David R

Where's the pics, and how big is the jar?? I call first dibs on the flagtail if it all goes sour... :lol:

Bollox. I've done 20-50% water changes straight from the cold tap for over 5 years with groups of clown loaches (can you name a more whitespot-prone fish?) and only once have had a bad case of whitespot, which I think was caused by a stressed uaru. In fact the loaches will often swim on the spot head-on into the current from the hose just for fun!

I'd better go buy it now!!!! j/k, my gf would kill me......

Whats the point in unplugging the heaters? They won't be working anyway if the temp is that warm. :-?

Even with no ceramic heat lamp the temp only dropped to 21C last night!! I think I'll leave the basking light off too for a week or so, see if that will help.

I've unplugged the heat lamp now, there's always a window open in the lounge for the cat, but the fish tank is in there too so it shouldn't get too cold. I'll try that for a few days before cutting the basking light. Cheers!

I'm really just trying to talk you out of it because I nearly bought it on Sunday! :lol: I'm just not sure if its worth the risk in my tank as sometimes they can develop a taste for bichirs slime coat and rasp them instead of the wood. Although, as you say they are rare and it shouldn't be hard to find another home for...

:lol: You just keep telling yourself that, even tho 95% of aro keepers on MFK would probably disagree... Just get some tinfoil barbs. They'll grow quicker, more robust, similar look, and a whole lot cheaper if your jar gets pissed off and kills them.

No amount of extra media will stop nitrates from building up. It will help convert ammonia and nitrites into nitrates faster/better/more efficiently, but nitrates need to be removed by water changes. Altho if you're away for a month and the fish are being fed a whole lot less then there won't be as much waste produced, so it may not be a problem.

Was born march this year, so this is his first winter. Didn't "winter" him as I thought they didnt go into brumation in their first winter.

He's got a 36" UV tube, an 80W spot for the backing light, and a ceramic heat lamp. I'll post some pics tonight. The basking light is on for around 12-14 hours a day, and the heat lamp just quietly ticks away 24/7 to stop it getting too cold. The tank is 24" high, and there's a log on an angle under the basking light so he can get to within at least 12" of the light, maybe closer. I'll ask the boss nicely if I can borrow the digital scales from work to weigh him accuratly. Doesn't appear to be too thin, but not looking as bulky as I have seen him. Hasn't shed for the last 3 months either.

About 3 months ago we decided Chester (our beardy) was large enough to be put on a sandy substrate, actually the fine grey 'grit' from HFF. He loved it! He was running around digging etc, never seen him happier. Then he ran under a large flat rock, hollowed himself out a 'nest' and has stayed there ever since. We've read about brumation, although most of what we read said that they usually don't do it in their first year. We've woken him up a couple of times, and he'll come out and bask, eat a bit, but by the end of the day he's back under his rock. I haven't changed the temperature of the tank, its 20-25 at night, and 30-35 during the day, and a bit hotter in the basking spot. Any idea how long this might go on for, or what could be causing it?

Awesome pics!!

This is the process on my 4' tank with sump; -Turn off pumps and wait for water to drain. -Gravel siphon with extended hose goes out the window, drain 40-50% of water. -Add AquaPlus water conditioner to main tank. -Garden hose goes in the window and the tank is re-filled straight out of the hose. I have a 300W heater in the sumo for 'normal' operation, and a 200W set 1C lower which only kicks in when the temp drops a few degrees after a big water change, so the water warms up quickly. I've been doing this for years and never had a problem with all sorts of fish, arowanas [black and silver], uarus, loaches, eels etc.

The catfish could grow anywhere from 2cm to 2m, the species name might help.

I stand correct! No sound at work but it looks impressive!!!

Link or BS. I find it hard to believe someone actually built a 1/8th scale working rotary engine. BTW most rotary engines are twin rota's (10a, 12a, 13b etc).

Convicts have a survival instinct like no other fish, so unless the fish you're feeding them to are in a completely bare tank then there's a good chance the young cons might find a hiding place and survive.

Hah, much cheaper than doing it for real!!

For a while :lol: The jag was in a different tank by then, and there were two large uaru and 4 silver dollars with it.

Yeah, supply and demand I guess. Now if only someone would start bringing in delhezi's....

Yup thats cheap, HFF have small ones for $80 now, I paid $130 for mine about 4 months ago. BTW is 'ornatipinnis' with two n's, and with latin names the genus (Polypterus) should have a capital letter, and the species (ornatipinnis) should be all in lower case.

I bought mine around Aprin 2005, so around 2.5 years from 2" to 9".

Yep, bought it in 00, sold it in 02, had for a bit over 2 years and raised it from 6" to nearly 2'. Beautiful fish, I've only seen four small ones at hollywood for around $200 eacy (about 3-4 years ago) for sale since then, I'd give my left nut for another one... And thats the only pic I ever took of it that actually turned out!!! :evil: *smacks self in head with hammer*

IMO its a bad idea because it can raise it quite fast, and it won't be stable. If you're having trouble with the pH dropping you'd be better off using crushed coral or shells to increase the pH.