting,hope to dive the Taioma off Motiti Is,weather was too bad when last home in Feb '05.

When and where were you here?Wackers and Seahorse opened about late '06-early '07,but Wackers on Parnel St was pretty good before then.Miss Dubs,how?Would love to get out of this kip. Would love to get to Palmy,but think with the time we have,will stick to a smaller area.Theres a large stream on folks property,dont know how it will be in July,but hopefully if not too bad,I may go for a look.

Thanks guys,will look up those shops. Will put aside a few days for Living Art :lol: Dead keen to see some natives too,use to see some decent size kokopu when spotlighting,especially on the Coromandel.Dying for Stella to finish the book! @tinytawnykitten,There are a lot of shops here,the best is Aquatic Village on the Blessington Rd past Tallaght.Theres also Petstop in the Blandchardstown Centre,Kinsealy Pet Shop(Malahide RD),Wackers on the Longmile Rd and Parnell St,Fintastic at Dun Laioghre,for the salties theres also Seahorse Ireland at the Red Cow,Aquarium Solutions in Ashbourne,Fish FX in Dun Laioghre.Theres more,but dont really bother with them.We do occasional buying trips on the ferry to the UK,cheaper and better selection.We also attend the FBAS Festival of Fishkeeping every year at Hayling Island near Portsmouth,I bought some Betta inbellis back last year,a male won me 1st in the betta secttion of our show 3wks ago.(also got 1st and 3rd in Corys,1st in danio,2nd in all other egglaying species,AND won a raffle of a Fluval Roma 125 and stand,about 350euro worth )

I will def be going there,remember when he started up,a friend of mine was reporting for a small Greerton rag,she took me along as photographer,from what I have seen on here,its come a long way since then.Really looking forward to it!