markvs

guppy fry, is that like white bait fritters? :happy1:

I remember hunting/killing a number of those when just a careless young boy in the sixties out at little huia on the north side of the manukau harbor. what is their range in nz? :digH:

Try local renderer. Canterbury meat products, or I think there is another one, whose name escapes me. You will have to make sure that they are aware of the end use, as they may be touchy about allowing outsiders in?

Not to worry, if you are an evolutionist, as something new will come along soon to replace it... probably

I have been thinking that a stainless steel acceptable replacement could be purchased from a good bearing dealership. 2.5mm sounds like it should be a standard size and they often cut to length these days. The advantage isthat it should be quite cheap also.

Used to be a lot in the various ponds at the domain, but I don't know legalities of sourcing them from there.

Kariotahi is fairly bereft of driftwood, as the tides keep moving thewood up or down the coast. If you are in the area, then a better bet is either of the gaps up the peninsula. Cochranes gap is probably the best, but access is over private land, so permission will have to be obtained. Hamiltons gap is larger, with road access, but not that profitable from memory I have not been there in a few years. Another option is the river mouth after a storm, as much can be washed downriver. Do Not under any circumstances go for a swim there especially from the north side as in 16 years living in the area I have only heard of 1 successful swim! :fshi:

Sounds like the sealing face of the solenoid has failed or has something under it. If you have the confidence, strip it and check. If the seal face has a crack, line or dimple on it, then the seal usually rubber has failed. You may, or may not be able to get a replacement from the solenoid's agent. Good luck...

I have no information on the culling of chickens, except to say that when ours works was next to a quarantine facility hatching imported eggs, that when they had to destroy a 'bad' batch, there was a nasty smell come from their chimney... I am not insinuating they were burnt alive, I am just saying I dont know the method of death.

As far as rapidity of death of fish put through mulcher/prehog machines, I would not be too concerned about a lingering death. I work for a company that makes "professional" mulchers (known in the trade as hoggers) and anything live fed into the machines smaller than a full grown chook would, in my estimation at the very least be unconcious after the first "strike" and gone through the machine in less than 30 seconds, that is , all gone, in small, thumb sized pieces. These machines are never, in my experience fed with live animals, of any type. There was a case (according to the lore of these machines [truth unverified] of a person accidently going through one of our machines I believe the remains were hosed out. the only thing that I have heard that will stop these machines is either steel, like 10mm plate, or a large bulls head. Have fun, and don't slip in!

I would think that you would have to check what type the litter is. Some used to be diatomaceous earth , which I would think unsuitable. Others are sort of synthetic I think, so of no nutritive value, but , as I say check what you are getting, even if you have to email the manufacturer to check for deodorants etc which may affect usefullness? :cr6:

I would have thought that would be the easiest way to sex them, you can see their bits? :digH: Mind you , you would have to be careful of the claws? :rotf: As for in a tank, well, what sort of green crawly thing did you have in mind?? hopefully not a beautiful classic machine? :nilly: Sorry, I could not resist the temptation to misread your question, and have a little fun with it. :sml1:

I am not sure if the zinc will be toxic to your fish. Remember that it is a sacrificial protector of the steel wire below, and as such will dissolve into the water reasonably easily. Possibly copper wire may be better, with the same drawbacks. I would suggest either stainless wire, or aluminium if you can access them. If necessary try a scrap dealer or a welder if you know one? I hope this is some help.

I only keep the ones that are alive, myself, the others tend to get smelly after a while.... :slfg: :digH:

I have problems with that algae too. My main solution at this time is to use an old comb for 2 reasons 1 I only have valls in tank,with guppies 2 I dont have enough hair to need it myself :slfg: I was told here that my tank does not get enough light to grow plants, but as the valls and algae grow I am hap :yaw2: py...