Deleatidium

Hi everyone, I am currently undertaking an ecological assessment to inform Wellington Water's integrated catchment management planning (ICMP) process. I am interested in the Island Bay-Houghton Bay and Lyall Bay catchment areas (see red areas on the attached map). Like most urban areas most waterways have been piped such that now open waterways are scarce and those that remain are often high up the catchment and/or ephemeral or just seeps. I am interested in any freshwater ecological information (fish or invertebrates) from these catchments. Have any native fish enthusiasts had a hunt in any of the waterways in this area? If so, I would like to know where you went and what did you find. Thanks, Alex

Hi everyone, I am currently undertaking an ecological assessment to inform Wellington Water's integrated catchment management planning (ICMP) process. I am interested in the Evans Bay and SE Coast areas (think all areas discharging to Evans Bay - Hataitai, Kilbirnie and the entire Mirimar Pensinula). Like most urban areas most waterways have been piped such that now open waterways are scarce and those that remain are often high up the catchment and/or ephemeral or just seeps. I am interested in any freshwater ecological information (fish or invertebrates) from these catchments. There are no NZ Freshwater Fish Database records from this area. The only fish info I have uncovered thus far is an anecdotal report of eels being present in a heavily modified waterway in the Miramar Golf Course. Have any native fish enthusiasts had a hunt in any of the waterways in this area? If so, I would like to know where you went and what did you find. Thanks, Alex

Aquatic introduced plants and animals can be found all over the place even in seemingly isolated locations. To ID it and any other aquatic macrophytes download the NIWA quickguides at: http://www.niwa.co.nz/our-science/aquat ... uickguides

There is an increasing awareness of the problem of fish passage in New Zealand. These ropes are a cool idea for the species that are excellent climbers but not for inanga which comprise the bulk of the whitebait catch in many areas. The following report gives some good background on the abilities of New Zealand native fish to get past in-stream obstacles: http://www.envirolink.govt.nz/reports/d ... HZLC45.pdf

My tank had a film such as you described for a period (at least a few months) but then it disappeared by itself. It didn't seem to harm my fish. I assume it had something to do with water chemistry.

How about giving them the addresses of some good basic fishy websites with good overviews of the hobby?

Naturally bioluminescent fish evolved such mechanisms for prey capture and communication. Thus it is an integral part of their being. They also can turn their luminescence on and off at will. Most such fish are either nocturnal or exist in the deep sea thus use their luminescence in a dark environment. To impose such a mechanism on a fish that is largely diurnal and has no use for it, IMO, is cruel. Just because we think the fish will not be suffering means nothing as we perceive the world in a different way to them.

Fair enough. Just thought I'd add that some selective breeding is also somewhat unethical. The breeding of Canis familiaris, the domestic dog comes to mind. While most dogs do just fine, some breeds such as the British Bulldog are sometimes shaped such that they cannot copulate without human intervention. All the breeds with pushed in noses that have breathing problems also spring to mind. Just saying that I don't think selective breeding is always good either.

That is a predicatable, dodgy, old argument. There is a large step between selective breeding (i.e. making use of the genetic information/variation that is held in the genome of a said species) and the inputting of novel genes from other species (in this case a species of jellyfish) into the genome of another species.

I would hope such organisms are never allowed into New Zealand. Genetically manipulating organisms for no other reason but to create a curio that may sell well is ethically wrong.

I find it sad this topic has gotten semi-aggressive when all we are talking about here is the price of fish.

What if one was to purchase a large container, keep it in the fridge or freezer and feed out of a small container that can be refilled every month or something?

Finally I got myself to Wellington and took my less than a year old blown 50watt Jager heater back to Animates. I had the receipt and got a new 100 watt replacement. The price of heaters in NZ is odd. There are hardly any cheap ones and the difference in cost of different wattages is minimal to non existent. They had 100 watt Jagers at Animates and I asked if I could have one of those. They said sure but you will have to pay the difference. Thing is, the price was the same as a Jager 50watt and the guy thought that was odd but it has always been like that when I have looked at heater prices. Is it best to buy the highest wattage heater that will fit in your tank or what? How many people have two heaters in their tanks?

When I started keeping fish a few years ago I was fanatical about having the new water at just the right temperature. I was nuts with my thermometer adding hot then cold then hot until it was just right. Now I look back on what a dork I was being and just do a mix of hot and cold that feels about right to me.

Flake, freeze-dried tabs, pellet and Tropical Tucker frozen food. Tomorrow I am performing their first cold water change.