OT Papa Red (and other Floridians) - you doing OK?

[Elaine T]

I was at the gym and saw the reports of the hurricane on CNN. There are
6 dead and over a million folks without power. I couldn't help but
think of Papa Red and all the other folks in South Florida who are
weathering the storm.

Papa Red - If you're lucky enough to have power and be reading this, I
hope you, your home, and all your critters are doing well!

--
Elaine T __
http://eethomp.com/fish.html <'__><
rec.aquaria.* FAQ http://faq.thekrib.com

[NetMax]

"Elaine T" > wrote in message
...
>I was at the gym and saw the reports of the hurricane on CNN. There are
>6 dead and over a million folks without power. I couldn't help but
>think of Papa Red and all the other folks in South Florida who are
>weathering the storm.
>
> Papa Red - If you're lucky enough to have power and be reading this, I
> hope you, your home, and all your critters are doing well!
>
> --
> Elaine T

hmmm, no answer, not a good sign. Hang in there Papa Red!
--
www.NetMax.tk

[Gill Passman]

"NetMax" > wrote in message
...
> "Elaine T" > wrote in message
> ...
> >I was at the gym and saw the reports of the hurricane on CNN. There are
> >6 dead and over a million folks without power. I couldn't help but
> >think of Papa Red and all the other folks in South Florida who are
> >weathering the storm.
> >
> > Papa Red - If you're lucky enough to have power and be reading this, I
> > hope you, your home, and all your critters are doing well!
> >
> > --
> > Elaine T
>
> hmmm, no answer, not a good sign. Hang in there Papa Red!
> --
> www.NetMax.tk
>
>
I guess potentially the power might still be out....Papa Red we are thinking
of you....

My thoughts also go out to those people in Louisiana still to face this...

Gill

[Papa Red]

I am very much honoured that y'all even remember me, for I don't
really post here in this newsgroup all that much,... Although that will
change, because I'm getting more and more into raising freshwater fish,
especially Platys and Fancy Guppys.
My electricity went out for only a wee few minutes, so I am very
lucky. I have been rather busy e-mailing with single folks living alone
who were a wee bit worried, either for themselves, or for those loved
ones who are living far from them, those who are living here in Florida.
It's one of the reasons why they call me Papa Red, I'm sort of a "Dear
Abby", Mother Hen worry-wort type, if you know what I mean. And so I
have been a wee bit busy with them, but it seems to be slacking off
today. Now my prayers are with them folks what live in the New Orleans
area.
By the way, some of my Platys and Fancy Guppys gave birth to some fry
during the time Katrina was here, so I put them all into a special ten
gallon tank set up just for fry and very young fish. There are already
young ones from prior births. I am so 'turned on' by them wee babies,
that I am going to try my hardest not to purchase any other types of
fish, other than Platys and Fancy Guppys in the future. But it won't be
an easy thing to accomplish, because you folks are always introducing me
to all kinds of rather interesting aquatic critters. Thanks!
Pax Vobiscum,...~Dean.

[Elaine T]

Papa Red wrote:
> I am very much honoured that y'all even remember me, for I don't
> really post here in this newsgroup all that much,... Although that will
> change, because I'm getting more and more into raising freshwater fish,
> especially Platys and Fancy Guppys.
> My electricity went out for only a wee few minutes, so I am very
> lucky. I have been rather busy e-mailing with single folks living alone
> who were a wee bit worried, either for themselves, or for those loved
> ones who are living far from them, those who are living here in Florida.
> It's one of the reasons why they call me Papa Red, I'm sort of a "Dear
> Abby", Mother Hen worry-wort type, if you know what I mean. And so I
> have been a wee bit busy with them, but it seems to be slacking off
> today. Now my prayers are with them folks what live in the New Orleans
> area.
> By the way, some of my Platys and Fancy Guppys gave birth to some fry
> during the time Katrina was here, so I put them all into a special ten
> gallon tank set up just for fry and very young fish. There are already
> young ones from prior births. I am so 'turned on' by them wee babies,
> that I am going to try my hardest not to purchase any other types of
> fish, other than Platys and Fancy Guppys in the future. But it won't be
> an easy thing to accomplish, because you folks are always introducing me
> to all kinds of rather interesting aquatic critters. Thanks!
> Pax Vobiscum,...~Dean.

I'm so glad to hear that you and the fish made it through! I had
visions of you pouring water into tanks and stirring them with a kitchen
spoon. A tank full of "hurricane babies" sounds like fun to grow out.

I love guppies too. I have a strain of bicolor reds from a local IFGA
breeder and it's so much fun watching them color up and grow their
flowing delta tails and scarf-like dorsal fins. I got them at my local
aquarium club for only $6 for the pair and they're the nicest guppies
I've ever had.

