Snails and disappearing dead fish

[Altum]

Lately, I've been allowing ramshorn snails to live in a 10 gallon
planted tank - they seem to do more good than harm. I've also got
Amano shrimp and Malaysian trumpet snails in the tank.

Now a guppy has gone missing. I cleaned the tank and couldn't find a
trace of him. There isn't any smell, no corpse, and the water tests
fine. Fancy guppies with huge tails can't jump and I don't have cats.
Can shrimp and snails completely eat a dead guppy and plants absorb any
water quality problems? Should I keep searching for a corpse?

[Richard Sexton]

>Now a guppy has gone missing. I cleaned the tank and couldn't find a
>trace of him. There isn't any smell, no corpse, and the water tests
>fine. Fancy guppies with huge tails can't jump

I lost lots till I dispelled that notion. Found lots of little
dried up corpses.

>Can shrimp and snails completely eat a dead guppy

Yeah. In about a day or two. Or less. Nothing hides like
a dead fish.


--
Need Mercedes parts ? - http://parts.mbz.org
Richard Sexton | Mercedes stuff: http://mbz.org
1970 280SE, 72 280SE | Home page: http://rs79.vrx.net
633CSi 250SE/C 300SD | http://aquaria.net http://killi.net

[Gill Passman]

Altum wrote:
> Lately, I've been allowing ramshorn snails to live in a 10 gallon
> planted tank - they seem to do more good than harm. I've also got
> Amano shrimp and Malaysian trumpet snails in the tank.
>
> Now a guppy has gone missing. I cleaned the tank and couldn't find a
> trace of him. There isn't any smell, no corpse, and the water tests
> fine. Fancy guppies with huge tails can't jump and I don't have cats.
> Can shrimp and snails completely eat a dead guppy and plants absorb any
> water quality problems? Should I keep searching for a corpse?
>

I quite often don't find dead fish unless I've noticed immediately after
their demise. I lost a platy in a 5 gall tank (QT) - only companions
where another 2 platys, some Platy fry and around 5 Blue Eyed Getrude
Rainbows (no snails) - there at breakfast and totally gone by lunchtime
with no opportunity for jumping or the cat getting at it...removed all
the decor, plants, filter etc. but no sign....

As long as the water quality remains OK I would stop the search other
than a cursory glance for floaters or anything suspicious in the
substrate...I've sometimes found reducing the water level (through a
change) has exposed the poor demised fish but this is the exception
rather than the rule...

I would guess the snails, shrimp and indeed the other fish have polished
him off - yuk...

Gill

[Mean_Chlorine]

Thusly "Altum" > Spake Unto All:

>Can shrimp and snails completely eat a dead guppy and plants absorb any
>water quality problems? Should I keep searching for a corpse?

Yes. No.

[Mr. Gardener]

On Fri, 17 Feb 2006 21:09:03 +0000, Gill Passman
> wrote:

>Altum wrote:
>> Lately, I've been allowing ramshorn snails to live in a 10 gallon
>> planted tank - they seem to do more good than harm. I've also got
>> Amano shrimp and Malaysian trumpet snails in the tank.
>>
>> Now a guppy has gone missing. I cleaned the tank and couldn't find a
>> trace of him. There isn't any smell, no corpse, and the water tests
>> fine. Fancy guppies with huge tails can't jump and I don't have cats.
>> Can shrimp and snails completely eat a dead guppy and plants absorb any
>> water quality problems? Should I keep searching for a corpse?
>>
>
>I quite often don't find dead fish unless I've noticed immediately after
>their demise. I lost a platy in a 5 gall tank (QT) - only companions
>where another 2 platys, some Platy fry and around 5 Blue Eyed Getrude
>Rainbows (no snails) - there at breakfast and totally gone by lunchtime
>with no opportunity for jumping or the cat getting at it...removed all
>the decor, plants, filter etc. but no sign....
>
>As long as the water quality remains OK I would stop the search other
>than a cursory glance for floaters or anything suspicious in the
>substrate...I've sometimes found reducing the water level (through a
>change) has exposed the poor demised fish but this is the exception
>rather than the rule...
>
>I would guess the snails, shrimp and indeed the other fish have polished
>him off - yuk...
>
>Gill

OK. I give. What is a blue eyed Gertrude? I searched on Google and
came up with
Gertrude, a blue-eyed and buxom girl was the oldest of the three
Beckett daughters. She fell in love with Rizal. Tottie helped him
and
Lawrence the blond-haired, blue-eyed desert warrior representing
good against ... Gertrude Bell stayed on in the East. But their paths
would cross again. ...

and numerous other dead ends. So please tell me, the suspense is
killing me.

