BK

You could try a couple of products from Aqurium Pharmaceuticals via Brooklands. Bio-Chem Zorb or Phos-Zorb these are the same people who make Melifix and Stress coat , both the above proucts work better and for longer than carbon. Web site www.aquariumpharm.com.

I had the same kind of problems. Treated with alsort and finally got them looking ok only for it to come back a week later. I used Aquaflavine and Metronidazola and may be Furan 2. Haven't gotten any more since these passed away but they are good looking fish when they're ok but to much touble for me. Give me Discus anyday.

Doodle that first fish does look nice and would allmost say that the second one could be from the same pair but not from a ture strain, if you could breed them together any offspring that look like the first one would be welcome in my tank.

It all comes down to where u draw a line. Colour verse shape. Would be interesting to get a list together of what would look out of place if they were returned to there own river system. I'll start with Discus, Guppies, Angles,S Figthers, Flowerhorns, Balloon Rams. B&K not BK interesting that Black Tail Sharks can no longer be found in nature. Interesting that we talk about being able one day to release fish back into there river system but does that mean that we would pay higher prices for locally breed fish and are happy not to have Cardinals. We can all say theres thing but would we go through with it. I keep Parrots and struggle some times to convince my self that its ok because one day we could rerelease. Do birds belong in cagers, fish in fish tanks. Its a hard question and I don't have the answer but one of the things we have to ask our selves in a hobby that takes things from nature. I would love a reef tank but is it the rigth thing to do. Saying that one day we could be the only place that they survive so it ok doesn't stack up, as we could have been one of the reasons. I think I can remember Reef say about Frags that they cost more to produce than importing live stock and that's why there isn't really anyone into this in a big way. I think that this shows that money is more important than our principles.As above I don't have the answers but we should all ask these questions of our selves. I could be worry and it may not have been Reef. A onther one could be Zebra Plecos I think these can't be caught wild anymore but there is still high demand even in NZ so this must have effect on the wild stocks.

Yesterday I saw a Golden Ram, they are a variant of the Balloon. Fish looked good and healthy just shorter in length and deeper in the body much like humans who are trending to be taller and wider.

What temp is the tank at and I'm thinking its a Fantail Goldfish?

Can never have enough tanks or too big. Even 15 not enough as I've found out.

He dosen't import only buys from a importer, Brooklands I think. Good to see you ask on here about info you have been told as a lot of people have different ideas. I add a little salt to all my tanks(Discus,Tetras,Guppies). He has 3 small Discus in 3 different tanks and when I pointed out that they are better keep in group he wouldn't listen. Best to ask on here

Depending on tank Discus like groups of 6 or more. Try phil collins nz discusman for somemore. Where are u.

I've found that my Breading size Discus are alot more settled when they have younger Discus with them even down to 20cent size they all get on great may be the number of fish you have in the tank migth be causing the problem of chasing. They live in big groups apart from breeding in there natural river systems. Currently have 3 full grown, 5 six month olds and 2 2-3 month olds together.

Good on you Greame. What some people do to other animals???? i would like to do to them. Going fishing with Dad will be different next time. I don't think they will just get left in the bucket to die. Have always been one to return small unwanted fish but since taking fish keeping up i see them in a completely different ligth.

I was told that it could be a broken ray in the fine from a knock. Is it getting bigger or growing with the fin.

Snowman y have the same problem as me. Presents y don't want. Mine seem to have stop dieing??? Couldn't say why, maybe just the weak ones couldn't handle it?? Line breeding is what Livebearers is all aout and as with Alan local all the way a lot of LFS don't stock them as it's to hard for them??

Oh that post had me going thought u were having more problems Rory. Blue and Kim ask Phill Collins he's been a great help to me. What I would say is don't treat unless they are showing some signs. Its hard I know as I'm allways looking this way that way at my Discus. All animals have parasites in them and they are normally keeped in check naturally. Oh Phill has new Discus available in two weeks so good time to make contact with him if you haven't already and check out what he has to offer. I've placed my order a week ago, don't want to miss out. I asked the LFS what they did to worm there Discus and was told they use Drontal every 6 months I think, there Discus looked like runts to me so I'm happy not worming them and the money/time saved goes into more water changers which is your BEST cure.

