herefishiefishie

Thank you, I just took out the pair of N.caudopunctatus, so the other girl has plenty of room. 4 foot tank. There were eggs in the Caud's home too, :roll: when it rains.....their cave and them are in adjoining tank with pearl calvus & another caud pair. Doubt the eggs will survive but no never know, but the whites are special. Frenchy

But what can you buy a fish that has everything??? :lol: A new barnacle shell for the alto's, a couple of girls for the acei's.... :roll: Frenchy

I hate to reply to myself :lol: the other female is looking pretty plump too just threw in an extra barnacle shell for luck. :roll: Frenchy

I noticed one of my female White Calvus yesterday looking pretty plump, was 1/2 worried, 1/2 excited as hoping finally they might get their act together, rather than she might be crook. :-? This morning at feeding time, the girl wouldn't venture away from a barnacle shell, The happy couple, but I bet I am happier than them... :lol: No celebrations yet, if everything goes to plan, 6 months down the track they may be 3cm. ps;yes I know they look alittle grey, I spooked them a bit :oops: Frenchy

You could of added; looks better though as its own post. I remember my first time, so nervous, I had 2 electric blue girls holding, I got a mate to strip the first one so I could see, then I had a go at the 2nd. Once you strip a couple of times its gets easier Again well done, glad I finally posted something helpful for others :lol: Frenchy

yep there is something in the water, even here in Aussie. Go the little buggers... :roll: Frenchy

Yep there is where i first got the idea from, finished product, The Sydney forum is now a different addy, now called ACE Forum. Have alot of good DIY tips. Website, http://ace.ipbhost.com/index.php?s=7fefa2fe357cfb220899e8b27b4ec423& Frenchy

Many a time 8) Frenchy

Who me :lol: I take it Nicky the yellow female is still young? if its the yellows I am thinking of then just let her go for a couple more goes. When young they haven't got the jist of the breeding properly yet. Plus if others are picking on her :evil: add more caves to give her somewhere to hide or when you notice her holding, either (a) strip straight away & raise with sieve & air stone in seperate tank. (b) remove female to here own tank, you will know if the eggs are fertile as the gullet will get bigger over time. (days) For those that don't have spare tanks & have fish that pick at fry nets. Try making a floating fry holder, I use these if I have mulitple fry over weekly periods as 2cm fry will eat 1cm fry. use an ice cream container 4 strips of polystriene, silicone 2 pieces of fine mesh(fly screen type of stuff) craft knife. Cut a square hole into 2 opposite sides of the ice cream container. About 10cmsq Silicone mesh(should be 2 to 3cm larger than hole) to cover the holes. Silicone Poly to the top off the ice cream container, on the outside,one each side. I will put a pic up tonight of one I prepared earlier, :lol: Frenchy

Convicts... just add water. As said earlier livebearers are easy to breed. Frenchy

Hi GT, The top pic looks like it may be a Cobalt, a fat one at that. The bottom one isn't one, female lombardoi maybe. Just my opinion though. To help you out go to google, images, Metriaclima callainos. Frenchy

Thank you Mystic :oops: The good thing is as the female gets older, it gets easier, bigger mouth, she's used to the routine.....plus with stripping at 2 weeks fry are free swimming so if you are a busy person like myself :lol: fry can just go into a spare tank with less care. Just feed twice a day. I like the acei as of the Black & White reminds me of home. All I need is a Green & Gold fish for em to pic on. :lol: Frenchy

Probably could do that, have to look into it. Have to see if I can juggle my account as there are non fish photos there too. Didn't get a chance yesterday to check references, work, bday party......Brad did have a quick look, but some of the species aren't in the books, books are older the some of the species. Frenchy

The reason I use a paper clip, is because its rounded, harder to damage the mouth. I lightly press down on the bottom lip, with the female submerged in the water, I rock gently back & forth the fry flush out. I know people who just press on the gill plate, which opens the mouth. I think that way is higher risk to the fish. If females get hassled to much, when you notice her holding catch her out & place her in another tank. I know of people that strip straight away, eggs into a seive, in a seperate tank(same water as main tank) & an airstone on gently to keep the eggs moving. Get more fry this way too. Frenchy

No worries Alan I will call into Brad's work after I finish work, & have a look for you. Frenchy

Trying to take pics of fish in the 10 footer is a mission, fish don't sit still, background light.........just 2 pics to start. Firstly is a Pseudotropheus kingsizei, beautiful fish always on show. & a little A.comp in the pic too. In this pic is a Tropheus moorii "Bemba red" & an Albino Pseudotropheus socolofi, (Pindani) nb;Alan if you know anyone who wants to use my pics, feel free. Frenchy

...an Electric Yellow that is :roll: Firstly I use a fish only bowl & a paper clip. Lisa is the photographer. I like to wait 2 weeks, so the fry are free swiming, about 3 to 4 days early here, no dramas. I "usually" note down when I first notice a girl holding. Here the female is resting before I have another go at her. This girl has held only once before, as she gets older stripping in one hit will be a breeze. Frenchy

Took some more pics of my fish, Gephyrochromis acei "Ngara" White tail(Holding too) :bounce: with a Protomelas Steveni "Taiwan reef". 2 Electric yellows as well with another acei behind the Anubias. This pic contains a few Electric yellows, One is holding. Also in there is a A.calvus Lastly a Melanochromis cyaneorhabdos(Maingano) with yet another Electric Yellow. Hope ewe's like. nb; Alan if you know anyone who wants to use any of my pics, feel free. Hope they help. Frenchy

Thanks Shelly, Heat is great 8) keep an eye on tanks, don't want them over 30 degrees. All good most days tanks are aroud 26. Frenchy

Sumbus only get to about 7cm, male Gold Comps can get to about 15cm. I like alto's for the way they stalk & hunt out prey. Especially fry. The way they defend themselves by curling their bodies.... Frenchy

Thought I'd add some more pics. A group of A.compressiceps, couple of Gold heads amongst the standard ones. An A.compressiceps sumbu "shell" a dwarf compressiceps. An albino pindani Frenchy

I have used mealfix, never had any problems. I think its a good natural way of treating fish. The only fish i have seen that didn't like it is a mangrove jack,(Brads 10.5ft native tank) it breaths heavy whenever its used. Frenchy

Just popped in to see Brad. Same numbers. His #3 is 1996. I don't own any of these, I just read brad's. :lol: Yes good Aquarium books are pricey, :-? I have a few good books, which I picked up at cost price when managing lfs. Good team effort by everyone. I have had a couple of pm's from people asking about pics of fish. I don't think it would work as I'm in Aussie, what are the rules? Frenchy

Well done Caryl. Brad has the Baensch Atlas books at work,really good books. If your books are old then crabro was pseudotropheus, brownae and azureus were haplochromis. Good luck with maf. Frenchy

Just what I thought, I am going by the Aqua colour running through the bottom of the fish & face. Also the body & head shape. Some do have the orange tint on their anal fin. Usual though its only edging. The only orange I see in the dorsal fin is minor dotting, which they do have. Frenchy