Caryl

usually 2 - 3 years (you never know how old the ones you bought in the shop are) but I have known some to be around after 4 - 5 years.

The spider plant will last quite a long time in the tank but will eventually die.

Yes but the rest of the plant is submersed. It would not survive totally out of water.

I am not sure whether any of them, apart from the betta, would particularly go for the fry. With plenty of plant cover many should survive. Good luck!

Ours always died before they reached the geriatric stage!

You are definitely sick Rob! Go buy another tank. :lol:

Hi and welcome. Glad you found us. We are a friendly bunch and happy to have you aboard. I think most of us have had guppies - and named them - at some stage :lol: . Some still do!

One 4ft tropical with a variety of rainbows plus a few odds and sods I am fish sitting. One 4ft African Malawi with Labidochromis caeruleus - yellow labs Copadichromis borleyi (known as red fins but mine have yellow fins) Stigmatochromis modestus Aulonocara jacobfreibergi Julidochromis marlieri Alright, I know that last one is a Tanganyikan but I really wanted some!

Those apistos are gorgeous fish!

I believe ours is a reliant too and has been going for a numbre of years now with no problems (fins crossed)

Good thought kuhliloach! What about it Charles? Would you like to write an article on these fish for the Aquarium World magazine? This magazine is a 40 page A5 size full colour (as of this month) quarterly put out by the FNZAS and given free to all affiliated members. It is also sent to several libraries around the country.

Goldie look at Trade and Exchange under Native Trout. All the info and pic links are there.

Animates in in Moorhouse Avenue. If you head up Columbus and turn right into Moorhouse you will see it on your left in the Mitre 10 building. The rest are all spread out in the suburbs, not in the city centre. If you can, get to Redwood Aquatics, opposite the Willowbank Wildlife Park. Organisms, which is on the corner of Clyde and something else (can't remember- Illam St I think). The Fish Tank in Stanmore Rd, Petworld, 475 Ferry Rd. and Critter Kingdom in Blenheim Rd. Water World in Blenheim Rd is interesting too. They specialise in pools and equipment and have a lot set up and planted on site. Have fun. Grant and I are attending the Dunedin Tank and Pond Crawl this weekend and are taking a couple of other club members with us. We pass through ChCh on Friday and back Sunday.

If a friend who keeps fish could not see anything wrong with your setup it may be the fish was a little sick to start with and the trip home stressed him too much. Try again and good luck.

I agree with aqua. I too do not have the space for the required tank - as lovely as it sounds. Keeping the required temperature is also beyond me as our room sits at 27 - 32C all through summer and the price of the chiller units, not the fish, is what stops me. There is no lack of interest, only means.

Also, have you got a filter or just an airstone? They are two different things but some people do not realise this.

Welcome to the fishroom Mark. Did you know there is a fish club in Dunedin? Some of our Marlborough members are heading there this weekend for their tank and pond crawl. Always good fun and a great way to see new fish and get landscaping ideas (not to mention a few fish and plants he he). I believe some Christchurch and Timaru members will also be visiting. If you (and the family) want to join in you would be most welcome. Give the Pet Warehouse a ring as I am sure one of the staff there can give you details as owner Denise is current club president and their meetings are held there. At the moment I believe the plan is to start on Saturday, 9am at 4 Nairn St. Mosgiel but that may have changed.

Husband Grant says guppies must be socks in disguise! GE at its finest :lol: If he is right, I suggest you look in the drier or washing machine.

A dried guppy is also very small and not always spotted, or identified, immediately. Have you checked IN the filter? Also, if he died soon after you saw him last, the other fish would easily dispose of the whole boy by tea time but I like Andrew's 'virtual tank' theory better. :lol: I have long suspected such a thing existed.

Hi Fiona, good luck with the project. I am sorry I can't help as I am nowhere near Auckland (and don't have a large aquarium teeming with fish). Try looking at our main page under "Clubs" and contact some club members in the Auckland area. Kim Dunnett at Pupuke Aquarium may be able to help you.

I do not take good care of my plants :oops: . I am one of those 'poke and hope' aquarists who figure it is survival of the fittest. Probably explains my algae problems too

They say it's the thought that counts Ira :lol:

Welcome to the fishroom lilspartan It is also possible your guppy is upset by the water conditions. Can you tell us a few tank readings (like pH, temperature, nitrates, ammonia etc). How long has the tank been set up? Guppies like company so a few mates might calm him down. With guppies, if you want to mix the sexes, make sure you have at least 3 females for every male. I found a dried up African cichlid on the floor today. Only a small gap in the lid but he found it!

Crypts do not like being moved, I understand, and they will die off and hopefully send out new leaves again. Mine were so big they had taken over the tank. The tank was stripped and replanted but the crypts never grew again!

Thanks all. I was very pleased with them myself! Now, how about you all submitting an article or two? It is a good feeling to see your name in print.