David R

what about the guy who built the stand for your 6x3x2?

Probably because they're actually P. scalare, not P. altum.

One of the shops in Singapore had them, even in the bare display tank they were beautiful, I can imagine they would be stunning once settled in to a proper set up.

Not sure what I'll do with the fry, if I'll keep some/any, depends what I do with the bit male. I'm keen to spread them around the country to hopefully get more pairs established (would highly recommend a divided tank!) and make sure they don't disappear. I don't have the space/time/desire for another pair, will pass the baton on to someone else...

Captive bred will be much hardier than wilds, most likely. They're on the list too... I've also seen altum X scalare (a nice altum-looking form of) which, although not pure altum, gave nearly the same look while being much more robust and tolerant. I'd be happy to get my mits on either...

Thursday night my male festae snapped and beat the female to within an inch of her life. Most likely he was trying to protect their fry from her (even though she wasn't harming them). This wasn't the first time I'd left the fry with them, but it was their biggest spawn and there was about 2-300 of them. I put her in a separate tank but she slowly went down hill and I made the call to put her out of her misery this morning. Now I have to try to figure out what to do with a 10" male festae that seems intolerant of anything else...

Its probably a good thing I don't live there, with that kind of stock list to choose from I'd never be able to control this addiction... :facepalm: Rapps sure has had some nice fish over the years, and is often one of the first [if not the first] with new cichlids from the Americas. Rheobath Aquatics is another one who's stock list I often look at and dream, he'd be the best source for wild caught bichirs in the US. Polypterus ansorgii, 10-12, 13-15", In Stock. Polypterus bichir bichir, 18-20", In Stock. http://www.rehobothaquatics.com/West%20African%20stock.htm

Agreed with Fraser, a 400L tank (depending on the dimensions) would be a good home for a long time, but even that might not do for life. I've found some fire eels will get huge quickly, my old one which I bought at 40cm was only a couple of years old and growing quickly still, others seem to slow down once they get to a bit over a foot. Who knows why. Brine shrimp probably isn't the best, try shrimp/prawn, fish fillets (raw) or maybe even beef heart (not ideal but cheaper than bloodworms).

If its inside the house then the heater will only be a small part of the cost. If you're already running a cold water tank with all the filters and lights then adding the heater won't cost much more at all (depending on the tank size, obviously).

Temp isn't really a concern unless its the middle of winter and outside for a long period, just put the bag in an insulated chiller bag or poly box and it should be fine for the drive.

Thanks Phil, I had thought about that, and if I had the space I'd certainly be keen to get a pair and breed my own group as I'm after a large number of them, but alas, no spare tanks for raising the fry and no spare space for the breeding pair. And no spare space for more tanks before you offer me some of them too! :lol:

If you get it off bloodworms and onto frozen shrimp from the asian supermarket it will be a lot cheaper to feed. Yes they can get massive, but are also fairly flexible so keeping a 16" eel in a 250L tank is nothing like keeping a cichlid or barb of the same size in the same size tank. Big fire eels usually get snapped up fairly quickly, so I'd say rescue it, fatten it up and if/when it gets too big for your tank or you find its costing too much to feed then move it on. Normally I wouldn't encourage that kinda thing [buying a fish with out the ability or intention to house it for life] but in this case it sounds like the best option.

Yeah Phils were nice, I had 7 of them but decided to sell them instead of putting them in my 1400L when I got the young uaru.

The XB?? Awesome!!!! :sml1: HA you're telling me!! Whats worse is "MTS" must be some sort of 'graffiti crew' around Auckland, because I see it spraypainted on buildings and bridges all around the Auckland rail corridor, so while at work I'm constantly reminded of my addiction...

^ right on the money. They aren't true altums, but a long finned form of P scalare from peru.

I'd be concerned about having a heavy weight in the centre of a stand like that, you might not be able to open the draws in a few months...

Really only after the preu altums (about as close as we get to the real deal). I think I recall seeing them on TM, and it wasn't Phil. Anyone know who it was?

Just wondering if anyone out there is breeding them? Not sure if Phil still is, does anyone else have them?

NOOOOO!!!!! big tank is staying as-is. 6' is going to get the devils plus what ever you give me. 5' will house the festae pair for a while, bichirs in the 4', festae fry in the 3'. Sorted. For a few months at least. Eventually I'll try the festae pair in the 6' with the devils (probably when I thin them out and palm half of them off to you!) and move the bichirs into the 5'. Got a few ideas about what to keep them with.... :facepalm: :thup:

Yeah agreed. In this case I just think he was doing it to highlight what a difference the lighting can make and why some of the photos look so red.

LOL! Great sig Al.... :sml1:

Here's a good example of the difference lighting makes; http://www.monsterfishkeepers.com/forums/showthread.php?424735-Suuuuuuuuuuuper-Reeeeeeeeeeeed Check out the pic on page one compared to page two...

Dunno, just don't like the albinos, ugly fat pink sausages! If they had black eyes it would be ok, I think its just the pink eye that gets me. Josh, will think about it, I still have a 2' (and a 5'!) to set up, so once thats sorted I should be right. I will need a hand lifting tanks though, either of you two free one weekend soon to give me a hand for half a day?

They're in the 3' that I was goung to use for growing out festae fry. :facepalm: Have to have a bit of a sort out and rearrange soon. No ornates Henward, just sticking with the smaller species for now, hopefully get them looking like your dels...

Yeah you can't beat the wild caught ones eh. I'd still like a couple more though, I didn't make it to AquaWorld while I was over that side of town, wonder if they have any...