David R

Note that Wok said they're young. Once they hit puberty at around 6-7" things can get nasty. Male jags can top out at over 40cm, so will need a large tank to house them. A friend had a 10" male texas cichlid in a nearly-300L tank (~4'x20"x18") and it thought the entire tank was his territory. I would also suggest just keeping one male convict, otherwise if they start breeding (more when than if...) there will most likely be trouble.

300L sounds about right for the texas cichlid. Where are you going to put the others?

I use both, the ceramic heat emitters are good for keeping the tank warm, and the spotlights for providing a warmer basking spot. Why on earth did they make someone from the greens the minister of energy conservation, all they'll do is whinge and grizzle and say 'don't dam that river', 'don't burn that coal', 'don't put turbines on that hill as it is visual pollution for the 3 residents that live 20km across the valley' and never offer any realistic solutions. Electricity has to come from somewhere!

Big plastic troughs from farming places can be cheap substitutes for large tanks. I'm not sure if you've ever kept big fish before, but a 4'x2'x2' isn't big enough for the fish you've listed. Get rid of the female convict now before you have more babies than you know what to do with. If either the oscars or the jags pair up and decide to breed it will be game over for what ever else is in the tank, so you should be prepared to separate them. Male jags can get to over 40cm, and will eventually need something bigger than 4'x2'x2'. They're also more aggressive than the average oscar, so you'll need to watch them and be prepared to remove one or the other if they don't get on later on.

...for a ????

Go have a look at Bunnings for a tap that can clip onto the end of your hose. Problem solved for under $5. I only had to do it once before going to the trouble of getting a tap....

I've been thinking about where I can put an outdoor cage, and I think I've got a spot where I can put it where only one neighbour would be able to see it, so I don't think it will attract too many lowlifes. Got some photos of your cage yet Hans??

How much UV do gecko's need? he cage will be taller that it is wide (probably 90cm high, and 60cm square), so I won't be able to fit a very big tube in...

People. I know they do best outside, but I'm kinda worried that a couple of cages of lizards outside (thinking of putting the beardy out too) will just give the lowlifes a good reason to jump the fence...

Yeah I've seen that. I'm thinking about keeping them inside, even though our back yard is fenced and fairly secluded I can imagine they'd go missing fairly easily...

Haha that was another one, putting the tramp next to the pool!! We found it was best to dry off a bit in between jumps or the tramp got too wet and slippery...

I'm also planning on getting a permit, does anyone have any plans or suggestions for cages?

So thats why there's a * after your name! Let me guess, your parents spelled it "Luek" and you corrected them...

Yes, despite not having a "safe" tramp, and spending countless hours jumping out of the big old puriri tree onto it, and soaping it up with a block of sunlight soap until its so slippery you can't stand up on it, and pretending to be stunt men jumping off it and landing on the ground sideways while trying not to flinch! :lol: I guess they don't make them like they used to... [kids that is!]

If the tank is big enough they could live together. Just remember a male jag can get to 40cm+ and would probably want a 1200x600x600 tank just for himself at that size. A female jag, an oscar and a male convict would probably be alright in that tank if it was well filtered.

Does the UV steriliser have its own pump, or does it just work on the return of the filter?

Cool!! I kinda regret not buying the red heads jansens had...

Don't get one with the net surround! Half the fun of the trampoline was having competitions who could jump off the highest and to the best commando rolls when landing on the ground! :lol:

Jansens had them a few months ago. I just checked the list and juripari and steindachneri aren't on there. Hopefully someone is breeding them!!

I've seen balzani (technically gymnogeophagus), surinamensis, brasiliensis, jurapari, and steindachneri. There's a heap of other cool ones we don't get tho

cories, pencilfish, headstanders, apistos, uaru??

LOL!! Girls next time your man says "yes dear" ask him what you said, I bet he won't be able to tell you. "yes dear" is an automatic response that guys don't even realise they're saying, its like a polite way of saying "I'm not listing to you and I don't care right now because what I'm doing is more interesting. come back later"... :lol:

Its strange how things like the pikes and red terrors (festae) are on the list but you almost never see them. I've never heard of a festae in NZ, and I've only see pikes for sale once, with a big tank in Napier.

I've got a bag of red sand you can have for $20 if you want it, I was going to use it in my big tank but can't be bothered washing it!! :lol:

THE LIST No Pbass, but pike cichlids are on the list (one species anyway, not that anyone inspecting them would have the slightest clue on how to ID them...)