-- Mr Gardener

[Marco Schwarz]

Hi..

> What is a blue eyed Gertrude?

Pseudomugil gertrudae what we call "Blauauge" (~ blue eye)?
--
cu
Marco

[Gill Passman]

Mr. Gardener wrote:
> On Fri, 17 Feb 2006 21:09:03 +0000, Gill Passman
> > wrote:
>
>
>>Altum wrote:
>>
>>>Lately, I've been allowing ramshorn snails to live in a 10 gallon
>>>planted tank - they seem to do more good than harm. I've also got
>>>Amano shrimp and Malaysian trumpet snails in the tank.
>>>
>>>Now a guppy has gone missing. I cleaned the tank and couldn't find a
>>>trace of him. There isn't any smell, no corpse, and the water tests
>>>fine. Fancy guppies with huge tails can't jump and I don't have cats.
>>>Can shrimp and snails completely eat a dead guppy and plants absorb any
>>>water quality problems? Should I keep searching for a corpse?
>>>
>>
>>I quite often don't find dead fish unless I've noticed immediately after
>>their demise. I lost a platy in a 5 gall tank (QT) - only companions
>>where another 2 platys, some Platy fry and around 5 Blue Eyed Getrude
>>Rainbows (no snails) - there at breakfast and totally gone by lunchtime
>>with no opportunity for jumping or the cat getting at it...removed all
>>the decor, plants, filter etc. but no sign....
>>
>>As long as the water quality remains OK I would stop the search other
>>than a cursory glance for floaters or anything suspicious in the
>>substrate...I've sometimes found reducing the water level (through a
>>change) has exposed the poor demised fish but this is the exception
>>rather than the rule...
>>
>>I would guess the snails, shrimp and indeed the other fish have polished
>>him off - yuk...
>>
>>Gill
>
>
> OK. I give. What is a blue eyed Gertrude? I searched on Google and
> came up with
> Gertrude, a blue-eyed and buxom girl was the oldest of the three
> Beckett daughters. She fell in love with Rizal. Tottie helped him
> and
> Lawrence the blond-haired, blue-eyed desert warrior representing
> good against ... Gertrude Bell stayed on in the East. But their paths
> would cross again. ...
>
> and numerous other dead ends. So please tell me, the suspense is
> killing me.
>
> -- Mr Gardener

They are actually quite cute little fish, full of character and very
little more than 1cm in size. Here is a link - the fish pictured is a
male displaying:-

http://www.tropicalfishfinder.co.uk/article_detail.asp?id=16

They are a minature rainbow fish.

Last April I set up a 7.5UK gall Hex tank and bought some Peacock Gobies
to live in it (along with some Panda cories). Before you ask here is a
link:-

http://www.tropicalfishfinder.co.uk/article_detail.asp?id=16

Sadly, after a short christmas break I came home to find that they had
been overfed and with it being such a small tank the results were
catastrophic... :-(

They did give me a taste for trying to find small, rarer but interesting
fish...if I could ever find these fish again (the gobies) I would buy
them at a drop of a hat - they were great....

Anyway, I picked myself, dusted myself down, kept the filter medium
bacteria alive, trashed the tank and set it up again and went out looking.

My local LFS had these Blue Eyed Getrude Rainbows...I'd been looking at
them for months - they didn't sell...so here I am in a postition to give
them a home, plus some surplus space in a couple of other tanks. So in a
rash moment I buy all of the stock (around 30 of the things)...I had
around a 30% mortality rate within the first few days but the rest of
them are thriving. They are spread across 3 small tanks. In one tank
they have spawned - low survival rate (I blame the Platys) but at least
a couple of them have survived. The Hex tank gives me great
pleasure...there is a dominant male and even though in minature I would
say that his display and flaring rivals my betta....the tank is planted
with vallis and I'm not sure that this is the most conducive to spawning
so will replant the tank with more suitable plants...there are around 12
of them in there...

Joke is...the LFS couldn't sell them until a nut like me came in and
bought the tank full...someone in marketing/management has now seen this
as a selling range - they now have another 50 - haven't shifted a single
one in a month...I think that they are a fish that requires
specialisation and a particular type of fish keeper to go out and buy
them - someone who likes slightly "off the wall" fish...I have all the
"standard" fish with some noteable exceptions so I love to dabble...

