Posts Tagged ‘fishkeeper’

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Brine Shrimp

Thursday, November 3rd, 2005

I never bred Sturisoma Aureum before, so it’s time to prepare some Brine Shrimp for the fry, many years ago after a disaster where a batch of Brine Shrimp didn’t hatch, a friend recommended different grades of ZM Fry Foods to feed to my fry. Since that day, I’ve always used ZM Fry Foods. But some fry, don’t eat dry food because it doesn’t move. Not knowing how well Sturisoma Aureum fry will take to eating dry food, I best prepare my brine shrimp cultures. It’s easy to put a pair of fish together in a tank, and get them to spawn, but rearing the fry is the challenge.

Here’s the Brine Shrimp Hatcher I use

Brine Shrimp Hatcher

Many fishkeepers, use a traditional milk bottle, and air stone with cotton wool as a bung. I’ve had these years, and they install inside the fish tank, and are okay for small numbers of brine shrimp. I’ll try and move the Sturisoma Aureum fry onto dry food as soon as possible. I didn’t think New Technology Brine Shrimp Hatcher kits were still available, but I’ve just checked, and surprisingly they are!

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White Spot in Tropical Fish Shops

Thursday, October 20th, 2005

Whilst visting family in South Wales, I’ve been out and about browsing the local Tropical Fish shops.

I spotted an excellent pair of Parrot Cichlids at Wyevale Garden Centre, Pyle. If Parrot Cichlids breed successfully and had a commericial value, I would have been very tempted to purchase, still tempted, a very unusual colouration, similiar to Jeff Raps “Calico” Convict Cichlids. Possibly been cross-breed with Convict Cichlids. Umm, purchasing man-made, genetically modified designer fish, I’ll have to consider this purchase very carefully.

I was also very impressed with the Fish display at Petsathome, Bridgend Retail Park. The large tropica plants are execellent value for money, and I also saw some young RED Angelfish, these fish did not just have a red blush, but overall pigment was red in colour, this could possibly due to red pigment enhancers feed in food, it could be genetic, I would have to purchase some and grow on to be sure. 5.99 GBP each.

To end on a controversial note, I also visited Maidenhead Aquatics at Pontarddulais Garden Centre, Swansea. This tropical fish has just been voted Top Tropical Fish Shop in Wales 2005, and 9th UK Retailer 2005 by readers of Practical Fishkeeping.

After reading this, I thought it must be worth a visit. I was put off purcahsing any livestock because several tanks that contained Clown Loaches in the Tropical section, were covered in White Spot.

I purchased two packs of “Diskusin” to make it worth the effort of travelling there.

Would you purchase fish from tanks with white spot? Answers on a postcard please, to the usual address.If this is the best, I’d hate to visit the worst!

Disclaimer: There could be good reason that several tanks had white spot outbreaks, and it could be under control with chemical or ultra-violet treatment, the infected fish may not be for sale.

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Confessions of a fishkeeper!

Tuesday, September 20th, 2005

I’m ashamed to admit it but many fishkeepers I know are a “dab hand” at using a glass cutter. Unfortunately, this is a skill I’ve never mastered successfully, I’ve always left it to the professional glaziers to cut the glass to size for me, and they make it look so easy. I’ve been told it helps to have a good quality glass cutter. I finally succumb today and purchase a new expensive glass cutter. I’ve got lots of glass and glass condensation covers that need cutting to size for a few fish tanks, that need new tight fitting covers.

And this evening for the first time, I’ve successfully managed to cut a piece of glass, in a straight line, without smashing it! Maybe it does help to have the correct tools.

Display fish tank in the “sun room” is stable, but need to check water flow rate of Eheim external filter.

Finally installed the permanent electrical supply for the new air compressor.

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