--
Elaine T __
http://eethomp.com/fish.html <'__><
rec.aquaria.* FAQ http://faq.thekrib.com

[Papa Red]

My guppys are just the cheap $1.50 or 1.75 a pair kind. But that's
okay, because I just love to watch and feed the baby fish. And unlike
the other types of fish that I currently have, Guppys and Platys are
reproducing here very well . But one thing that has really struck my
interest, are the many different color pattern types that Platys come
in. I'm thinking about maybe trading in my Zebra danios, Red-tailed
sharks, Cherry barbs, Angelfish and Gouramis, for more Platys and Fancy
Guppys. I think it would be neat to have one of my 30 gallon aquariums
just chock full of Platy and Fancy Guppy fry, instead of just having a
single ten gallon tank full.~Dean.

[NetMax]

"Papa Red" > wrote in message
...
> My guppys are just the cheap $1.50 or 1.75 a pair kind. But that's
> okay, because I just love to watch and feed the baby fish. And unlike
> the other types of fish that I currently have, Guppys and Platys are
> reproducing here very well . But one thing that has really struck my
> interest, are the many different color pattern types that Platys come
> in. I'm thinking about maybe trading in my Zebra danios, Red-tailed
> sharks, Cherry barbs, Angelfish and Gouramis, for more Platys and Fancy
> Guppys. I think it would be neat to have one of my 30 gallon aquariums
> just chock full of Platy and Fancy Guppy fry, instead of just having a
> single ten gallon tank full.~Dean.


I had the opportunity to run a pet shop for a little while (a dream come
true ;~), and we had a 135g Oceanic tank at the entrance which I used as
a display tank, periodically changing the theme. One month, I filled it
with a box of Platys for a promotion (a box = 900 fish, but I didn't
count them ;~). Their range of colors made it quite the eye-catching
display. Because I'd bought in quantity, I was able to sell them quite
inexpensively, so it only took about 6 weeks to sell over 800 of them
(but they are very good beginner fish). It's not too often you get to
see 900 Platys in a single tank :o).

Glad to hear you made out ok Papa Red.
--
www.NetMax.tk

[Gill Passman]

"NetMax" > wrote in message
.. .
> "Papa Red" > wrote in message
> ...
> > My guppys are just the cheap $1.50 or 1.75 a pair kind. But that's
> > okay, because I just love to watch and feed the baby fish. And unlike
> > the other types of fish that I currently have, Guppys and Platys are
> > reproducing here very well . But one thing that has really struck my
> > interest, are the many different color pattern types that Platys come
> > in. I'm thinking about maybe trading in my Zebra danios, Red-tailed
> > sharks, Cherry barbs, Angelfish and Gouramis, for more Platys and Fancy
> > Guppys. I think it would be neat to have one of my 30 gallon aquariums
> > just chock full of Platy and Fancy Guppy fry, instead of just having a
> > single ten gallon tank full.~Dean.
>
>
> I had the opportunity to run a pet shop for a little while (a dream come
> true ;~), and we had a 135g Oceanic tank at the entrance which I used as
> a display tank, periodically changing the theme. One month, I filled it
> with a box of Platys for a promotion (a box = 900 fish, but I didn't
> count them ;~). Their range of colors made it quite the eye-catching
> display. Because I'd bought in quantity, I was able to sell them quite
> inexpensively, so it only took about 6 weeks to sell over 800 of them
> (but they are very good beginner fish). It's not too often you get to
> see 900 Platys in a single tank :o).
>
> Glad to hear you made out ok Papa Red.
> --
> www.NetMax.tk
>
>
Just remember that if you add Platys to water means multiple Platys :-)
Gill

[Papa Red]

I know that about Platys, Gill. And about Fancy Guppys too. I
currently have a ten gallon aquarium that is so chock full of just new
born, very young, and a little older immature Platys and Fancy Guppys,
that just as soon as one looks like it could live safely in one of my
more safer community tanks [no Angelfish, red-tailed sharks; Gouramis;
more aggressive Bettas, etc.], I take them out of "the Nursery", and
into that community tank. One day I would like to have 30 gallon
aquariums filled with new-born fry,..I really love 'em,...I think it's
the "Papa" in me<LOL> Pax Vobiscum,...~Dean.

[Gill Passman]

"Papa Red" > wrote in message
...
> I know that about Platys, Gill. And about Fancy Guppys too. I
> currently have a ten gallon aquarium that is so chock full of just new
> born, very young, and a little older immature Platys and Fancy Guppys,
> that just as soon as one looks like it could live safely in one of my
> more safer community tanks [no Angelfish, red-tailed sharks; Gouramis;
> more aggressive Bettas, etc.], I take them out of "the Nursery", and
> into that community tank. One day I would like to have 30 gallon
> aquariums filled with new-born fry,..I really love 'em,...I think it's
> the "Papa" in me<LOL> Pax Vobiscum,...~Dean.
>

I had a 5gall stuffed with platy and mollie fry for a while....it was a
lovely looking tank but practicallity had to take over...I just didn't have
the space to accommodate all of them to grow them out in the other tanks and
eventually the majority went to the LFS. I also noticed that the fry born in
the Community Tank(s) thrived much better (once they got past the becoming
lunch stage)....I currently have two Platy fry in my main Community Tank -
it's great to watch them darting about.. :-)