All in all, if you have a small tank and you are looking for something a
little different that has immense character I would recommend these
little fellows....I do, however, think that their charm would be lost
mixed in a larger community tank...

Gill

PS If I ever find the gobies again I would do the same thing and buy as
many as I could fit in

[Mr. Gardener]

On Fri, 17 Feb 2006 23:34:48 +0100, Marco Schwarz
> wrote:

>Pseudomugil gertrudae

Wow. Pretty fish. Thanks. Are these available in the U.S?
http://members.optusnet.com.au/chelmon/Gertrud.htm


-- Mr Gardener

[Mr. Gardener]

On Fri, 17 Feb 2006 22:39:27 +0000, Gill Passman
> wrote:

>Mr. Gardener wrote:
>> On Fri, 17 Feb 2006 21:09:03 +0000, Gill Passman
>> > wrote:
>>
>>
>>>Altum wrote:
>>>
>>>>Lately, I've been allowing ramshorn snails to live in a 10 gallon
>>>>planted tank - they seem to do more good than harm. I've also got
>>>>Amano shrimp and Malaysian trumpet snails in the tank.
>>>>
>>>>Now a guppy has gone missing. I cleaned the tank and couldn't find a
>>>>trace of him. There isn't any smell, no corpse, and the water tests
>>>>fine. Fancy guppies with huge tails can't jump and I don't have cats.
>>>>Can shrimp and snails completely eat a dead guppy and plants absorb any
>>>>water quality problems? Should I keep searching for a corpse?
>>>>
>>>
>>>I quite often don't find dead fish unless I've noticed immediately after
>>>their demise. I lost a platy in a 5 gall tank (QT) - only companions
>>>where another 2 platys, some Platy fry and around 5 Blue Eyed Getrude
>>>Rainbows (no snails) - there at breakfast and totally gone by lunchtime
>>>with no opportunity for jumping or the cat getting at it...removed all
>>>the decor, plants, filter etc. but no sign....
>>>
>>>As long as the water quality remains OK I would stop the search other
>>>than a cursory glance for floaters or anything suspicious in the
>>>substrate...I've sometimes found reducing the water level (through a
>>>change) has exposed the poor demised fish but this is the exception
>>>rather than the rule...
>>>
>>>I would guess the snails, shrimp and indeed the other fish have polished
>>>him off - yuk...
>>>
>>>Gill
>>
>>
>> OK. I give. What is a blue eyed Gertrude? I searched on Google and
>> came up with
>> Gertrude, a blue-eyed and buxom girl was the oldest of the three
>> Beckett daughters. She fell in love with Rizal. Tottie helped him
>> and
>> Lawrence the blond-haired, blue-eyed desert warrior representing
>> good against ... Gertrude Bell stayed on in the East. But their paths
>> would cross again. ...
>>
>> and numerous other dead ends. So please tell me, the suspense is
>> killing me.
>>
>> -- Mr Gardener
>
>They are actually quite cute little fish, full of character and very
>little more than 1cm in size. Here is a link - the fish pictured is a
>male displaying:-
>
>http://www.tropicalfishfinder.co.uk/article_detail.asp?id=16
>
>They are a minature rainbow fish.
>
>Last April I set up a 7.5UK gall Hex tank and bought some Peacock Gobies
>to live in it (along with some Panda cories). Before you ask here is a
>link:-
>
>http://www.tropicalfishfinder.co.uk/article_detail.asp?id=16
>
>Sadly, after a short christmas break I came home to find that they had
>been overfed and with it being such a small tank the results were
>catastrophic... :-(
>
>They did give me a taste for trying to find small, rarer but interesting
>fish...if I could ever find these fish again (the gobies) I would buy
>them at a drop of a hat - they were great....
>
>Anyway, I picked myself, dusted myself down, kept the filter medium
>bacteria alive, trashed the tank and set it up again and went out looking.
>
>My local LFS had these Blue Eyed Getrude Rainbows...I'd been looking at
>them for months - they didn't sell...so here I am in a postition to give
>them a home, plus some surplus space in a couple of other tanks. So in a
>rash moment I buy all of the stock (around 30 of the things)...I had
>around a 30% mortality rate within the first few days but the rest of
>them are thriving. They are spread across 3 small tanks. In one tank
>they have spawned - low survival rate (I blame the Platys) but at least
>a couple of them have survived. The Hex tank gives me great
>pleasure...there is a dominant male and even though in minature I would
>say that his display and flaring rivals my betta....the tank is planted
>with vallis and I'm not sure that this is the most conducive to spawning
>so will replant the tank with more suitable plants...there are around 12
>of them in there...
>
>Joke is...the LFS couldn't sell them until a nut like me came in and
>bought the tank full...someone in marketing/management has now seen this
>as a selling range - they now have another 50 - haven't shifted a single
>one in a month...I think that they are a fish that requires
>specialisation and a particular type of fish keeper to go out and buy
>them - someone who likes slightly "off the wall" fish...I have all the
>"standard" fish with some noteable exceptions so I love to dabble...
>
>All in all, if you have a small tank and you are looking for something a
>little different that has immense character I would recommend these
>little fellows....I do, however, think that their charm would be lost
>mixed in a larger community tank...
>
>Gill
>
>PS If I ever find the gobies again I would do the same thing and buy as
>many as I could fit in

