k9outfit

To me it looks like a very nice Labidochromis Perlmutt. When stressed they tend to get a darker slate grey hue to them, and the barring also becomes more pronounced. Also, if fed NLS, the mother of pearl colour tends to have more of a bluish sheen to it.

Does anyone know of where I could find some? Preferably in/around Edmonton, but also possibly Calgary? If not, any ideas how I could move some from a friend's tank to mine, without them all dieing off? The transfer would take approx. an hour from tank to tank. Not sure which section to place this under...

My experience has been similar, though I didn't actually loose any fish; I seperated the Compressiceps before the pair anihilated the other two. Now the other two are also in seperate tanks, since my 180 didn't seem large enough for them both, even though they're opposite sexes. My Calvus seem a bit more tolerant of each other; there's 6 (4 males, 2 females) in one of my 90s. These are F1s, and all from the same batch. So far, they haven't tried killing each other, though I think I'll be needing to seperate them shortly. My intent is not to be discouraging, quite the contrary. Success is what gives a person confidence, and confidence is what motivates most of us to try ever more challenging species, and also helps us overcome failures along the way. On the other hand, setting one's self up for failure by starting off trying to spawn a difficult or delicate species is the quickest way to abandon this hobby. Also, successes give us the experience necessary to be able to trouble-shoot effectively when suddenly all the fry die off for no apparent reason.

Calvus and/or Compressiceps are a 15 (BAP) point fish, not without reason. Definitely not the fish for the novice breeder. You may get them to spawn, but in this case the spawning's the least difficult part of the equation; raising the fry being the real challenge. They're an extremely slow growing fish, and for the 1st 8-10 months are extremely delicate. I would strongly recommend starting with something considerably easier and hardier, for instance Lamprologus ocellatus or something along those lines, if shell dwellers are what you wish to try. ...Just a suggestion so you don't get discouraged before you even start. I have yet to get mine to spawn in anything other than an appropriate shell; possibly I'm doing something wrong?

Don't know what kind of filter you're using, but if it would be a canister, could you have accidentally moved the return when you did your maintenance, so it no longer agitates the surface? As for nitrates, if you're doing regular maintenance, can't see they'd get high enough to actually decimate your fish. Also, the temperature of your water shouldn't kill of your fish - either by filling your tank with colder water during a water change, or by forgeting to plug your heater back in after. I regularly do 80-90% water changes (have also done 100% water changes on my Discus), I have filled up 40% of my tanks with cold water after running the hot water heater dry, I have forgotten to plug heaters back in on sensitive fish that require a lot warmer temperature than Africans, etc., etc. If your fish are healthy to start with, can't see that any of these factors should be an issue.

To add a new food into your Discus's diet, easiest and quickest way is to always feed the new food 1st thing in the morning when the fish are hungriest. Next feeding, give them a food they like, and alternate between the familiar and new food throughout the day. Persistance is the key. Also, once even 1 fish starts nibbling at the new food, most likely they'll all try it. Personally, I have not found starving fish a very successful option, since some fish will starve before they'd consider eating an unknown food. Also, it seems as though they just get plain turned off of all food due to starvation, in which case you've got a He** of an uphill battle to get them eating anything again.

Actually, more like 2 years; that is, at least the Ocean Green, Scorpion and Gold. That's what 50% water changes, 3 times a week for over a year does for these fish.

While growing out your Discus, I would *strongly* recommend 50% at least 3 times a week, to get strong, even growth among all your juvies. Also, feeding 4-6 times a day, with a variety of foods will also enhance strong growth and good health. Once the Discus are mature however, water changes can be cut down to 50% a week (prefferably twice a week or 3 times in 2 weeks), and will also survive moderate neglect and overcrowding for short periods, providing they're healthy to start with. Discus, contrary to popular belief, are actually quite hardy. Useing anything but tap water (i.e. hard) is completely personal choice - unless you're planning on breeding. Much more crucial is the lack of pH swings. By no means an expert on Discus, I have dabbled with them for a couple of years now, and currently have over 50 in 10 tanks. Have only lost a couple due to aggression in all that time... Blue Ram, why would you add R/O to a small tank, yet not to a large one?

