David R

Is it inside or outside? The skinny weak growth sounds like etiolation. http://cacti.co.nz/cultivation.html

Here's some inspiration in the monster tank department... http://www.monsterfishkeepers.com/forum ... hp?t=48640 http://www.monsterfishkeepers.com/forum ... p?t=209294 Been featured on Animal Planet even! http://www.monsterfishkeepers.com/forum ... p?t=207955

Is this actually a planned project, or a "design your dream tank as if you'd won lotto"? If not the latter, what is the tank made of?!

I win. That was inside a greenhouse though, and a few days ago :lol:

I've spoken to Dave, the owner of HFF, about it (thats where I got my black from years ago) and basically if the importers can't get it then you're out of luck. And speaking to the importer who brought in my green asian aro (he still has some btw) he said he hasn't seen them on his suppliers lists for a long time. So, if you're really keen you need to find someone overseas who has some (Try Infinite Aquatics in the US, I think it was them, they're one of the vendors on monsterfishkeepers.com) find out a price and if they'd be willing to ship internationally. Then you need to find someone with a quarantine room who is willing to do it for you (Steve at Aquarius would be the first one I'd try). To get some economy of scale I'd say you would want to import at least 10 black aros, and probably some other fish to sell on depending on what they have available that is allowed in, the importer may or may not be interested in doing this so they can make some money. So, basically you need to have a big wad of cash to pay up front (once you've found the fish) and be prepared to part with a large chunk of it, as I suspect that they could be between $500-1000 each by the time you pay all the associated costs, and depending on what else you bring in to sell to offset costs, and if there are any losses in transit. If you're bringing in 10 fish that cost $150US if two don't make it the price goes up to nearly $190US (but a lot of the associated costs will stay the same). Like I said, good luck! BTW I am keen for 1-3+, depending on price, but would need to know well in advance so preparations can be made. Keep me posted if you decide to go ahead with anything.

The pima one is cool too, it eats a flagtail prochilodus!! http://nz.youtube.com/watch?v=1Qutu5BHE ... re=channel

Its cool eh. I remember watching the whole doco in 7th forum Geography when I was just getting into fish keeping, then the LFS got a black aro in, I think I went down there nearly every day after school to watch it! I'd love to find a copy of the whole thing on video/dvd.

Crushed shell or coral in the tank will do it, but depending on your water change regime and the buffering capacity of the water you may need to fill up a big drum with water before you do the water change to harden the water up to avoid it swinging around too much.

It did have a high piece of glass at the front, but there was a rocky kinda landscape behind it, there's a chance it could have jumped out and gone over the glass or got stuck up on the rocks somewhere. You can see just how good they are at jumping in that video I posted!

Wonder what happened to it, the tank wasn't covered so I hope it didn't jump...

Good attitude, you've got to be in it for the love not the money. Perhaps we/you could organise an open day for FNZAS once its all up and running, I'm sure I'm not the only one who would be interested to see it in person.

Australia would be about the most expensive place to get them from. Either asia or the US would be your best option. Put me down for three of them if you can get some. Good luck! Thats the only pic I have of my black (pre digital camera days). The napier aquarium had a large one (labeled as a silver too) when I was there about 12 months ago.

I agree, if you're going to have a car that doesnt have independent rear suspension it should be old and rwd... :lol: Just winding you up Paul, I know they're fun little cars, I know a few people who have had them, I just rate handling over straight line speed...

Well done, and big ups for making such a big investment at a time when the economy isn't looking too hot. Fingers crossed you can get a decent return on it, but I guess there's more to it than that...

Best idea if its got didymo, don't put it anywhere near a waterway of any sort.

:oops: yeah I'm done. And to answer the OP's question (just to show I'm not solely a troublemaker), I would say it would be safe to use if thoroughly washed. Depending on the quantity you could pour boiling water through it just to be on the safe side.

More illegal goings on I'm surprised this thread is still here! Good heavens, don't tell me The Guidelines aren't being followed to the letter....

http://nz.youtube.com/watch?v=B3hUJZ9vj ... annel_page There are a few other interesting ones in the Related Features, I love seeing footage of fish in habitat.

Isn't it illegal to take sand from beaches and rivers, making this thread a breach of the guidelines?

Its fun to watch tho, my old dat used to love crickets. I've got some coming next week, might have to try the aro on one...

Fed any to your aro yet?

Litres are only part of it, IMO 4'x18"x18" is the minimum for any cichlid that gets to a foot long.

I was having a hard time getting an idea of the size until I saw the shot with you in it!!

What is the girl saying Roger, is she going to stand up in court and testify that he hit her? (and not the other way around)

Welcome to New Zealand, where criminals rights are more protected than the victims, where universities offer "womans studies" but not mens, where "life" means out in 7 years for good behaviour, where the biggest "minority" is the average middle class working man, where police officers are treated as criminals for trying to do their jobs, where our parliament has apartheid-like separate seats for indigenous people, where the police have to wear stab-proof vests but can't carry weapons to protect themselves, where political correctness has gone one step too far and is dragging a once hard working and great country down into the third world.