Thanks. They sound fascinating. I can visualize them in a tall hex
tank - and I think they would be great as the only species in that
tank. Well, maybe a couple of panda cories.

-- Mr Gardener

[Gill Passman]

Mr. Gardener wrote:
> On Fri, 17 Feb 2006 23:34:48 +0100, Marco Schwarz
> > wrote:
>
>
>>Pseudomugil gertrudae
>
>
> Wow. Pretty fish. Thanks. Are these available in the U.S?
> http://members.optusnet.com.au/chelmon/Gertrud.htm
>
>
> -- Mr Gardener

All I know is that there are 50 odd sitting at my LFS on the basis of
the sale success when I bought 30 of the things - lol

[Gill Passman]

Mr. Gardener wrote:
> On Fri, 17 Feb 2006 22:39:27 +0000, Gill Passman
> > wrote:
>
>
>>Mr. Gardener wrote:
>>
>>>On Fri, 17 Feb 2006 21:09:03 +0000, Gill Passman
> wrote:
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>>Altum wrote:
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>>Lately, I've been allowing ramshorn snails to live in a 10 gallon
>>>>>planted tank - they seem to do more good than harm. I've also got
>>>>>Amano shrimp and Malaysian trumpet snails in the tank.
>>>>>
>>>>>Now a guppy has gone missing. I cleaned the tank and couldn't find a
>>>>>trace of him. There isn't any smell, no corpse, and the water tests
>>>>>fine. Fancy guppies with huge tails can't jump and I don't have cats.
>>>>>Can shrimp and snails completely eat a dead guppy and plants absorb any
>>>>>water quality problems? Should I keep searching for a corpse?
>>>>>
>>>>
>>>>I quite often don't find dead fish unless I've noticed immediately after
>>>>their demise. I lost a platy in a 5 gall tank (QT) - only companions
>>>>where another 2 platys, some Platy fry and around 5 Blue Eyed Getrude
>>>>Rainbows (no snails) - there at breakfast and totally gone by lunchtime
>>>>with no opportunity for jumping or the cat getting at it...removed all
>>>>the decor, plants, filter etc. but no sign....
>>>>
>>>>As long as the water quality remains OK I would stop the search other
>>>>than a cursory glance for floaters or anything suspicious in the
>>>>substrate...I've sometimes found reducing the water level (through a
>>>>change) has exposed the poor demised fish but this is the exception
>>>>rather than the rule...
>>>>
>>>>I would guess the snails, shrimp and indeed the other fish have polished
>>>>him off - yuk...
>>>>
>>>>Gill
>>>
>>>
>>>OK. I give. What is a blue eyed Gertrude? I searched on Google and
>>>came up with
>>> Gertrude, a blue-eyed and buxom girl was the oldest of the three
>>>Beckett daughters. She fell in love with Rizal. Tottie helped him
>>>and
>>> Lawrence the blond-haired, blue-eyed desert warrior representing
>>>good against ... Gertrude Bell stayed on in the East. But their paths
>>>would cross again. ...
>>>
>>>and numerous other dead ends. So please tell me, the suspense is
>>>killing me.
>>>
>>>-- Mr Gardener
>>
>>They are actually quite cute little fish, full of character and very
>>little more than 1cm in size. Here is a link - the fish pictured is a
>>male displaying:-
>>
>>http://www.tropicalfishfinder.co.uk/article_detail.asp?id=16
>>
>>They are a minature rainbow fish.
>>
>>Last April I set up a 7.5UK gall Hex tank and bought some Peacock Gobies
>>to live in it (along with some Panda cories). Before you ask here is a
>>link:-
>>
>>http://www.tropicalfishfinder.co.uk/article_detail.asp?id=16
>>
>>Sadly, after a short christmas break I came home to find that they had
>>been overfed and with it being such a small tank the results were
>>catastrophic... :-(
>>
>>They did give me a taste for trying to find small, rarer but interesting
>>fish...if I could ever find these fish again (the gobies) I would buy
>>them at a drop of a hat - they were great....
>>
>>Anyway, I picked myself, dusted myself down, kept the filter medium
>>bacteria alive, trashed the tank and set it up again and went out looking.
>>
>>My local LFS had these Blue Eyed Getrude Rainbows...I'd been looking at
>>them for months - they didn't sell...so here I am in a postition to give
>>them a home, plus some surplus space in a couple of other tanks. So in a
>>rash moment I buy all of the stock (around 30 of the things)...I had
>>around a 30% mortality rate within the first few days but the rest of
>>them are thriving. They are spread across 3 small tanks. In one tank
>>they have spawned - low survival rate (I blame the Platys) but at least
>>a couple of them have survived. The Hex tank gives me great
>>pleasure...there is a dominant male and even though in minature I would
>>say that his display and flaring rivals my betta....the tank is planted
>>with vallis and I'm not sure that this is the most conducive to spawning
>>so will replant the tank with more suitable plants...there are around 12
>>of them in there...
>>
>>Joke is...the LFS couldn't sell them until a nut like me came in and
>>bought the tank full...someone in marketing/management has now seen this
>>as a selling range - they now have another 50 - haven't shifted a single
>>one in a month...I think that they are a fish that requires
>>specialisation and a particular type of fish keeper to go out and buy
>>them - someone who likes slightly "off the wall" fish...I have all the
>>"standard" fish with some noteable exceptions so I love to dabble...
>>
>>All in all, if you have a small tank and you are looking for something a
>>little different that has immense character I would recommend these
>>little fellows....I do, however, think that their charm would be lost
>>mixed in a larger community tank...
>>
>>Gill
>>
>>PS If I ever find the gobies again I would do the same thing and buy as
>>many as I could fit in
>
>
> Thanks. They sound fascinating. I can visualize them in a tall hex
> tank - and I think they would be great as the only species in that
> tank. Well, maybe a couple of panda cories.
>
> -- Mr Gardener