At least I didn't also suggest option #4 :tongue: The Long-finned White Clouds I'm *assuming* are man-made; they have longish veily fins: caudal, dorsal and pectoral, but they really don't look tacky. They can swim normaly, etc. Pretty well all the long fins do is provide a larger area for the brilliant colours.

Love the Killes, though you'd have to find a species that likes to be in your face, rather than hiding in a mop. Got some Aphysemion striatum almost ready to hatch.... Have you thought about Long-finned White Clouds? Gorgeous little fishies that *are* in your face. Soon will be ready to go.... Endlers... how many would you like? :smokey:

Aren't most, if not all snails hermaphrodite?

tanks with water: 230+180+(2)90+50+45+(10)33+(7)29+20+(7)15+12+(5)10+(3)5.5+2.5=1424 tanks currently without water: (10)50+(4)33+(2)25+20+(3)15+(2)10=767 ... think they're all accounted for....

Cobalt Blue Zebra & Purple Zebra; these 2 varieties will go together, but only in a tank that's 40 gallons or more, and preferably 4 feet long. Also, you would probably need at least 5 or 6 of each variety to keep the fish from damaging each other.

I recently had a MAJOR ammonia spike in one of my tanks. The spike lasted for over 3 weeks 'til I finally found the source - a very dead and decayed Pleco that was well hidden, trapped under some wood. I was dosing 5 times the standard dosage for that tank, twice a day for around 3 weeks straight. But since my temp is over 31* C, I probably should have used it at 1/2 strenght, but didn't; therefore, one could construe I actually used 10 times the recommended dosage. Went though a few litres of Prime, but didn't loose a single fish.... 30 full sized Discus. I swear by the stuff.... It may have given me false readings, but believe me, it sure DID read the ammonia!

As in: not well water; since as some people are aware, we live out of town on an acreage. And yes, to avoid further misunderstanding, I do use dechlorinator; but I do not add any stuff I normally would add to my African Cichlids' water, nor do I add any stuff I normally add to my South/Central American fishes' water. Therefore, "straight tap water". Also, if it were a chlorine or chloramine issue, wouldn't all Endlers, male, female, gravid or none, be dieing off, rather than only the gravid females?

I'm having a terrible time; my gravid Endlers are dropping on me like flies. Males are fine, just the gravid ones are cratering, I suspect shortly before bearing their young? Tried seperating them so they wouldn't be harrassed; still have casualties. Tank's a 20 gallon, with lots of cover (spawning mops, fake plant - carpet & floating types - clump of Java moss), large sponge filter, water changes using straight tap (i.e. city) water. Sure would appreciate thoughts, suggestions, ideas?

What kind of fish? Age? I would suspect that if they're all older fish (i.e. subadult or older), and a hardier type (Africans or some such), if you'd drop the temperature by a couple of degrees, leave the lights off, and feed only sparingly every other day or so - essentially slow down their metabolism and activity level - you should be able to get away with leaving them without water changes for a month or more. About a week before leaving though, I'd recommend doing several large water changes, to knock back the nitrate level as much as possible. Did this with my Discus (and all the rest of them) when I was gone overseas for 15 days last fall, with no detrimental effects.

Thanks for the suggestions! Sounds like the stuff I'm after; it can be splashed and sit in water 24/7 without flaking, peeling or other damage? ...And can be bought at... Rona? Home Depot? Marine store? Or would I have to special order it?

Got to seal some raw wood in a sump before it molds & rots. Any suggestions as to what I could use that's 100% fish safe? Marine enamel (what brand)? Urathane?? Verathane??? Oil????

...As in Aulonocara, or Otopharynx Lithobates? I have it on good authority that Aquarium Enthusiasts will be getting some nice Lithobates in shortly, if that's the "Sulfurhead" you're after. Also, prices are *quite* reasonable.

