tandemcartshrimp

Hey everyone, I just got my first Leopard gecko yesterday (from dragonz) so here are some photos

The top of the tank is open and I will have a mesh top. I have just brought a thermostat for reptiles, I haven't started breeding anything yet. What would you recommend

Also, im looking at starting to get the equipment now, how large of a under tank heater do you think I would need? there are some 7W and 14W ones I can get my hands on but I dont want to buy the wrong thing. Thanks

I have been looking on care sheets and other websites, they say that a tank this size could be suitable for a single Leopard gecko? Is this something that can be done easily? Is there anyone around who has done/is doing this atm

OK, Good to know! what sort of length would be good then? I really like the look of bearded dragons, but I know that they grow to be relatively large for the kind of range im looking at. It seems such a shame there are large restrictions in NZ on what you can and cant keep. Its all for a good cause I know, but some of reptiles just look way to cool!

Hi everyone, Im looking at getting a lizard/gecko to keep in an old (still water proof) fish tank I have. The tank is a 60x30 tank (about 20 gal I think), from a quick read on the forums this is really only ideal for young small lizards. Is there a native breed that is available and stays small? I am happy to apply for, and wait to get the required license from DoC as well as pay a bit to get the right environment set up (lights heating etc.). If a native is not a good idea for a reptile beginner what would you reccomend? I have kept native shrimp and some fish previously as well as a Koura so I am no stranger to commitments and the requirements of keeping animals in captivity. Thanks for the help

Howdy everybody, I am looking at getting a "Big tank" something large enough to house a school of minnows, my shrimp and a koura happily. maybe 150L? I currently have a 45L and a 75L tank the smaller with 4 minnows (would get more for the larger tank) and my shrimp and the other with my koura and about 10 minnow fry. Basically I would like to know the do's and donts for a tank that size with that stocking. I would like to have a planted tank as I have had no real trouble with plants and my koura as yet. not high tech though im a little too poor for that. As well as some experiences with different brands of tanks and the need for a stand etc. As usual thanks in advance for any and all help.

Thanks blue, I wont keep more than one in there for any more than a day I think, if it takes longer than that to find one a home I will probably just end up eating it or giving it to someone else to eat The new guy seems happy enough, still alive in my tank which is always a bonus. what sort of food do Koura need? I have some sinking algae disc things and access to enough plant life, but is there anything specific like frozen meat vs fresh, same with veggies?

I actually just sat down and figured it out tbh. I was a little bored on monday night so I got some random flax from the front garden and made a mat out of it. you have to weave back some of the fronds to keep the edges in place, then weave the remaining ones into the other side to form a tube. The ends I found a little tough so I just randomly poked them through different places in the trap to keep it together and thats what I got. Not quite as pretty as I wanted, but it clearly works Also if anyone in the Rotorua area wants one, I left the trap in over night again and I may have another one in the morning. I cant keep it for long since my tank is pretty small, but let me know

So here it is, "The New Guy" the Koura This is the trap I caught the newbie in "The New Guy" himself And a pic for reference of size

Well, I made my own trap (from flax only) and left it in a stream overnight. this morning I showed up and found a 8cm ish koura sitting inside inside munching on some meat :D he is now in my 54L tank with a section of downpipe to hide in and some fern fronds for shade/ comfort. I will post some pics a little later on tonight of the trap and the trapee

There we go, I am in rotorua for the next month-ish, then I will be moving back to hamilton to study. I did a bit of reading online about Koura, apparently if you find them in lakes etc they tend to be smaller (around 7-8 cm fully grown) so maybe that would suit my tank a little better?

How big of a tank would I need to keep a Koura happily in? 2.5-3 foot? where would I be able to find some bullies I can have in the tank if I was interested? Also, I have taken quite a liking to inverts, are there any other native inverts that are easy enough to find and I would be allowed to keep in a tank like that?

howdy all, I just got given a 54L tank (60x30x30) and I have seen some people post things like this for help and inspiration. Atm I am using it as a tank to raise my WCMM fry ( about 25 of the buggers ) about a third filled with a sponge filter and some plants and rock bed. After that though what can I put in there? I would kinda like to have something native in there as I already have 7 of the native shrimp in the 45L tank I have. would the tank be big enough for a koura? or a smaller breed of native crayfish?

where abouts did you find those awesome little crabs? I am slowly getting a native tank going and I think the could be an awesome little addition.

That is what I have heard, but the problem with copper is that then im left with a tank of rotting snail bodies. and what size loach will be happy in 21 L?

hey guys, I was given a ramshorn snail for my 21L hex tank, all was well and good until it started to lay eggs, then there were 5 and now about 30 snails. only one is large but there are many getting above the 1cm size now and its getting a little ugly with all the eggs and snails around. So on research I have found many methods or killing or removing snails from tanks; ranging from using copper to out right kill the snails to getting assassin snails, potato baiting and getting loaches. However I dont really want to bait them as it wont kill them all. So I have a planted 21L tank and I have a silica sand substrate if that changes anything. Any help would be appreciated

well today is a sad day, I have found my first pink body. on a count up of the shrimp the other 6 are all still alive and seem to be doing well. they each seem to have moulted 2-3 times since I got them. Should I leave the dead shrimp in the tank (will the others slowly eat it) or take it out?

so that seems like a no to the borneos. what other fish are fine down to lower temperatures. well and higher ones as it would be nice to have them over the summer months too. so really, what are some small(ish) fish for a 45L tank that dont mind a wide range of temperatures

How low a temperature can a borneo sucker go? My tank is an unheated 45L would that be alright or would they die?

Blue: is there a reason for not cleaning the sides and back other than just not having to? also what plants are you stocking in your native tank? I would like at least to have a fully native tank with just shrimp

Hi all, I'm looking for a fish that will help clean the glass on my 45 L room temp tank. The tank is silica sand substrate with some dwarf hair grass, and some hygrophyllia poylspermia (I think that's how its spelt). I am trying to slowly make it a native tank (in terms of plants and fish). I currently have 7 native freshwater shrimp that have been going for about 3-4 months (and have moulted a few time, of which I'm pretty happy with ) what can I have in there that will be happy at room temp through out the year and will help clean the glass (preferably native)?

I think it might just get a little crowded in the tank, one of the fish I had would scare the shrimp away constantly. probably trying to eat them. never did though, but was stressing out the shrimp.

Hi there, small fish and shrimp work well together but I wouldn't want any thing gold fish size or bigger in the same tank. as to where to get the shrimp, you will probably need to go out and find them as it is illegal to sell them unless farmed for selling ( I haven't seen anyone doing this ). Good news is there is a fair amount of info on here, I have posted a few times and can give you more info, as well as stella and blueether (?). If you do a search on Paratya curvirostris of fresh water shrimp on the site you should get some good info

The requirement really for finding fresh water shrimp that I have found is; Under an altitude of 40m Close to the ocean Close to an estuary (or large area of slow moving shallow water) lots of plant life ( oxygen weed etc. ) I got mine in a cold stream around tauranga, get a net and disturb the plants and cross your fingers. They can be quite difficult to see so keep an eye out. Also if you want them to last a while in your tank, only get the smallest ones you can find. As they mature they change from males to females, and as yet I havent found out about anyone breeding them or keeping females for more then a few months. Hope this helps