Bilbo

Sorry to hear this they are lovely fish. I would love a chance at a pair of these. Did you confirm it was columnaris that killed it?

It can be done with a normal wood hole saw run in reverse with grinding paste but its far easier to do it with a specitily glass or tile drill. These are usually available from M10. Most glass places will cut the hole for you for under $20. LivingArt's description makes sense if you have seen someone doing it. Basically have the drill on a slight lean so one side makes contact first and then bring the drill bit straight up and down to finish the hole. The most important part is keep it wet with running water or make a play dough ring around where you want the hole drilled and full it with water. Practise first on a spare piece of glass and never drill a tank that is already assembled if you can possibly avoid it.

Another sad day. Sorry to hear that Antwan. I lost a really colourful male cockatoo 2 days ago too but he has been sick on and off with worms for quite a while, finally cured the worm problem but I guess one died and rotted inside him.

Have I got a deal for you I am selling a big air pump at the moment. I have a 200l/min that I want to either sell or swap for a 50 - 70l/min

Start with softish water and then its easy to change with driftwood or leaves etc. If you are starting with hardish water then you may need something like the pH down or some type of acid like sulphuric acid. I don't like the second method much because it has to be done close to exactly right and also because most fish that want an acid pH also like soft water. I would start by adding some driftwood and alder cones and test the water over the next few day to see what its doing.

I agree with Phoenix on this one. Teabags do work and I have used them but I am not a fan. Peat or aldercones etc work much better. AT this time of year oak leaves are everywhere, I collected some from a red oak 2 nights ago and have another bag full from the white oak a few weeks ago.

Very sorry to hear that Nav. I think you were the last to have these. They are a lovely fish so I hope we can get them back again sometime soon.

After 26 - 27 days crack them to see and show us the pictures of what is inside.

That is cool. Great job on the setup.

Sorry to hear of your loss.

Both Ryan and I have had many apisto's die from some random disease with symptoms that include red swollen lumps on the skin, waisting away, spinning around on the spot (Chasing there tail), white lumps and white fluffy sores. Theses all fit under the broad descriptions for many different diseases, one of which is Columnaris or Cotton Wool Disease. Other symptoms include whitish-grayish coating on the skin, ulcers, damaged fins, patches on the gills, and erosion of the head tissue. If it is this then an antibiotic treatment, and disinfecting of the tank is essential. My personal guess is that apistos are a lot harder to keep healthy than they look and because most are relatively new to the hobby that they haven't yet been domesticated enough to live in standard water. It could also have a lot to do with diet and the lack of something specific.

A number of tests have been done where some heavily peppered fish have been put into a white tank or under high light and the peppering slowly fades. But as Dave+Amy said water quality also has a part to play.

Congrats and good luck to you. On Telly just now Police10/7 some guy got diversion for drugs charges for having $1200 worth in his car.

The cherry barbs should be fine. They are lovely little fish and seem to be very hardy when ever I have had them.

I don't know your situation but I agree that you should get out and don't look back but without knowing you or your situation our opinions aren't worth a lot. As Stella and others have already said your safety should be number one priority. A lot of people I used to know would be more freaked out with the thought of getting caught than with having the 'stuff' in the flat. Now days I am pretty anti drugs so I would back the police pressing charges.

Thats a cool idea. I was trying to make cave-cam for my apisto's a few months ago but never really got it finished. I might have to give it another go

Very nice and great photo's. A few of us in Palmy have been trying to get some of these too.

That doesnt sound like a very nice riddle.

Im not great at riddles but Its red and has a stone in his throat so maybe a plum or some sort of stone fruit? The staff in his hand maybe the stick that holds it to the tree but that doesnt really make sense because it points upwards. I dont know what a groat is though.

Just got talking to as many people as we could. Picking him up this week. Got a bunch of phone numbers from breeders who have some other birds I would like in the future.

With most of the corys I have bred I just have a group in a 50 to 100ltr tank with fine sand on the base at 24c. After they have been fed enough good food I would change 1/2 the water with cold. 300 eggs seems like a lot but 25 is not many few. 100 - 200 eggs should be easy enough from a large female.

I got me a pair of splendids I have wanted some more of these for ages and these ones are really nice. Wife bought a hand reared ringneck as well. Guess I will be making more avairys to house them and more stupid rabbit hutches to pay for them.

They will look great as they got older. Cool fish. You must have some huge oaks. those leaves are way bigger than the oak leaves I use They almost look big enough to be a Sycamore leaf. Looking good though

Welcome along. Sounds like we have another victim of MTS, of which there is no known cure.

Looking forward to seeing the progress and pictures Gamefreek. You own the house and shed I hope