Simian

Nah Its dead easy I looked into it. Its at the quarantine end that it gets very costly & hard. I talked to a quarantine facility owner, they can only have stock from one source in a room at a time, and one species per tank...so unless they can fill a whole room with a shipment from oz its just not worth it. The only other option was to bounce em via singapore or similar country. That would defeat the purpose, I would get them from this breeder as I would be able to hand pick them, she would condition them specially for a few weeks and then individually bag em and deliver to the airport for her agent to process. Total time to our NZ facility less than 10 hours I did the math and cant see it happening without building my own facility...and that aint happening unless I win lotto

:rotf: Nice one

Thanks for the discussion, Its clear that many of you know much more about the various types than I do, I am personally not too concerned about the "fragility" of tropheus, I have had zero losses, since the very early days of my colony. I even break a few rules with them every now and then... a tiny bit of bloodworm tossed in after they have had a good feed of NLS seems to get them doing some major mating behaviour. Good points have been made by all, I dont think what HFF are asking is over the top, and in fact think its pretty fair, they have their margins based on their expenses and profit requirements, business 101. I am more trying to see if we are able to keep them together, My Ikola colony was only 15, now its pushing 20, they are still not in their final home, and still pretty young, I know they will boom once I get their new home done. I can afford a few but not all of the new ones, as we all know a colony of 25 is just about bang on to start with and would pretty much secure them, short of a disaster... Splitting them into two would be workable, provided the owners were friendly. I am willing to take a risk but simply cant take em on without selling up something else to get the cash and space I need. I just dont want to see them sitting spread across the country in ones and twos, dying of bloat because someone thinks they can live with their oscar and eat ox heart. I have visited breeders in oz and seen colonies that made me just about fall over, We will never get Rainbows or other dreams in if we don't take what the importers can get. I know I can get A Grade mature Trophs outta Oz but why would an importer commit their facilities to a serious aussie shipment if one small group that comes in with others from asia or europe Or even bother bringing in other premium species if they cant move em on. Damn it someone win lotto! :facepalm: Owen

With the new strain coming in, I'm in a quandry, As a Tang lover I want to make sure we keep the lines going, but as we all know it a big risk to fork out big bucks for a very sensitive fish. I know we have: Ikola pemba's Bulu points Caramba Deboisi Firefoxes What else do we have? I'd like to see us be able to get a colony (20ish fish) of all of the above for about $1k long term, thats what I feel us poor kiwis can afford, but that requires us to keep breeding Is our community big enough to support a pure yellow Troph, when there are Malawi's like electric yellows, which are easier to keep and common as mud? If someone takes the risk and buys up the whole shipment will it be worth it? Rainbow kasangas would be a no brainer, whats peoples thoughts? Some of you took a punt in the early days, was it worth it? Owen

CO2? lighting? water flow?

Dont just tease, whats your secret?

That would be my hope long term, its the time to organise these things I lack, ideas I have plenty of

Yeah Ryan this trip was planned but the organisation passed through 3 sets of hands before I picked it up, I have often thought about making someone from each club an inter-club liaison, and act as a point of contact. Maybe next time....I'm sure you could sneak out and see us at hollywoods, Wok will have my cell phone details Owen

Anyone tried it with SA cichlids Tips or experiences appreciated I gave it a go no eggs, or milt maybe wrong technique, maybe wrong timing, maybe too gentle??? Fish 100% recovered after anaesthetic and handling last time Almost ready to try again

Slight mess up with my plans, Malcolm is not out west like I had thought :facepalm: He's out Manakau Heads on the south end So we are heading there first then moving to Kaysey's in Manakau then to Hollywoods Still love to see an Auckland contingent join us at the beach Still should be at Hollywoods about 2.00-2.30 Pm me for my cell ph # if you are keen on meeting us somewhere Owen

