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In case I'm the only one that got my joke, this particular chocolate cichlid came wrapped in metal foil and filled with raspberry marshmallow stuff.

It didn't even put up a fight, just sunk to the bottom and got eaten. I didn't realize that chocolate cichlids were so passive. :lol: :lol: :lol:

I don't know about the bristlenoses, but my cichlids seem to like chicken. I just take a little chunk whenever I have some and tear it into small enough pieces for them, so if you've got something bigger than tetras in there you could try that. I suppose even tetras might like chicken but it might be a bit tedious to make it small enough for them. Lettuce would be good for the bristlenoses, I thought, never heard anything about it being bad for them, always heard it was good.

Going by the quotes, it seems like they're mostly a bunch of rednecks. I think I'd have used a goldfish as bait. Put a hook through it, let it swim around pulling the line behind it...

Taken from another MB, sounds like July 2nd, a fisherman and his son caught a 2' snakehead in a pond in Crofton, MD in the US. By Alec MacGillis Sun Staff Originally published July 7, 2002 They came yesterday to the weed-choked pond behind the shopping plaza like vigilantes seeking a fugitive, or farmers hunting a marauding wolf - fishermen armed with rods and bait, in pursuit of the dreaded snakehead. But after hours of waiting by dozens of anglers, the stakeout at the Crofton pond appeared to be in vain. Not only weren't the snakeheads biting, there were few sightings of any fish - maybe, fishermen speculated, because the snakeheads had eaten them all. "There must be some real fat snakeheads in there - pretty soon, they're going to be eating people," joked Brian Gaines of Odenton, who arrived at the pond at 7:30 a.m. with his brother-in-law and two nephews. It has been three weeks since state biologists made the discovery that a small pond just off Route 3 held an 18-inch northern snakehead fish, a sharp-toothed, torpedo-shaped native of China that devours local fish, can survive up to three days outside water, grows up to three feet and uses its fins to walk short distances on land. Biologists are unsure how the species, which is sold in Asian specialty groceries, got into the pond. Officials' determination to catch the fish - and thereby prevent the species from spreading into the nearby Patuxent River - was heightened last week when a Crofton man caught a 26-inch snakehead in the 9-acre pond, raising the likelihood that multiple snakeheads were present. But state biologists decided to take the holiday weekend off and let local anglers pursue the fish before officials return this week and renew their efforts, which have included electro-shocking the pond and setting traps with cat food. So yesterday it was the amateurs who took over the hunt, glory-seekers drawn from across the state by the story of a killer fish that has made it onto the CBS Evening News and Live with Regis and Kelly. "It would be pretty tight to say you caught the snakehead," said Steve Diaz, 15, of Pasadena. Richard Wohkittel, a Baltimore police officer, made the trip from Harford County with sons Richard Jr., 9, and Brett, 6, each of whom was holding a small, worm-baited rod. "When I heard about it, I said, 'This sounds crazy. I got to bring down the kids and take a shot at it,'" Wohkittel said. A range of strategies By late morning, a half-dozen groups of fishermen were arrayed around the pond, tucked away under the overhanging branches like snipers. Their strategies varied; baits included minnow, roast beef and regular old earthworms. Michael Payne, 16, who heard about the snakehead while on vacation in Ocean City, was convinced that if he stood quietly at the pond's edge before casting his line, he would be able to see the fish jumping for bugs and then aim his line at that spot. Payne, of Gambrills, also had a theory about the fish's origins: "I was thinking that sushi bar down the road might have something to do with it." Bob Bock, of Silver Spring, took a more scientific approach to the hunt. Bock, a member of the North American Native Fishes Association, arrived with a seine, a net-like contraption used to skim small fish from the water. Wearing hip boots, he made his way around the murky, cigarette butt-filled edges of the pond to make sure no newly spawned snakeheads were there. By day's end, he was relieved to report he had found none. Md.'s Most Wanted State officials had been planning to post Most Wanted signs on trees around the pond alerting anglers not to release snakeheads. No signs were visible yesterday, but the fishermen said there was no reason to worry about their throwing the killer fish back into the water. "This thing walks on land and has teeth sharper than a pi- ranha. It doesn't belong here," said Joe Smith, 18, of Glen Burnie. "If I get that [fish], I'm going to stab the heck out of it and kill it." Some anglers were motivated more by profit hunger than bloodlust. Teen-agers Vince Gray, Steve Rutland and Matt Voltz, all from nearby towns, said they would keep the snakehead alive and sell it on eBay if they caught it. "It's from China, and Crofton is the only place in America where you can [catch] it," said Gray, 16. "We'll start the bids at $500." But what if state Department of National Resources officials demand the fish? "Then we'll sell it to them," said Voltz, 15. "They can bid on it like everyone else." ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Apparently a guy is claiming responsibility saying he released them into the pond two years ago because they were too big for his tanks. The statute of limitations is 2 years so he can't be charged for it.