I also have a Malawi tank that is currently in the process of over-stocking
itself. I find it great to watch the tank operate on multiple levels with
the adults at the top and the fry in the lower level smaller caves. It's
also been interesting to watch the first batch of fry grow from a size no
bigger than little water fleas to a good 1 1/2" now and how their position
within the tank changes the older that they get. I am forever finding new
little ones (hence my worry about the tank getting over-stocked because of
the survival rate). Sadly, some of these fish will have to go to the LFS but
I'm loathed to send the "first born" but can forsee problems with 6 adult
Melanchronis Cyaneorhabdos (and that would be if I just kept the first 3
survivors - there are at least another 6 in there at the moment) and with
their prolofic breeding. I have gone from 3 originally back in Feb to 12 by
September.....and that's not to mention the other fish that are breeding in
the tank (certainly some Yellow Lab fry lurking around). Certainly
additional filtration is getting pretty much to be essential to cope with
the load - it has an external Fluval 304 - I have another sitting in a box
waiting to be set up.

My philosophy has to be now that with the fry (Platy and cichlid) as I do
not have the space to grow them out to a good size to sell them on...so they
take their chances in with the adults in the Community Tanks. I've also
found that those that survive do much better in this environment as there is
always plenty of good food stuff and hiding places (and of course to put it
bluntly if they have survived the early days they are the stronger ones). If
your in a position to provide the necessary accommodation to raise the fry -
great...but I wasn't...

Gill

[NetMax]

"Gill Passman" <gillspamattaylorpassmanspam.co.uk> wrote in message
.. .
>
> "Papa Red" > wrote in message
> ...
>> I know that about Platys, Gill. And about Fancy Guppys too. I
>> currently have a ten gallon aquarium that is so chock full of just new
>> born, very young, and a little older immature Platys and Fancy Guppys,
>> that just as soon as one looks like it could live safely in one of my
>> more safer community tanks [no Angelfish, red-tailed sharks; Gouramis;
>> more aggressive Bettas, etc.], I take them out of "the Nursery", and
>> into that community tank. One day I would like to have 30 gallon
>> aquariums filled with new-born fry,..I really love 'em,...I think it's
>> the "Papa" in me<LOL> Pax Vobiscum,...~Dean.
>>
>
> I had a 5gall stuffed with platy and mollie fry for a while....it was a
> lovely looking tank but practicallity had to take over...I just didn't
> have
> the space to accommodate all of them to grow them out in the other
> tanks and
> eventually the majority went to the LFS. I also noticed that the fry
> born in
> the Community Tank(s) thrived much better (once they got past the
> becoming
> lunch stage)....I currently have two Platy fry in my main Community
> Tank -
> it's great to watch them darting about.. :-)
>
> I also have a Malawi tank that is currently in the process of
> over-stocking
> itself. I find it great to watch the tank operate on multiple levels
> with
> the adults at the top and the fry in the lower level smaller caves.
> It's
> also been interesting to watch the first batch of fry grow from a size
> no
> bigger than little water fleas to a good 1 1/2" now and how their
> position
> within the tank changes the older that they get. I am forever finding
> new
> little ones (hence my worry about the tank getting over-stocked because
> of
> the survival rate). Sadly, some of these fish will have to go to the
> LFS but
> I'm loathed to send the "first born" but can forsee problems with 6
> adult
> Melanchronis Cyaneorhabdos (and that would be if I just kept the first
> 3
> survivors - there are at least another 6 in there at the moment) and
> with
> their prolofic breeding. I have gone from 3 originally back in Feb to
> 12 by
> September.....and that's not to mention the other fish that are
> breeding in
> the tank (certainly some Yellow Lab fry lurking around). Certainly
> additional filtration is getting pretty much to be essential to cope
> with
> the load - it has an external Fluval 304 - I have another sitting in a
> box
> waiting to be set up.
>
> My philosophy has to be now that with the fry (Platy and cichlid) as I
> do
> not have the space to grow them out to a good size to sell them on...so
> they
> take their chances in with the adults in the Community Tanks. I've also
> found that those that survive do much better in this environment as
> there is
> always plenty of good food stuff and hiding places (and of course to
> put it
> bluntly if they have survived the early days they are the stronger
> ones). If
> your in a position to provide the necessary accommodation to raise the
> fry -
> great...but I wasn't...
>
> Gill


Just an FYI, but I've kept adult Platy with African cichlids, Frontosa,
Leleupis & Mooris and they would be compatible with many other Africans
as well (though eventually the Fronts might make a meal of them). The
liked the same water conditions, and the Platys were a source of live
food (though I think the two Pictus are the ones which really profited
from this set-up ;~).

They also layered nicely from top to bottom, Platy (red), Moori (blues),
Fronts (black, blue, white), Leleupis (yellow) and Pictus (black, white &
silver), very colourful. Tank was large and heavily rocked, so the
Platys never appeared to have been in any danger, or even mildly
harassed.

If you wanted to try this, Platys go in first and Africans as juveniles
after.
--
www.NetMax.tk