I have been tempted to add some more pandas but I'm reluctant on the
basis that they would polish off any eggs or fry...and if what I have
read about their "annual" nature is correct I obviously want them to spawn.

As you have discovered there is very little info available on these fish
on the web so everything I'm learning is really through
observation...one thing I noticed was that they need a lot of surface
plants in order to gain confidence - in the Hex tank they were very shy
until I got some drifting vallis cuttings (they broke loose)...they also
do need a heavily planted tank at the lower levels to feel
comfortable...they hold their own with bettas...but I doubt any fry will
survive...the successful spawning have actually been in a tank where I
struggle to control the temp so it is warmer than I would normally have
a tank at....I do 20% changes in this tank twice weekly...

If you can find them, and you are looking for something a little
different I would certainly recommend them...

Gill

[Mr. Gardener]

On Fri, 17 Feb 2006 23:39:53 +0000, Gill Passman
> wrote:

>Mr. Gardener wrote:
>> On Fri, 17 Feb 2006 23:34:48 +0100, Marco Schwarz
>> > wrote:
>>
>>
>>>Pseudomugil gertrudae
>>
>>
>> Wow. Pretty fish. Thanks. Are these available in the U.S?
>> http://members.optusnet.com.au/chelmon/Gertrud.htm
>>
>>
>> -- Mr Gardener
>
>All I know is that there are 50 odd sitting at my LFS on the basis of
>the sale success when I bought 30 of the things - lol

Gee. How far is that from Maine? Maybe I could get my wife's credit
card back for just one more little purchase. I have a 15 gallon high
tank, 15 gallons with a 10 gallon footprint, that I think would be
perfect for 50 of those little guys and girls.

