Pegasus

Hi PR.. The size of the rearing tank can make a bit of difference for some fry. Often a smaller tank is better in some cases, as the fry don't have to hunt for food.. but it is in front of them at all times during feeding periods. An example would be that Betta fry would fare better in a 300x300x300 (or a couple if a larger spawn).. tank/s rather than a 600x300x300. Larger tanks mean that the fry are expending great amounts of energy in their quest for food... plus bare bottom tanks let them get the food much easier. Also heavy filtration outlets can make the fry expend a lot of energy.. which is the main reason I use sponge filters in my fry tanks. It's been a fair few years since I bred the Bettas.. but one thing we always did was to lower the water level "very slowly" once the eggs were seen in the nest.. and this level was maintained for several weeks so that the fry didn't have to fight constantly to reach the surface... which again saved their energy. Bill.

Fish also derive a certain vitamin from light.. (can't rem which.. A I think).. but fish in subdued lighting will not feed at the same rate as ones in normal lighting.. so I would imagine their growth would also be affected. Normal daylight might be fine.. but the feeding hours would be greatly reduced for fry. Bill.

This is one of the posts we all dread reading Mitch.. So sorry for your losses, and hope your post will warn others of the devastation that a few simple items can cause. Bill.

Sounds like you are going to have lots of fun with eight tanks You came to the right place to help you along the way.. welcome to the Fishroom. Bill.

Welcome guys Pity you stayed "undercover" for so long... look at all the fun you missed Bill.

Hi Alanmin.. You say: Not much has changed... except things have got lot dearer.. and more complicated.. but the basics are still the same.. and fortunately most of the fish are still around The "great" thing is that we have the net now, and this very active site to catch up with all those lost years. Enjoy your visits. Bill.

Hi there mrshanepaul Good to see you settling in and hope you enjoy your visits. Would be good if you put your location up on your profile so that we know whare you are from Bill.

Hi Shane... welcome to the NZ Fishroom. Posting pics... http://www.fnzas.org.nz/fishroom/postin ... t2406.html Hope you enjoy your visits Bill.

If you do a search on TM using "Blue Leds".. there's heaps of stuff there that you might be able to use Bill.

Hi Marty, Take heart that you are not alone with all this, and that it happens to many that start off in this amazing hobby.. plus you can always get help here. Although you are keeping the cats.. once your tank settles down.. you would be better getting the couple of guppies mentioned.. as these are more active fish, and will give you early warning signs if anything is going amiss.... but this is up to you. Herefishy said: Not "exactly" true unfortunately.. as there are several types of so called bacteria bloom. Often when a tank is first set up we get a cloudiness until the water settles and things level off.. but this only normally lasts a day or so.. and yes.. this is pretty harmless... but then there is the other type caused through pollution or bad water conditions.. overstocking.. bad filtration and so on... and "this" type can kill within hours in some cases... as you have found out unfortunately... so "knowing" which type is affecting your tank is the first step to erradicating it. Sorry for your losses, and hope things come right. Stick with it Marty.. and in a few months or so you will look back and think of all this as just one of the huge steps you had to take to get things right. Bill.

Hi WTM, Bit hard to tell the "exact moment".. but the darker the gravid spot.. the closer she is to dropping. Breeding traps can be very stressful for some fish... and even reduce birth numbers, and the more natural way of having lots of fine leaved plants in your tank would be a better option... depending on the other fish you might have in the tank.. which you don't mention. If you do a search in the Livebearer section, there's bound to be a few pics there.. and I seem to remember one or two of them actually dropping the fry. She might not drop the full lot all at once BTW.. and could drop them over several days depending on conditions and how she feels Take care now . Bill.

Hi Lynn.. and welcome Sounds like you have the same addiction that we have... but don't worry... there doesn't seem to be a cure... and it can only get worse in most cases... :) Real good bunch of others here with the same fish... so you came to the right place. Hope you enjoy your visits. Bill.

