stratos

I spent a whole day with the guys from www.freshwaterstingray.nl I have some awesome photos to share soon, and an article to write, but now I am still cycling. Stay tuned. Theo

http://www.mikofish.com/ Go to the bottom and watch the Youtube video: VIDEO: Collecting Otocinclus affinis in their natural habitat.

Some neat photos in this article on rays: http://www.aquarticles.com/articles/breedi..._Stingrays.html Apparetly hybridized Synodontous sp. are headed our way: http://www.aquarticles.com/articles/breedi..._angelicus.html

Many of you guys will already know about the thread on Monsterfishkeepers about Michael's massive home aquarium. I received permission to collate all the posts as I saw fit and to post an article on Aquarticles. Check it out at: http://www.aquarticles.com/articles/manage...FK_version.html To coin a British term, bloody amazing!

Without knowing the size of your tank it is hard to comment. I do have two general ideas, however. First, if you have a large tank, why not special order in large eels? SE Asian fish farms can supply some pretty large stock if you want to do a special order. Second, you could silicone (if tank is glass) or glue (if tank is acrylic) horizontal "cross beams" along the inside of your overflow slits. This would reduce flow-rate, but would not look too ugly. I still think you would need to get larger eels to make this idea work though; from my experience most FW eels will find a way to get out of any hole/crack that can fit their body...

Regarding the link above, I have to share a funny story. I have been in email contact with the webmaster there as I have used some of the photos in articles in the past. In my recent correspondance with Mr. Kan I quoted the following I came across on that Japanese site: Q: What is the difference between chili red and blood red? Q: Are chili red better than blood red? A: "Chili Red " and "Blood Red " are names for wild arowana. Chili red live in the south area of the Lake Sentarum in Kalimantan. Blood red live in the northern area. A chili red has a "spoon" head, a blood red has a "cannonball" head. A chili red has a diamond shape tail, a blood red has a fan shape tail. A chili red has green skin, a blood red has darker base. Both become red. They are different strains, so it is worth nothing to say which is better. I should mention again those names are for WILD fish. We can purchase only farmed fish, and they are cross bred ones. It is nonsense to discuss "Is my aro chili or blood?" Only we can purchase are "1st grade red". Of course "Chili red TYPE" or "Blood red TYPE" do exist And so I then emailed Mr.Kan the following: Hi Kan - I got the following from a Japanese site. Do you agree with what it says about the difference between Chilli and Blood reds? I ask because in the past I have seen red arowana with very red diamond shaped tails versus the others with rounded tails (and rounder heads). Thanks for any insight you can provide. And as for Mr.Kan's reply? He said: The Japanese man interviewed was just repeating a whole load of rubbish given to him by Indonesian poaches of wild arowanas. Just stick to what I have said before! I'll say this for Mr. Kan, he definitely holds strong opinions!

Below is a question I sent Mr.Kan and his response. Again, interesting reading! A question I have for you concerns the email you sent me explaining the unscrupulous behaviour of Indonesian traders. As part of the email you mentioned that fewer water changes is better for Asian arowana. Can you expand on this point? I have always been told that it is wise to do frequent (i.e. 25% weekly) water changes. Thanks, Mr. Kan's Reply: In my many years of enjoying the arowana, first of all as a hobbyist and then later in farming, I have witnessed the result of red arowanas kept by many kind of fish hobbyists in a whole array of different conditions ... different set-ups(some near a source of sunlight for example), varying Ph levels, varying temperature of water, frequency of water changes, feeding routine & manner of feeding and what to feed, various tank sizes, different water levels, etc, etc, etc. and this is the basis for the explanation I have given to you! You must understand that the red arowana in its natural environment are found only in the very still and quiet part of the meandering river which is away from the flow.This part of the river because it is very still has water temperatures & Ph levels pretty much the same all the time. In this condition the color of the fish will be very dark & intense. Can u achieve this with frequent water changes? If u can then by all means do so! At first glance, Mr. Kan seems to advocate another approach to aro raising than that of Joseph Tan. However, perhaps weekly water changes under strict conditions, along with buffering of Ph, can yield a near constant water condition?

Mr. Kan of Panda Aquatics put me in touch with a fellow named Joseph Tan in S'pore. He's written an informative/interesting article on what it takes to raise a winner (and NO animal cruelty mentioned here!): http://www.aquarticles.com/articles/breedi...g_A_Winner.html

The permit is only good for one import of fish and must correspond with the micro-chip tag numbers of the imported fish. As far as I know there is no time limit for when you can use the permit; however, given that the fish farms hold your fish for you while the paperwork is processed, it is in your interest (and the fish farm's), to get the fish imported ASAP.

Hi guys - I wrote the article you refer to above. I am now arranging group imports across Canada. In our last import that wrapped up last week (see: <a href="http://www.bcaquaria.com/forum/showthread....=939&page=7" target="_blank">http://www.bcaquaria.com/forum/showthread....=939&page=7</a> ) we had a fellow in Calgary get a Super red. We trans-shipped it to him on arrival in Vancouver from Singapore via Westjet for $50. Easy as pie. We are now arranging a second group order (see: <a href="http://www.bcaquaria.com/forum/showthread.php?t=2492" target="_blank">http://www.bcaquaria.com/forum/showthread.php?t=2492</a> ). Prices shipped to major cities in Canada are $600 for High Back RTG, $1550 for Super Red (Chilli or Blood Red), and $1550 for Xback. These prices are final and include all shipping, handling, and GST. I think you will agree this is a very good price, especially when you factor in that GST is included. I am in the process of reformatting the www.dragonfish.ca site which is geared towards setting up group buys for Canadian buyers of Asian arowana. If you are looking to buy 12 fish or spend $5,000 I suggest you do the import totally on your own through Mr.Kan at Panda Aquatics (tell him Theo sent you). If you are looking for fewer fish, contact me and I'll gladly get you in on this next order. By the way, we have a little High Back RTG left over from the previous order right now. We can ship it immediately to Alberta for a total of $700, if you know anyone interested. Otherwise the next order will take about 2 months to get done. Cheers