Alan

Isn't it named because of it's coloration? They have three different colours in three separate sections. That's the only thing I could see it looking like a KOI, but it's definately not it's shape. They look similar to a goldfish but a sure identity of them is to see barbels on the face which goldfish do not have. They can be obtained from some naughty LFS if you ask for "pondfish", but this is highly illegal. A KOI is a fish that we have 1000's of up in the Waikato, but aren't allowed to keep, breed, sell, give away, or if your'e fishing, can't return them alive to the water. They are bad at disturbing the base of ponds and rivers and causing the silt to settle on the plants and also lower the ??translucency?? of the water and literally killing all plants, especially noticable in some of the Waikato lakes. Hunted by archers and speared after floods after being stranded in the water lowering. Also netted and then ground up for saltwater anglers to use as burlly. Very expensive fish, depending on the colouration also Jude, like k's of $$s a fish. Alan 104

For that distance, don't strip the filter down. Buckets of aged water waiting, pre warmed at destination, half your own tank water and DON'T forget to turn of the power before you empty the tank, if you don't, you'll stuff up your heater. Remember, it has been done before and now you have no excuses. Even the fish could travel that distance in a bucket, but I'd prefer to use three bags for them. Use two nets to catch them too, cuts down on the stress. If a clown gets it's barbs under it's eyes caught in the net, leave it in the net, in the bag, and go have a coffee, by the time you come back, it'll be out on it's own. If you try to remove it you can damage the net, and you also run the risk of damaging the fish as well. Clowns, gouramis with the B/N's, and the glass fish and neons. Third water, two thirds air. Travel them in the dark in a polystyrene box. Alan 104

Salt doesn't kill the parasite Methylene blue does. Treat them in the buckets, leave them a fortnight, maybe more, (as the warmer the water, the quicker the life cycle of the whitespot), before reintroducing them. The parasites as noted will not have survived as stated before in another post. But make sure the pond is the same temp as the buckets, or viseversa when returning them. When doing the cleanout of the pond, allow plenty of time for the water to age, that is, the chlorine out of it. With so few fish even a complete clean out wouldn't hurt as the water volume would be able to handle the load as it setles down and cycles. Alan 104

So have you :roll: Alan 104

The way I read this post first Rebecca, I thought the babies were a bit older. Apparently not as Dad is still using the nest, at this stage they are what I would consider in comparison with cichlids, at the wriggler stage. As Peter says, green water is the go now. Why dont you scoop out about forty of them and raise them separately and leave the others to fend for themselves?? Alan 104

Hi Aqua, we have met before. A birthday had been celebrated the night before I think. :lol: Yes, the way they are kept best in my opinion is by a species tank, but then others consider me a bit of a fanatic. The fish could go into a community tank with several species together, or a mass of one species. One of the best setups I have seen over the years was a tank with blue gardneri, total of about 25 males. Eggs can be passed on, to other members, through this forum, or even on TradeMe. They can be packaged in small pill bottles and posted. Even overseas, but that may be frowned upon in some cases. If you have mixed species in a tank, in most case it is NOT advisable to save eggs as they (the fish) will and can cross fertilize. This is severly frowned upon by the killiphiles. It is worthwhile belonging to the NZKA, as through there, you have the best assortment of killie species throughout NZ. I have about 16 different species and colour morphs. But I'm always on the lookout for more though. Also, if you are not a member of any other club, you are affiliated to the FNZAS as a member through the NZKA, and as such, then become entitled to show your FNZAS members card at special LFS and possibily get a 10% discount, ask nicely tho. You will also become entitled to the FNZAS quarterly magazine valued at $21.50 or there abouts. But as a member, you'll get it for free. So give me an email if you want more information Aqua, and anyone else that may read this. Alan 104

If they are free swimming now, get the parents out. They are not care givers except for Dad in the first few days after hatching. Peter is correct, ask Ira. He seemed to be months trying to sell or give his hatch away. If you have any BBS, that is good once big enough (babies), which I'd say they are by now, by the sound of it. Good luck with raising them, and aren't you lucky for TradeMe. Alan 104

Hi Ven., I don't see reading thru what you say about your fish that you have it now isolated. If not, do so to a hospital tank in case of rupture, also, it is a lot easier to treat a smaller tank than a large main one. Good luck. Alan 104