Marty said: Ok... Let's try to work this out... You went out and bought a 40ltr tank.. filled it with water... added the additives.. then the fish... Is this right...? How long did you leave the tank set up "before" adding the fish...? Hours... A day.. A few days.. A week..? It could be possible that the BN (and the water it was in).. has brought something into your tank.. but it is more than likely that the conditions your fish were living in were not ideal for the addition of so many fish so quickly. 40ltrs is not a lot of water.. but hey... I have some of my two footers with over a hundred guppies in them.. but... and it it a BIG but... the tanks they are in are "established".. with a regulated balance of water... fish... and filtration.. which means that any nasty old bacteria that comes along is quickly dealt with and not allowed to increase to high levels. Now in "your" case.. you have a body of water that has no defences.. because your filtration system has not had time to grow enough of the good bacteria that it needs to keep the tank from exploding with bad bacteria... which it appears has happened with your tank. The "Bacteria explosion" occurs when toxic waste is produced through fish watses and uneaten food and plant matter.. so all tis is creating a bacteria that the filters can't cope with... and so it just grows and grows.. until your fish start dropping like flies. This is the main solution... Water changes on a regular basis. Your filters MUST be left running 24/7... and your feeding should be balanced to what the fish can FULLY consume in five minutes. Find a friend with a gungy old established filter. Then go to the local supermarket or LFS and buy a small cheap corner box filter. Get some of the media from your friends filter (or borrow an old sponge filter if they have one).. and quickly get it back to your tank and set it running. The live bacteria in this.. plus your water changes will clear your tank in a few hours. Let it run for a few days to see that things are right. Next step... If you only have two remaining fish... When you see things are coming right... (Clear tank.. no more losses)... then go and buy two or three guppies. Pop these in the tank and leave for two or three weeks. If they survive.. then add another three fish after this period.. but NOT before. Hope it goes well. Bill.

Hi Marty, Welcome to the NZ Fishroom You say: But then you say: Did nobody tell you that Oscars and Neons.. plus the Betta.. just don't go together..? We need to know a bit more... like... How many fish do you have (or have had) .. in the tank.? How long has the tank been running..? How often are you feeding.. and what are you feeding..? Has it "suddenly" become cloudy.. or was it always so..? Bill.

Your local vet (if he works on farm livestock).. will supply you with some full length disposable gloves pretty cheap. Bill.

Sorry guys... but if we can't get this thread back on topic.. then it will need to be moved... to the Off Topics. Hardly any reference to fish over the past two pages. Bill. Mod.

Hi there JMa... Welcome to the NZ Fishroom. Your English is "very" good.. and "very" understandable When you get right down to it... we all speak one language... "Aquatics" he he. Sounds like you have lots of interesting things to tell us, and we look forward to your posts. Plants available in NZ are here... http://www.fnzas.org.nz/plant_survey/ Bill.

Hi Calico.. Welcome to the NZ Fishroom. See you are from Italy.. and yes.. it would be nice if you introduced yourself in the Welcome section. Best way to purchase Angels is to buy half a dozen juveniles and grow them on.. then the chances are you could get one or two breeding pairs from them. They grow pretty quick.. and will be of breeding size before you know it The juveniles would settle in better than fully grown ones.. and your Platties should be fine with them if they are introduced together. A school of Cardinal Tetras would also look nice in there, and again... the juvenile Angels would pretty much leave them alone. They "do" become territorial after a while, as once they have sorted the "pecking order" out.. there always seems to be a dominant one. Dafs...? Only Daf I know of is a car... Look forward to your posts. Bill.

Hi there Hamish and Melissa.. glad you are both enjoying your time here. Lots of members from down your way. Time to clear that spare room out by the sound of things, as you are definitely in the first stages of MTS Bill.

There are also clear Acrylic Domes that they use for buildings and caravans. They are quite thick and sturdy.. but quite clear. Don't know the cost, or where to get them.. but it would save a lot of work as there is a flat area around the bubble which could possible be bonded to an existing tank. Bill.

Good point Luke.. one I forgot, but very important Added to above. Many thanks, Bill.