Interesting thread - at least I think so.... If I were to line breed a superior quality fish, first and foremost, I'd start by making a very detailed, concise list of the qualities I want in my fish - along with traits I definitely DIDN'T want. I firmly believe my version of my "perfect" fish needs to be 100% clear in my mind to give me some direction, long before I even start selecting my breeding stock. Then, I'd select my male, make a list of his good points, and another list of "things to improve upon", namely his faults. I'd have 2 lists for each male. Then, I'd do the same for the females, qualities, and areas to improve. From there, I'd breed the select pair, raise the young to at least reasonable colouring, and then assess each individual: good points, bad points, what characteristics were improved, which were not, and the whole spawn in general, as to whether or not it was a good match. Then when these have been assessed and are breedable, then decide whether to cross back to the male/female, breed specific siblings together, or...? Each breeding would have to be thought out, planned, assessed, along with reasons for why it would be a good match, or why not; all based on your vision of the "perfect" specimen. Basically, I'd say you're looking at - conservatively - a few years. But, it would be a fun challenge.

Started innocuously enough, since we were on the payement equilization plan for YEARS. Then we got a bill for around $1200.00, and since then, every bill has been in the order of $600.00-$1,000.00. Not sure why or exactly when everything went to Hell in a handbasket, since the Epcor bills are incredibly difficult to decifer, with their "credit" and then their new charges. Also, there were months & months where the meter was "estimated" rather than an actual reading taken. Anyway, we've been getting hit with these whoppers for around 1.5 years now. Can't really think of anything we did back then to warrant the change in power consumption, just like I can't think of anything we're doing right now that would be cutting down our consumption - other than it's warmer (no furnace) and lighter (less lights on per day); that alone shouldn't be cutting our consumption by almost 1/3 (going by 12 hour meter readings). Our last bill was still in the $800.00 range.... :well: OK; the results are in for the last 24 hours: used 31 Kilowatts yesterday from 8:30 am-8:30 pm, then used 37 from 8:30 pm - 8:30 this morning. Was a 68 kilowatt day though, lower than have been getting. Question is, why was the consumption higher during the night than day???? I unplugged the compressor yesterday evening, right after the 8:30 pm reading.... Have been consistantly around 40-50 during the day, and 30-35 nights (around 75-85 Kilowatts per day). What happened???? :well:

:shock: 1500 sq. ft, walk-out basement... Not sure what's going on; was up in the 120-140 kilowatt/day range, now suddenly (since I'm monitoring the meter every 12 hours! :shock: ) I'm reading 40-50 during the day (8:30 am-8:30 pm), 30-35 during the night (8:30 pm-8:30 am.). Basically, we're averageing right around 80 kilowatts per day. Does anyone else's power consumption concure, or are we still way out in left field? My entire life seems to be scheduled around power meter readings.... . Unplugged the compressor this pm; will know by 8:30 am how much that's consuming....

Thanks guys, but as per my 1st post, the edit says it all: Don't know if an electrical implement can be installed incorrectly, i.e. wired wrong, or something went all wonky with age and use/abuse, but I'm 99.9% positive that that's our problem. Now we just have to figure out what that "something" is - since it's obviously not my tanks that are drawing this kind of power. I've been vindicated...

-roll- I've been questioning/asking for advice for almost a year, on a monthly basis (every day that our bill arrived, they'd get a call), and last month FINALLY, they admitted that we have some issues. :shock: That was AFTER I completely went off the deep end, when I was informed that they were prohibited from talking to me since my name wasn't on the bill... after I had been trying to staighten this out with them on a monthly basis, for almost 11 months!!!!! (During this time, somehow my name was removed from our bill (probably because of my monthly phone calls!), without us having noticed it.) ....Anyway, we won't go there.... :boom: Basically, now that I know beyond any doubt our high power bill is due to some faulty electrical contraption, the only thing I can do is locate it, and replace or fix it; via an electrician. I suppose Epcore would be willing to send someone out (possibly even within this decade - providing they would consider speaking to me even if my name isn't on the bill), but I can't see it costing us less, or being a better option, than hiring an electrician on our own.