Ok, thanks, Caryl. There we go. I just went and planted what was floating in my big tank. I think my severum was thinking, "WTF are you doing? It's too late to be stuffing around with the plants in here!"

Nah, it's not duckweed. It's bigger stuff, doesn't look anything like duckweed. The lilypad like leaves are about 1inch-2inches across and they're attached by a small stem to a main trunk. Looks like cardamine might be right. Can't find any good pictures, but the horrible ones I've found look about right. Hmmm, from the pictures it looks like it's supposed to be planted, I thought I heard that it was supposed to float. No big deal. It was $1 for the floaty stuff, quite a big bag of it actually, and $1 for the cabomba. I also got 2 geophagus surinamensis and a pictus from Fee today. I'm kinda worried about one. I've got them floating in nets for a few days to let them adjust to the water without getting picked on by the other fish, and he's just sitting on the bottom of the net. He did eat some bloodworms earlier, so hopefully he'll come right. The other seems happy though.

And joined up. I also bought some Cabomba and some floaty...Ummm...Stuff, looks like little lily pads. All cost me $2, who cares if the fish eat it.

Definitely hideous little things. I guess they'd be really attractive to women though. "Awwww, it's so CUUTE!" While us guys are looking for a tank with a big oscar in it and a net to transfer them with.

I didn't watch him for too long, he just hid behind a rock most of the time I was watching him. Hmmm, I'm seriously tempted to call them. But as it is my tank will be a bit overcrowded once I get the 3 new fish I'm planning on getting. And I can't get a bigger tank because I don't have any room at all for a bigger one.

Hmmm...Tawa...Fins and Fangs or something like that? Pretty nice place, but they've got the worst location of anything in the wellington area. I haven't been there in somewhere around a year because it's just impossible to get a parking spot within a reasonable distance most of the time. They're the ones with that ENORMOUS tank sitting in the middle of their fish area aren't they? I'd love a tank like that, hehehehe. Speaking of Animates, was in there today, they've got a little jack dempsey in one of their display tanks. I've never seen one in person before, I never realised they looked so much like a type Geophagus. I'd be willing to pay $50 for an Uaru, definitely. I'm going to be paying Fee $40 for a pictus(Well, Wifey is paying), an Uaru would easily be worth $10 more than that. I've wanted one for ages, but have never even seen the vaguest mention of them and thought they'd be one of the many fish I want that aren't available here, like shelldwellers.

You can get Uaru here? Where? how much? I want one!

Human worming pills probably use Drontal, or at least a closely related drug. Just a more refined or at least tested equivalent. I've had human worming pills before, I think the dog ones might be preferable, at least they get beef or chicken flavored ones. I bet most or at least a good portion of drugs used for humans would be effective and get a similar result with fish. But, it might not be easy getting your doctor to give you a prescription for ritalin for your hyperactive Pictus.

Yes, I'm sure that it didn't kill my fish. Not unless it took about 4 months after I stopped giving them the big doses to kill the OFFSPRING of the original fish. ****, I'm not arguing with you anymore. (Obscenity) Edited by Moderator.