Transporting Those Fish. A Few Pointers Shipping fish can be a daunting and worrying thing at the best of times, but if done correctly, then your fish should arrive at their destination safe and sound. Many fish are lost in transit due to .. Incorrect packing... Stress, due to bad packing.. Ammonia poisoning due to too many fish... Bags that are not sealed correctly.. No heat packs.. so fish are cold on arrival... Late pickups... Too many to a bag... Punctured bags through spiney fish.. and sometimes poor courier service. Know what you are doing. Various fish will need transporting in various ways, so consider the situation that the fish is going to be in for perhaps the next forty eight hours. You can NEVER have too much insulation.. so use the correct containers and packing. Large fish may need to be bagged up singly.. whereas some of the smaller fish can go six to ten in a bag. Be Prepared: Do a water change the day before you intend sending the fish. This will ensure decent water for the trip.. as ammonia levels can build up quickly in the bag during the trip. It is a good idea not to feed the fish for 24 hours before you send them to prevent waste and further ammonia building up in the bag. Ensure that no fish waste is added to the bag if possible. Fish need air and space. If they are say.... Adult Guppies... then you could "possibly" get eight or ten to a bag (300x450 size) for an overnight trip. Use good quality fish bags if possible with the rounded corners. The shipping box. You would need a suitable styrene box.. plus a heat pack if the trip is a long one. Most of these "Heat Packs" generate heat when rubbed vigorously.. so avoid doing this until the very last moment before you finally seal the box. Very Important. Fill the bag with approx one third water.. then insert an air line from your air pump into the neck of the bag and twist to create a seal. Allow the bag to inflate... then twist the neck of the bag some more and pull out the airline while keeping the bag fully inflated. Fold the neck of the bag over firmly and hold in position with two good strong rubber bands... MINIMUM 100mm (4") allowance for twisting and folding over. There should be no air leaks. Crumple up some newspaper and place in the styrene box, then add the bag or bags, packing each so that they can't roll around. Add the heat pad if needed, but don't lay it directly on the plastic bags.. just pack it so that the heat can circulate. Coldwater Goldfish etc: As above, but ommit the heat pack.. plus one or two fish per bag only... depending on size. Plecos... Spiney Catfish etc: Use Tupperware containers.. one third water.. two thirds air.. plus heat pack in most cases. Adult Swords.. Cichlids etc: One or two per bag.. as above.. depending on size. Adult Angels: ONE per bag always... plus heat pack. Plants Only: Just pack loosly in wet newspaper and place flat in a poly bag. Seal to avoid leakage. Post in a bubble pack type envelope. Another method when packing some of the more fragile type plants... (thanks Cyberfin).. is to place them in a partially inflated plastic bag. The air will cushion them from being crushed. No water except what is on the plant when removed from tank, as sloshing water can damage. If the bag is sealed properly it will remain relatively humid within. Mark the box CLEARLY with the name ... plus LIVE FISH... PLEASE CONTACT ON ARRIVAL.. and phone number if they are being sent to a collection point... like a service station or somewhere. Contact The Person: Contact the person as soon as you send the goods. Inform them which service you have used, and when to expect deliverery.. AND WHERE.. in most cases, as many courier services will not deliver to home addresses.. but will drop parcels at a selected pick up point. If in doubt... DOUBLE BAG ALWAYS Some add a couple of drops of "Stess Coat" for the trip. Some also recommend "Amolock", as it locks up any ammonina into a non toxic form. Take care here and follow the instructions if you use these products. Snails and such can be packed in a simple small strong cardboad box with bit of wet plant.. but they won't need a lot of water.. just a cupful perhaps, and the bag can be much smaller... plus the heat pack will not be needed. Shop Around: Not a lot of carriers will transport fish these days.. and the cost can vary tremendously. Look at paying around $18:00 for a local overnight trip.. and triple that for some areas... but this depends on the carrier. Try NZ Post... they are pretty good.. but not ALL branches will handle live stock. Hope this helps Bill (Pegasus)

Hi there Mitch... welcome to the forums. Hope you find lots of interest here. Chat room is pretty active around 9pm if you get time Bill.

Great looking tanks Apisto... Thank you for sharing. Hope you have a great time here looking around the forums.. (there's always something new to see and learn).. Bill.

Any "serious" breeder of "any" fish would dispose of their runts.. for this exact reason... Preventing More Runts and stopping even more rubbish fish entering the system. Bill.