Thanks for that :D I never would have considered Discus as a tankmate, but I think the tank's a little on the small side. I might try some Cardinal Tetras if they're not bothered by the current, which isn't really that strong...maybe some Hatchetfish as well. I have some Hatchets in another tank and...

I want to see some activity in an "empty" 250 Ltr tank. It has 5 L134's, plenty of filtration, temperature is 28 and water conditions are right for L13's. Obviously I don't want anything that would clash with them. Was also thinking about adding some Whiptails, but I don't think any of the...

Now that is bizarre! Wow, never seen anything like that on a Royal. Can't say I'd want one at home, but the chances of encountering one for sale seem very slim.
Shaun

Every species in the Callichthyidae Genus, and I do mean everything. Black Lancer Catfish, Bagrichthys macracanthus. Auchenipteridae species, especially my Zamora Cats. Not many other species available here (the Zamoras were very hard to find anyway), would love some Liosomadoras oncinus, Tatia sp. ...

I think pretty much everyone will be watching the Football today! Go Saint Kilda!

Chemma,
The Black Lancers are supposed to be male, but I don't think the inspectors know how to sex them. Most batches I see are mixed
Shaun

Thanks Kim, it would be nicer to set them up in a habitat using the bigger tank anyway
Shaun

Are these difficult to keep? Thinking about getting a small group...They retail over $120 here, so I don't want to lose any! They're wild caught, imported from Germany.
Shaun

Yeah, the males only thing has always confused me...Decorus, Black Lancers and Red Hook Silver Dollars to name a few. The main reason given by the authorities is that they don't want those species being bred here. But why let them in at all if that's the case??? The size restrictions are generally j...

The "Allowable Import List" system used in Australia was devised before most L-Number Loricariid sp were discovered, which is why they're not on the list. Additions to the list are made every 5 years or so, last time Dekeyseria brachyura was added, maybe more will be added next time. The L...

Would this size tank be too smal to house S. barbatus on a permanent basis?
Shaun

How many litres/minute are required per airstone? I need a pump that will run at least 20 outlets, with a good strong airflow through each outlet. Just wondering what size pump to get, 45l/min? Bigger? Smaller?
Thanks,
Shaun

Ah good
I wanted to do a small setup that fits into the corner of my room. 1 150 Ltr stock tank, 2 80 Ltr growing tanks and 3 45x30x30cm breeding/rearing tanks.
Shaun

Is a 45x30x30cm (18"x12"x12") tank too small for breeding and raising Cory fry? The adults won't be housed in them all the time, I will have some larger stock tanks.
Shaun

Interesting thread. This species of Mystus has been available here for about 5 years, they're locally bred on a couple of fish farms in Queensland. They are not an allowable import, which means they were smuggled in at some point and then "farmed" here. I work for the largest importer/whol...

Great catfish to combine with Paracyprychromis ara Phyllonemus typus but I don't know if the tanksize is sufficiant. Again, great fish, but if they were available here I'd would already have some :( I keep my wild Tanganyikans in Spokane tap water, with a pH of 7.8, kH of 3, and gH of 5-7 (dependin...

Another question crosses my mind... I haven't had much experience with "hard" water species, what is the best way to maintain the right water parameters for them? My tapwater is slightly alkaline but with zero GH or KH, so no buffering capacity. I know salt/sodium chloride is generally the...

Thanks Barbie. I hadn't considered Paracyprichromis...there's so many Tangs to choose from! There's a huge variety available even here in Australia, often many things are hard to get here, (like Catfish!) so it's good to see. I'm still a little bit nervous about putting Synodontis in here though...b...

Thanks for the suggestions :D Richard, I like the idea of shelldwellers and Cyprichromis. That's basically what I want to achieve, compatible fish in a nice little display. Obviously shellies require shells, do either species require rock structures? Unfortunently the only Tanganyikan catfish readil...

I want to set up a Tanganyikan display in a 75cmx42cmx45cm - 140 ltrs tank. I'm fascinated by lake Tang Cichlids and was wondering if anyone had any suggestions on fish/setup for a small community biotope? I know the tank isn't all that large, and I don't want to overstock either. The tank has a top...

Mats is right. Ancistrus dolichopterus keep the white seam on the dorsal and caudal fins, Ancistrus sp. L071 lose them as they mature.
Nice fish
Shaun

I'm pretty sure the authorities didn't create the black-market. They perhaps created an ENVIRONMENT where there is a possibility for a black market Sorry Mats, that's what I meant. Unfortunently worse things are already being smuggled, live animals are the third most popular smuggled item in Austra...

Jackson, Mats, currently the only real L-Number that can be legally imported into Australia is Dekeyseria brachyura . They manage to sneak Dekeyseria sp L052 and Panaque maccus in under this name also. However all 3 are still relatively expensive, around $60-$100AU. All the other L-Numbers are, or w...

Mats, you may have gotten the Australian Peppermint L183 vs L071 thing from my posts :oops: Pretty sure I'm right in calling them L071 as I base the ID on Ingo Seidel's article on White-Spotted Ancistrus and his very helpful L-Catfishes book. L071 fits all the characteristics of the Aussie fish, but...

I'm from near Melbourne. Not keeping many cats at the moment, space restricted, but I used to breed a lot of Corys and will start again once I sort out my new fishroom.
Shaun

I don't think anyone has posted this link, pretty sure the article is about the same company:
http://glassbox-design.com/2009/freshwa ... ankyousui/
Shaun

The Peppermint Bristlenose in Oz are Ancistrus sp. (L071/L181/L249).
These like slighty higher temperatures - 27-28c, and a bit of current in the tank, say from a powerhead or internal power filter. They are pretty adaptable in terms of water conditions/chemistry, just like good clean water.
Shaun

These have been bred here, and probably elsewhere. I haven't heard that they spawn any differently to other Dwarf Panaque.
Shaun

Haha yeah I knew I should've provided a few more details :oops: nvcichlids: The pics are really bad, but there are actually two sizes of eggs there. Whenever these spawn they seem to lay a whole lot of small, clear unferterlised eggs, as well as larger ferterlised ones. The ferterlised ones are more...

I can't make them bigger, should've uploaded them to my profile here.
Shaun

These lay eggs quite often, but I've only raised fry a few times. The females lay eggs all day and then just sit exhausted out in the open with the lights on. No batteries for my camera, so these are from a phone :( http://www.plecofanatics.com/gallery/files/3/0/9/3/2/ZamoraCatEggs2_thumb.jpg http:/...