Actually, I'm totally serious about that and I've heard it in several different places. The active ingredient in dog and cat worming tablets is the same as in medicines to treat fish with worms. I'm not sure what the dosages would be or how exactly to use it. I'd assume something like take half a small tablet per 25 gallons or something, dissolve it in water then pour it in the tank. It doesn't matter what animals they're intended to be given to, it's to treat the same thing. It's an active ingredient mixed with basically a non-toxic filler. I'm not going to spend $30 in petrol and hours searching around to find $20 package labeled "For fish" when I can get the exact same thing a 5 minute drive away for $5. All what stuff? All I add is fish food and a little squirt of a fertilizer mix(Trace elements, magnesium sulphate and chelated iron), and the fertilizer mix is NOT what was causing any of my problems. Otherwise it would have shown up maybe 6 months ago. NOT when all the plants started to rot and the tank crashed. It especially would have shown up when I was dosing the tank with at least 10 times daily what I give them now to test and make sure it wouldn't hurt the fish. Over a period of 2 months, no guppies died. Whether you think it's safe, I don't care. I'm going to use it because I think the plants could probably use a little dose of trace elements and I'm convinced that it's safe for the fish. I also haven't had any problems in either of the other TWO tanks I've been using it in for the last 3-4 months. The only things that have happened in those two tanks were a rummy nose dying and the electric blue getting some fluff because I was an idiot and didn't put a rock back right when adjusting the java fern on it and it shifted and landed on her.

Alright, I'll try that. Let you know what happens.

If I knew if it was poo, I wouldn't be asking for help. hehehe. But, it was about 2 inches long. I'd say a long slimey thread would be a better description. I know they sometimes have long white poops if they've got an unhappy gut, but I've never seen them be transparent. It did break off when I was transferring her to the hospital tank. I don't know how tough a worm body would be if it was a worm, though.

I know Pegasus, you're going to say, "I told you so!" But, my female bristlenose has a thin, translucent string coming out of her...Well, poop chute...I thought at first it was just a funny colored poop, but it SEEMS to maybe be wiggling, but I can't say for sure if it is or not. It might just be the currents. But I now have her in my little hospital tank and I've put the Blue back where she was(She looks totally recovered by the way). Now, if it IS some kind of worm, how would I treat that? How do I confirm it? Would putting a fragment of something like a dog and cat worming tablet in the tank work?

Seems like anything with the name of a fruit or berry in their name is dyed.

And if it's horizontal and near the bottom it won't come out of the water when you do a water change...Or I should say, if it would come out of the water otherwise. I just like to put mine horizontal along the bottom if possible, better circulation, etc. Depends mostly on where it's convenient, though. I doubt the difference in performance is anything that's going to matter.

Since this forum is a bit dead I'll post something here. Since one of my tanks crashed I'm considering things to do with it, one is possibly make it a saltwater tank. I'm thinking maybe just something simple to start off with. It's a 30 gallon tank with a fluval 404, 300 watt heater and 30 watts of lighting. I assume that the fluval would be fine for a saltwater tank? What would you suggest I put in it for a beginner? Probable Prices? I'm in the Wellington area and only know of 1 place that sells saltwater fish nearby. I know I'd need some live rock and if I want corals I'm going to have to up the light a lot. If I do eventually turn it into it'll be a while before I talk myself into spending the money.

I think it's actually my fault. The rock is normally pretty solid, it's a wide flat rock with one end resting on another wide flat rock and the other end is normally on the bottom through the sand. But I was trying to reattach some of the Java fern a few days ago and probably didn't put it back right.

Nowhere near 5 watts per liter, you'd be almost boiling the water off with that much light. 5 watts per liter would be about 500 watts above that tank. More like 5 watts per gallon, that would be heaps of light. On a different thread you were saying .6 watts per liter is good. I know I'm low at at about .3 watts per liter. But if you want to donate to the "Get Ira more lights" fund, I'm happy to take donations. Currently about $150 dollars for an extra .3 watts/liter. The plants in there seem to grow fine with the light they've got as long as they don't get too crowded.

Looks like maybe I was wrong, Caryl. When I was changing the water today I noticed that one of the rocks that the blue likes to hide under had shifted and was laying flat on the sand instead of propped up with a place to hide under it. Might have shifted and fell on her and she would have scraped up both her sides getting out.

Yeah, I had lighting on the tank itself. Two 15 watt tubes. They were on about 12 hours a day. To describe how the plants were, imagine a 9" ball floating near the surface of the tank with about a dozen stems running down to pots on the bottom. The mass was dense enough that even after trimming the big chunk off it, when I took them all out and tossed them in a bucket so they were compacted they about half filled it. Anyway, it was dense enough I couldn't see that the center was all rotted without parting the leaves. And pegasus, I've switched the female bristlenose to a bag now. Partly to keep any diseases from spreading to the tank she's in(Which I don't think there is) and because she was getting her spines caught in the net.