The Bitterling will surely be the most fascinating fish I have ever bred, and I've done two or three. To watch the male hover over and tease the mussel for days until it(mussel) got use to it, then him coaxing the female over and her trusting the work that he had done, deposit her ovaridepositor(spp) into the mussel to lay her eggs. My happiest time; to be able to take ten plus babies through to be able to claim the breeding point. This fish, although an illegal import, went through all the correct channels of quarantine, three checks by MAF, public advertising and me able to obtain them legally, before MAF realized someone had made a boo boo. This experience I don't think will ever be able to be done again in NZ, so I feel that I was very priviledged to have been able to partake in a unique breeding. Veva la bitterling. Alan 104

Having had a breeding pair myself 2fishy, the guy should pay you to take them in my opinion. Alan 104

Don't fall off the chair either unless you have someone to rescue you from the tank. Prolly wouldn't want to give you mouth to mouth either. Alan 104

Thanks for that Kyle. I remembered him saying that his shipment had been mixed. I don't think that they are the same but they are definately similar. The dorsal fins what I'm basing my opinion on, with the coloured and black lines being there and not on the other. Cheek coloration is very similar tho. Alan 104

Good to see you here Doug. Pity you had't joined up with the Waikato club a couple of weeks back, you may have been able to get some good gear etc at their auction. They'll welcome you with open arms and I'm sure make you feel like one of them. (Don't know which one tho) :roll: Alan 104

Never know what you have then, cause Phil told me that the 'pistos were mixed and he had to "try" and sort them for species. Good luck with the spawn, but they may end up as cross-breeds. Alan 104

:evil: :evil: :evil: Don't tell everyone Wok Alan 104

Me too, but that's not much use without a girl or two. Any eggs of the of the above or of the previous post?? Alan 104

Hi Kyle, where did you get the fish from or its parents?? This is an australe that I call an apricot. At the moment, I'm working on developing the fish with NO dark markings. As of the present time I have one male which is almost a perfect example of what I'm after, I also have quite a few females for him to work with. Also I have 12 pairs of them with the apricot gene in them. Kyle do you have any of the following fish?? Constancea Palmquisti, Guntheri. If so please PM me. Any one else that may read this also. It is vital as these are very short in numbers if not gone. In one short year. Alan 104 NZKA 104

See Joe&Willy They have bred lots, or their Mum did. Don't know if they have any off-spring left. Give them a PM. Alan 104

The last one is too Caryl, that's the Aphyosemion austale that I'm trying to breed the dark colour out of. I call it an australe "apricot" for obvious reasons. The othe australes we have in NZ are Chocolate, and Gold. The first is a Jordanla floridae, folloed by the Aplocheilius lineatus, golden wonder form, and the a gold form of the Fundulopanchax gardneri nigerianum. Alan 104

I very much doubt if anyone in NZ have the proper ALTUM. http://www-ece.rice.edu/~kmram/altums.html The ones imported into NZ are not the true altum but a breed of SCALARE from I think the Andes. The REAL altum would be very pricey and a tank of greater depth is needed for the longer dorsal and anal fins. The true altum have a brown mark running through the dorsal to the anal fin. Check the link above. Alan 104

Check with Caserole he may have some. Some ppl keep them in com tanks but you must watch what ones you aquire as some can get to 150mm and then smaller fish like neons may become part of their diet. Killies are the best escapologist from an aquarium. I'm sure they patrol around the tank looking for a gap, then compete to see who can get the furtherest across the fishroom. We in the NZKA normally kep them as specie fish because females of the same family are very difficult, if not impossible to tell the difference. Alan 104

Cabomba does okay outdoors. It must do, I have seen it growing fantastically in the Waihi Gorge at a persons place. Try valesineria as well, I know Pupuke Lake grows it well, although that is gigantica, which is naughty to have tho. Alan 104

What was the picture you saw? What species was it? We have about 20 species or their morphs in NZ at the moment. Alan 104

Azolla is the smallest flowering fern in the world (I think that's right) In low light it is green and in high light a dark pinkish colour. Forms a triangle per plant of about 25 mm at the base to 40 mm long. Grows wild in reasonable calm still water that is cold. I have not tried it in a tropical tank but I would think it would go okay. Alan 104

If you were to look at a cross section of a stem. The cabomba has opposing branches that then spread into a 180o fan each. The ambulia has multiple branches, spreading to form a 360o fan. Alan 104