BK

If MAF cocked up shouldn't they pay for the clean up. When it comes to importing livestock I have no fath in Goverment departments knowing what they are doing and why they are doing it. How can they justify allowing chicken eggs into the country but not parrots. Some reasonable standards across the board would restore some faith. Wouldn't it have been better for MAF to say that these fish arn't allowed in NZ so for the next month offer a $ reward for fish and after this time then charge people that still have them. These are rigth around NZ now and only CHCH as been raided, doesn't seem like they have done a very good job. From what I've heard this is only about 1/4 of the fish that was sold by the first store down here. 12 tanks is rigth I think. Only Danio's killed the other fish in the tank where remove so they weren't to bad with the guy. Some times brown stuff happens.

I'ld up the temp to 32 and add a air stone, add some peat to reduce the ph, feed white worms and heart, soak some tetra bits in some Metro and see what happens. This is all I would do apart from reducing the numbers in the tank but if your doing water changers every 2 days don't think that this will do much. I have 4 full size D's in 220 ltrs with a pair of Apsitos and about 30-40 young plus about 20 cory's and they only get a 50% water change once a week. They're not spawning so the water isn't 100% but the Apisto's are so it can't be that bad. BK

Metal Sodium is a better match to sunlight and will help them to flower, Halide's are better for vegative growth.

If it's not to bad try Aquaflavine to start with, no luck with this try Furan 2. Is it damaged and then fin rot or do you have problems with your tank. The first sign of problems can be damaged fins/skin due to bugs attacking. what else is happening in your tank what is the water like. If your happy that every thing is ok try the two product above. Melifix could also be an option.

I use the stuff from dress makers shop. Down here in CHCH its called Spotligth. About $25.00 for 3-4 metres by about 1 meter wide you can also get bales of floss as well there..

Is this big enough. I've heard they like to have a good run around and can get up some speed but there doesn't seem enough room.

That was one of the reason that private Q stations where close for parrots and that MAF don't want the cost of setting their own one up. The silly thing is you can still import chicken eggs. There is a move to allow parrot eggs into the country but with the poultry board sitting on the panel that makes the decision about what gets imported they see to it that only poultry get permits. It is common knowledge who is smuggling they just can't fit them up. There is a rumor that there is a pair of Hyacinth Macaws in the country but not many know where or if this is correct but at $50k ozzie I wouldn't be telling to many people either. Ozzie had the same problems with their private Q stations. Birds being swapped for similar looking birds etc. They where also stopped importing but a-long with their government set a Q station, which is paid for by the birding clubs I think and run by a government department. Birds fly around the world so there is always a high risk and with there being a lot of cash involved with smuggling due to not being able to import I think that this situation increases the risk not reduces it. The last thing I want to see is wild caught birds being sold. For the record I keep Macaws, Conures and a Galah. Would love some Gang Gang's and some Conures that Ozzie has but not NZ, Painted, Pearly, Crimson etc if it’s illegally there’s money in it and people will look to profit from this.

ARH. What about parrots (birds), you think your hard done buy try not being able to import any fish. Then you'll start to see a lot of puddles at the airport. And the reason that birds can't aren't allowed to be imported is the cost of setting a Q station up.

Not to much of a problem just some damage and a bit of fungus. Try Aquaflavine/melafix or it may clear up by its self.

Get more, if you have a group and one is getting picked on leave it in there or the next smallest one will be picked on if you remove the other one. When you have a breeding pair one will be dominant just how it works. Buying fish that size is ok if you get a group of say 5, the price of larger fish are quite high but when you work out the cost and time spent to get them to breeding age (10cm) $100-150 for a nice fish is about rigth.

Will most likely be ok. Could try some Aquaflavine (sp) that helps to clam them down. You always tend to get one that is picked on. Leave it in the tank, if you took it out the next smallest will be picked on..

MAF came to destroy any that was left at the said shop but they had all been sold. I have seen these and they are breed in NZ. Talking to a guy that was in boarder control MAF,DOC & customs I think they are call "Cities Department†they are keen to destroy any they can find but if they are on trade me they can't be looking hard enough. There must be at least 3-4 people in chch that have enough to breed from. If they did their jobs properly and under stood what was going on there would be more available not less. Look at Parrots, Because it is legally to import birds (due to cost of setting up Q station) people can make money out of doing this and do so. We can't import parrots but can export making NZ a great place to transship any number of Ozzie birds. Any one notice the black Cockatoos in NZ now of the lizards. If this was controlled there would be more access and better controls on the health of stock arriving in the country. Until they open there eyes to the real issues things like this will continue. How can a cold water fish be allowed into NZ but Warm water fish not.

Guppies will clean them up.

Caryl cheers. But thats not good enough for my girlfriend she wants it clean, and she wants me to do it. Almost is not good enough I'm told. BK

Hi same kind of problem I have. Water is clear but the rocks (water fall) are covered in brown algae. What do I use to get rid of this. If your pond has green water and the water out the tap is fine just turn the tap on and let it over flow. Easyest water change ever.

wheres the Discus

The male will have flo blue lips.

In bb tanks so food available all day if I feed WW in the morning some are still moving when I get back from work. They're much bigger than a 50c coin.

How often can I feed young Discus W/W. Heard that they are high in something so shouldn't feed to much. Currently giving them one feed a day of WW and one of Tetra bits.

If you have any luck I'm keen and any other dwarfs as well. Using a 2x1x1 for a pair of cockatoos but having no luck keeping the females alive.

So what is best for planted tank.

Was thinking about putting one in my Discus planted tank. Temp range from 28-32 degrees. Would this handle these temps.

Standard CHCH tape Water . Every thing I've read says these Apistos are fine in most water conditions so haven't done any thing different. Discus can do well in our local water as well so wouldn't think that it’s this that is making her blow up. The male looks great. All I’ll do is put some peat in the tank.

Neil you commented about dissolving Valisnera is this at double dose. Have two tanks that I use excel on but only 1 cap full every second day for 200lts tanks. The twisted Val does seem to be braking apart.

Treated last night in 10ltr bucket. First 2 hours at 1tsp to 40ltrs and after no effect 1tsp to 20ltrs. No signs of any change. Only other option is to change water conditions i.e. hardness and pH to see if she will drop some eggs. Cheers Ryan the guy I got this pair off had the same problem I think with another pair he had, sound's like the same issue we have with weak blue rams. Ryan were you breeding Rams??? I'm keen to get some if you have. Could take about 10-12 if you do. Anyone one with 4-6 female Cockatoos out there.