syno321

I think you guessed right on the piece of gravel. Infertile eggs tend to turn white at first and never have I seen infertile ones turn black.

We stopped in last week, but nobody was there. From what we could see peering in the window I really doubt that they'll be open this weekend.

I've had this occasionally happen to mouthbroding cichlids over the years, and remember reading that sometimes it can be caused by a small bone in their mouth becoming dislodged and forcing the mouth to remain in the fully open position. Unfortunately none of these fish could ever recover to a normal position and all eventually expired. I think you'd have to have a pretty good working knowledge of the bone structure of the particular species and a pretty steady hsnd to have any chance of remedying this particular situation. Hopefully with your cichlids being non-mouthbrooders, that this is not the case.

It is definitely asking for trouble combining different size fry in the same tank. I'd suggest moving the larger fry to other quarters and using the 10 for the bunch of new fry, which should be much closer to the same size.

You are definitely not a nut. The extreme measures that you go to to care for your fish is something that all of us could learn from, including myself! Keep up the great example that you're setting for us!

I worked for a major airline for 6.5 years and can tell you a few facts about the cargo handling. WJ flies Boeing 737 aircraft which have 2 cargo holds, one in the front and one in the tail. Typically the rear hold is not heated, and the front one has air circulated from the cabin through it, so it stays just about as warm as the cabin. My guess is that one of two things happened, either the box was loaded in the rear hold, or, that the box sat on the ramp in the elements for an extended period by the handling company before the scheduled departure. My guess would be the second option.

By the way those are J. transcriptus "Zambia"

[And when I went there the advertisement said unusal fish..... Didn't see any?

If there are any, what are they?

For many years DAD's was known for it's great selection of rare fish. Lately, such has not been the case. "Bread and butter" fish are the normal selection there now, probably an indication of a change in intended target market. Retailers definitely can take a risk supplying rare ( and usually expensive ) fish to a finicky market. By finicky, I mean that some people, upon discovering a rare species in a retailer's tank, then despite realizing the scarcity of a species and the accompanying dearer price, will go out and try to find some way of acquiring the same species and wriggle out of paying the retailer's price. Unsuccessful at this endeavor, they return to the retailer and attempt to "grind" the price down. This can't be a pleasant experience for any retailer, especially when it happens as frequently as it does. It takes a long time for any retailer to cultivate a market for rare fish and it is certainly fraught with far more peril than the common offerings. Over the years I've found that the best way to ensure that LFSs are willingly supply the rare fish market is to purchase those fish ( should they interest you ) and reward the retailer's risk. The bottom line is that no matter how big or small the LFS is, they NEED to make a profit to stay in business. Those that don't profit, don't stay in business, hence the turnover in the industry.

Apparently it will be beside the Fishin' Hole on the NE corner of 51 Ave. and 91 St.

[When stuck without microfoods for newly hatched fry who can't take bbs or microworms as a first food, try squeezing a sponge filter into their tank.

I would be careful about getting the worms off the street as my concern would be all the phenols running along the streets from the gas and oil, especially along the edges. The sidewalks and lawns should be fine, except for the previously mentioned possible use of chemicals. The compost worms are the most reliable and environmentally friendly option.

Try Riverfront, and let us know.

Are they eating yet?

I've had German blue Rams off and on ever since I first imported them from Germany in the early 1990's. In my extensive experience with this species, the last word I would use to describe them would be delicate. The fry are definitely a challenge to raise, but just try to stop a pair from spawning. I've kept and spawned them in all water conditions and so I don't think that the water is your problem. Quite often fish from different water environments do not recognize aggression and threats from others mixed in with them in our tanks until it is too late. Despite the small stature of the co-habitants you are housing your rams with, they are still very aggressive species that in my experience have no bounds on their nasty nature simply because of lack of size. That's my best guess.

I've looked in all the texts on catfish and there is no way your fish is longirostris.

No, I don't think it's too late. Bring the fish to the BA's and show it to them. Explain that you bought this Synodontis decorus in good faith and have been patiently waiting for a year for the juvenile fish to develop into the fish in the text books. Seeing as now it has become obvious to you, and others you have consulted, that the fish you purchased isn't decorus, ask that they either exchange your fish for a true decorus or refund you the purchase price. All that sounds quite reasonable to me.

It is not an atypical decorus at all. My guess is that it's a cross between decorus? and eupterus?. There continues to be some of these Syno crosses being imported from the Czech Rep. and sold as particular Syno species. I could guess the lfs that you purchased this hybrid from but there doesn't seem to be much point. I've pointed out this problem to them but they still continue to deceive their clients. There's a thread on planetcatfish dealing specifically with this shoddy practice.

I highly recommend Ultimate sponge filters by Regina111. They are excellent for biological filtration, but more than that, are the only sponge filter I've ever used to do such a great job mechanically filtering, as demonstrated by their efficiency in my 40 gal. hatchery. They can be obtained on aquabid.

Sil Silica here in Edmonton sells Emerald Creek garnet in a couple of grades for $35/ 100lbs. It is inert and so can be used for soft water tanks without concern over leaching. The color could be better described by any woman, as their color vocabulary is far more extensive the mine, (what can I say I'm only a man!) but I would describe it as somewhere between red and purple. This doesn't sound too natural but it looks fine in my tank.

Invariably when corys are in with most any Rift Lake cichlids the corys' dorsal fins get chewed down to the stub if you let the cichlids do so. This is not a good situation for the corys and obviously the cause of undue stress. If you're stuck for room how about putting the corys in a breeding net until such time as you can find them a new home.

Smaller size and less intense colors are more probably a sign that that particular male is sub-dominant, and will probably never exhibit the size and color of the alpha male until such time as the alpha male is removed from the tank. This is a general rule for most animals from which cichlids are not immune. Inbreeding amongst species who do not pair-bond for life is a very difficult condition to get, due to the randomness of the gene pool. Pair-bond animals in captivity can get to a state of inbreeding in a much quicker and easier way unless the keepers are diligent with the variety of their gene pool. Where inbreeding can occur with captive fish is when original stock is limited, and the gene pool has no chance to diversify.

I'm not doing the specific shopping at this moment. What I'd like to know, from the people who have used the digital cameras, is if there are any that are better for aquarium fish photography than others, or, if there are certain camera options or characteristics that would be better for fish photography.

I am in the market for a digital camera and would like to know what you experienced photogs recommend. I am willing to spend around $500. Thanks

max. 8", for further info check snakeheads.org

I have a feeling that there will be some F1 bleheri (raised in AB) in Calgary before the new year.