We'd love to see some Auckland Fisho's too, let us know if you want catch up and we can trade ph #, addresses and keep in touch. Here's the plan at this stage: :cofn: We will be taking some private cars up and the club is subsidising the gas, a small donation would be appreciated if you are grabbing a ride with some others. The cars are full a this stage so if you are not already confirmed you will need to be prepared to take a vehicle 10.00am: Meet at Commerce club 11.30ish: Pick up Kasey in Manakau, have a look at his fishes if he doesn't mind :nfs: 12.30ish: Get to Malcom's place out West and weather permitting have some lunch on the beach :spop: and a look about (bring your own lunch), check out his fishroom 2.00ish: Hollywoods in Mt Roskill :happy2: Back to Hamilton by 5.00 See you Sunday Owen

Look up algae scrubbers, something I keep meaning to do. Same principal but use algae to absorb the waste

I've breed a few different cories: Adolfoi Trilneatus Caudimaculatus Bronze etc etc They all spawn differently and like slightly different setups Interesting fact I learnt recently Cories only have a certain # of eggs, so a young girl will be a better producer than an old fat one, something I wish I'd known long ago :facepalm: A year old is perfect Sophia, try this :sage: Fill tank to top set temp to 23 deg feed sparingly for a day or so then ramp up feeding drop water level a few inches a day & slowly ramp temp up to 26 deg till about 1/2 full Give a big feed of bloodworms/ grindals/white worms etc Increase aeration and flow in the tank, focus it in a front corner you can keep an eye on jam as plenty of fake plant, java moss etc (Sera does a bio fibre filter product, my Triliniatus love laying in that) Then top up tank by spraying water in (I use a hose with spray attachment) Check corner for eggs My Trilineatus spawn almost daily and I just cycle the spawning material, when I have time to raise the young. Good luck Owen

I am gearing up to build a couple of insulated large tanks 1500w 800d 600+high viewing window in front (double glazed) Fully sealed units if you have $$ I could do an extra one, Have to work out costs but guessing $5-700 Lemme know if your'e keen, will work out some proper costs drawings etc Owen

Bring your own tank mate and we will be sweet I'd even bring you some feeders :spop:

Cuckoo Syno's are Tang Fish a few about, I know Hollywoods have them at a reasonable price...$85?

Hi all Wednesday, 7.00pm Waikato Commerce Club Collingwood st Hamilton Table show- no specific breed (small fish) Will be going over some club events amongst other things All welcome If you havent paid yr subs remember to sign in at the door Visitors welcome

I kept mine in a 3 footer for a while, they are smaller than yours and they were not happy fins always ragged etc Moved mine to my 5footer and they are happy as now

Yip, just don't expect too many young to survive though

As soon as my colony gets breeding again, you can have some David, Patience grasshopper :sage: The price for you is right too

BN will change colour quite dramatically, depending on mood, background aeration etc If you feed em well you can maximise growth, blanched zucchini works well, buy requires regular changing and good hygine. Adding some Decap brine shrimp eggs every two days gives a good growth boost I have found even more aeration than normal really helps keep these wee guys healthier. If you are going to consider breeding and growing out more in the future a small tank with a sponge filter sitting ready and waiting will help you through the critical first 30 days. I'd recommend a bare bottomed tank for hygine reasons. when you are growing out give the bottom a rub with a paint brush daily to loosen the sludge that will form. a 10% daily water change makes a massive difference to growth. If you are really keen and you get them as soon as they are free swimming, have the tank nice and green, encourage algae growth on the glass by runnning a warm white lamp over the tank, and only clean enough off the front so you can keep an eye on them, they will graze continually on this algae and do really well. I have done this successfully from a batch I removed on day 1 and had zero losses and great growth. Once they start breeding they wont stop and you will soon have so many you will be giving them away. Owen

Congrats folks A good solid team with respected people on board Best wishes Owen

Supergas in Te rapa will lease them, its actually pretty good value.

It was a great day, good standard. Yes pics results etc will follow and I am expecting an article to be produced. Thanks to everyone who came and those who entered A special thanks to Wok for judging again Cheers Owen

anyone is welcome, Suz We have a pretty good bunch of folks and love meeting new fisho's :love: