Mikey

Agreed... good luck seeing any natives during the day.... I am always looking into streams and stuff when I'm out walking the dog during the day, and only ever seen the odd splash and that is about it. Go out at night, take a torch and then you will see just how much life there is in our streams.. I haven't gone out with nets yet (will be going out in next few weeks to get a Koura though), but I have gone out with a camera: http://www.fnzas.org.nz/fishroom/viewtopic.php?f=41&t=50515 Have fun!

Nice work on the productive night. Something has really had a go at its tail as you say... image shows it well! Ermmmm, I'm looking at the photos of the Kokopu... you sure that is a banded? I'm not convinced... I've just jumped onto an image search of the different types of kokopu, and to me it doesn't seem right for a banded? Perhaps it is a banded with some interesting markings? I guess we wait for Stella to arrive

Added to list of things to do next week. Cheers Stella!

Always good to get in and give the tanks a good thrashing once in a while... makes you feel so much better about things. I'm watching this thread to see how the algae on the wood reacts to your regime... I have BBA on my two pieces of wood and my method of removal at the moment is pull the wood out every so often and give it a good scrub

Mini pump bottle for the small kids :thup: Can also just chuck some maccaroni in one and bingo! a nice cheap noisy rattle. Dog loves playing with the rattle one as well. My dog rolls it around the house with his nose baby crawls around following him trying to get it... two birds one stone.

Agree with the Belkin comments above... I was having issues with modems, tried Belkin... and they are great!

Heh, I'm guessing by the photo above people pat the bunnies et al and then sanitise their hands... I'm heading on holiday next week... Taupo, Napier etc... maybe try shoot into Tauranga for a look see as well

:facepalm: I'm sorry to hear someone munched down the eggs. Ah Well, to quote the current chip advert... Tummy's the boss.

I love it when Stella gets going.... I think we all learn so much. So it is only certain types of bullies that can produce landlocked populations? Or can they all do it under the right conditions? Cheers Stella!

I'm pretty sure they will be fine... some species of bullies can create landlocked populations in lakes etc. Will be interesting to see what happens. :smln:

Awesome! I love the set up... the ferns and grasses look great. The mussels are doing well it seems? I love the way the cray eyes go pink/orange under the night camera conditions Thanks a lot for sharing that. :nfs:

Bullies spawning, Koura in berry, must be spring or something! I'd be interested to see the younglings clinging to mum, apparently they are just like the adults, just in minature (reference Stella's book :cofn: ) Looking forward to the photos of the pond and occupants :thup:

Credit, where credit is due, it is a great book you have done there Stella. Thank you for taking the time to write and publish it. PS: I will be starting a thread this week with my Koura tank build :happy1:

Congratulations... Look forward to seeing how this pans out Good luck!

:nfs: I love the patterning on the Banded Kokopu, and your photo really shows it nicely. Thanks for sharing!

NCIS Fast Zombie or Slow Zombie

I took my daughter to the zoo yesterday... her first time. She really enjoyed it, as did I I took particular notice of the native area, and agree with comments above regarding the set up, they have put some work into this area and made a really good go of it. The aviaries are awesome and the good old birds get right up in your face... which my daughter loved! I really like Auckland Zoo and how they try to make the enclosures as good for the animals as possible, there are spots in the native area where you feel like you could be anywhere else in the country, rather than in the middle of Auckland. They have constructed "old DOC huts" with props as the entrance to each area as well, which really adds to the whole theme. Just outside the new kiwi area there is a pond with a perspex side, this was for the eels... didn't see any yesterday though, they must have been hiding In terms of native aquariums, there is three in the new kiwi house, the aquariums are well set up and look good, they have done a great job overall. ***The following images aren't the greatest do to it being rather dark in the kiwi house and no flashes allowed*** Big tank holding a giant kokopu, he is on the right hand side.... hiding in the dark spot near the top right: Smaller tank housing mudfish (I recognised the photo on the info plaque from Stella's Book, and they have got Stella's name on the pic ) : Mid size community tank: The mid size has had me thinking a lot since I saw it... it is a pretty decent sized tank, however it has A LOT of stock which are all only juvenile at the moment. A list of what I saw in the tank. Torrent fish Inanga Mid size crays Koaro Multiple species and numbers of Bullies (I identified at least Crans, Common, Redfin) Banded kokopu So yeah, my thoughts are that this is a pretty high stock level for any tank, let alone a native tank and there is going to be issues with this tank with compatibility as the occupants grow older, bigger and more mature. I came home and checked my IDs using Stella's book, and I was right on the money. Is anyone here helping out Auckland Zoo with the tanks? Don't get me wrong, they have done an awesome job highlighting the native fish of new zealand, which is fantastic! It was AWESOME seeing all the species I have been researching in action, and it gave me even more idea on what native tanks I will be setting up in the next few months, I just hope Auckland Zoo has got knowledge/plans on what they are doing with these occupants as they grow up Cheers. PS: An Image for our Reptile loving friends on this forum... this is one of the only lizards I saw yesterday... it is a Gecko, I just need to remember what type and I'll let you know.

Ah well, Adds a bit of comic relief to the thread haha.

Looks awesome. Will definatley put it on my list of things to go and see next time I head to tauranga to visit the relatives Is the Meth Lab a breed you have created specifically fopr Natures Place? :slfg:

Floaties in your drink..... probably yours anyway Witches or Wizards?

Just sat down and read the blog... That is very cool... you don't quite get a sense of scale until you see that last photo of your cleaning volunteer :slfg: Thanks for sharing! PS: What were you planning on putting in there?

I'll definatley go along. I have just been waiting for the weather to settle and for the initial opening to be out of the way first Hmmmm, perhaps I'll go visit this weekend?

Sorry to hear that :an!gry I'm glad you can see the silver lining! I'm sure the dog and the fish shed appreciate having an extra day's attention. A "got you" story... When I was a younger chap, some one tried breaking through my bedroom window, while I was sleeping. Step dad had a baseball bat under his bed... he came in and smashed the hand of the would be thief as it came through the window to have another go at window lock that was on the window. Then my step dad proceeded to run outside to chase the guy down.... unfortunatley we lived next to a big bush area, so he got away. Never had a problem after that. So occasionally they get their comeuppance.

Fast running ones aren't real.... they are make believe ones :rotf: PS: There is a fun book called the Zombie Survival Guide. Author is Max Brooks (son of Mel Brooks of space balls etc fame)

Planting seeds. e-bay or trade me?