Cheers hands. Heard that about Blues my self but there seems to be no one breeding them down here. Would like to breed them myself so would get two pairs and hope from here. Had the same kind of problems with Gromi's only lasting a couple of months.

Cheers Alan, I've heard this my self that the temp does have effect on the ratio. Interesting point you made about some females producing more of one then the other. These were meant to be live food for the Discus but they didn't even notice them.

Prespex expands and contracts at different ratio's than glass so even if you could get something to stick to it it won't last. I agree with Alan, go the off cut bin. I get free prespex but can't find any use for it.

What are peoples favourite Dwarf Cichlid. I'm thinking about setting up a 3'x1-1/3x1-1/3 tank for these guys and what every else fits the mix. Can I keep Rams as well as Apistogrammers as they are both bottom/cave breeding. Will different Rams figth? Blues and Bolivans?

For some reason I end up breeding alot more females than males. Is this common and what if anything could i do to increase Male %. Tank is 2x1x1 temp at 26-27 ph at 7.4. I have 2 more tanks this size I'm going to set up this week end for Live bearers and a 3x1-1/3x1-1/3 for Dwarf Cichlids. That will make it 10 tanks in the fish room and 6 inside.

Do your research before calling them unnatural. What crack pip have you been smoking? Thats a very high horse to get down off Blueandkim. Only asking why people have the feelings they do about Balloon Rams and if something doesn't occur in nature its unnatural not saying that its wrong as I love Discus. Read and think before you post rather than posting put downs.

Cheers, understand from other postings that some people have strong feelings about the Balloon due to breeding of un-natural traits, but wouldn't this also apply to a lot of fish. Guppies, Discus just to name two that aren't what you would call natural.

Please correct me if I'm worry (not often haha) there are 4 kind of Rams available. Blue, Gold, Balloon and Bolivan. I've looking on the net and I'm a bit confused the Balloons look like a blown up Blue. The blue has a lot of blue in the near 1/2 of fish and he's were I get it all wrong. My Rams (pair) that I have I think are Bolivan but got them from a place that called them "Butterfly Rams" they have a little bit of yellow on the front 1/2 of the body. My question is are there such things as Golden Rams and are they the same as blue rams but with the yellow colour in the rear 1/2 of the fish???? Any one with photos?? Sorry do have any my self as the only time these guys are at thr font of the tank is feeding time and the Discu don't let anything stay still for to long at feeding time.

Yeh i got some for trade me. The chap said he had Guppy Disease about 1-1/2 to 2 year ago the cleaned out all but a dozen of his and breed from these. So got about 20 and 5 Rummy nose, 3 days later started to lose them. Tank had been set up and cycled with Discus but was empty for a week b4 hand. the dead ones seem to be the weaker fish with tails looked like they had been burned. after about a week of losing at lest 1 fish a nigth thing seem to had slowed down with say 1 lose every other day. I went away for work for 3 days and during this time my girlfriend got some fish because they were to good a deal to turn down, Neon's at $0.50 Rummy's at $2.00. So 50 'small' fish get put in to this tank as its the only one that we could use. lost one guppy first nigth, one lemon tetra the next nigth so on and them 5 Rummy nose 2 guppies and 2 lemon tetras al on one nigth after about a week from adding the new fish, one or two lost the next couple of nigths while treating with Aquaflivane and Furan2 which was added after Rummy nose lose's. Treated for a week with 1/4 of each product stated on packet and gave 50% water change this weekend and add carbon so far since Saturday only one guppy lost and it had been looking bad for a week with bent spine weak. Don't think the treatment had any thing to do with this and before you all say to many fish to soon etc etc. The tank is 220 ltrs and these no Amonia,Nitrate. etc The thing is if these are now carry's were do i put them?

Just about comment that I was surprised about LFS giving refund, my local wouldn't sell me some Blue Rams because they weren't 100% precent so if the lfs new that the Guppies were &?@% it' much the same, HAVE TO GO THE BOSS IS WALKING DOWN THE HALL-WAY TO MY OFFICE!!!!!!!!!

Only one lose over the weekend. Almost a week treating with Furan2 and Aquaflavine but don't think its this that done it. Surprise to see that your local LFS gave refund.