-- Mr Gardener

[Mr. Gardener]

On Fri, 17 Feb 2006 23:49:19 +0000, Gill Passman
> wrote:

>Mr. Gardener wrote:
>> On Fri, 17 Feb 2006 22:39:27 +0000, Gill Passman
>> > wrote:
>>
>>
>>>Mr. Gardener wrote:
>>>
>>>>On Fri, 17 Feb 2006 21:09:03 +0000, Gill Passman
> wrote:
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>>Altum wrote:
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>>Lately, I've been allowing ramshorn snails to live in a 10 gallon
>>>>>>planted tank - they seem to do more good than harm. I've also got
>>>>>>Amano shrimp and Malaysian trumpet snails in the tank.
>>>>>>
>>>>>>Now a guppy has gone missing. I cleaned the tank and couldn't find a
>>>>>>trace of him. There isn't any smell, no corpse, and the water tests
>>>>>>fine. Fancy guppies with huge tails can't jump and I don't have cats.
>>>>>>Can shrimp and snails completely eat a dead guppy and plants absorb any
>>>>>>water quality problems? Should I keep searching for a corpse?
>>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>I quite often don't find dead fish unless I've noticed immediately after
>>>>>their demise. I lost a platy in a 5 gall tank (QT) - only companions
>>>>>where another 2 platys, some Platy fry and around 5 Blue Eyed Getrude
>>>>>Rainbows (no snails) - there at breakfast and totally gone by lunchtime
>>>>>with no opportunity for jumping or the cat getting at it...removed all
>>>>>the decor, plants, filter etc. but no sign....
>>>>>
>>>>>As long as the water quality remains OK I would stop the search other
>>>>>than a cursory glance for floaters or anything suspicious in the
>>>>>substrate...I've sometimes found reducing the water level (through a
>>>>>change) has exposed the poor demised fish but this is the exception
>>>>>rather than the rule...
>>>>>
>>>>>I would guess the snails, shrimp and indeed the other fish have polished
>>>>>him off - yuk...
>>>>>
>>>>>Gill
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>OK. I give. What is a blue eyed Gertrude? I searched on Google and
>>>>came up with
>>>> Gertrude, a blue-eyed and buxom girl was the oldest of the three
>>>>Beckett daughters. She fell in love with Rizal. Tottie helped him
>>>>and
>>>> Lawrence the blond-haired, blue-eyed desert warrior representing
>>>>good against ... Gertrude Bell stayed on in the East. But their paths
>>>>would cross again. ...
>>>>
>>>>and numerous other dead ends. So please tell me, the suspense is
>>>>killing me.
>>>>
>>>>-- Mr Gardener
>>>
>>>They are actually quite cute little fish, full of character and very
>>>little more than 1cm in size. Here is a link - the fish pictured is a
>>>male displaying:-
>>>
>>>http://www.tropicalfishfinder.co.uk/article_detail.asp?id=16
>>>
>>>They are a minature rainbow fish.
>>>
>>>Last April I set up a 7.5UK gall Hex tank and bought some Peacock Gobies
>>>to live in it (along with some Panda cories). Before you ask here is a
>>>link:-
>>>
>>>http://www.tropicalfishfinder.co.uk/article_detail.asp?id=16
>>>
>>>Sadly, after a short christmas break I came home to find that they had
>>>been overfed and with it being such a small tank the results were
>>>catastrophic... :-(
>>>
>>>They did give me a taste for trying to find small, rarer but interesting
>>>fish...if I could ever find these fish again (the gobies) I would buy
>>>them at a drop of a hat - they were great....
>>>
>>>Anyway, I picked myself, dusted myself down, kept the filter medium
>>>bacteria alive, trashed the tank and set it up again and went out looking.
>>>
>>>My local LFS had these Blue Eyed Getrude Rainbows...I'd been looking at
>>>them for months - they didn't sell...so here I am in a postition to give
>>>them a home, plus some surplus space in a couple of other tanks. So in a
>>>rash moment I buy all of the stock (around 30 of the things)...I had
>>>around a 30% mortality rate within the first few days but the rest of
>>>them are thriving. They are spread across 3 small tanks. In one tank
>>>they have spawned - low survival rate (I blame the Platys) but at least
>>>a couple of them have survived. The Hex tank gives me great
>>>pleasure...there is a dominant male and even though in minature I would
>>>say that his display and flaring rivals my betta....the tank is planted
>>>with vallis and I'm not sure that this is the most conducive to spawning
>>>so will replant the tank with more suitable plants...there are around 12
>>>of them in there...
>>>
>>>Joke is...the LFS couldn't sell them until a nut like me came in and
>>>bought the tank full...someone in marketing/management has now seen this
>>>as a selling range - they now have another 50 - haven't shifted a single
>>>one in a month...I think that they are a fish that requires
>>>specialisation and a particular type of fish keeper to go out and buy
>>>them - someone who likes slightly "off the wall" fish...I have all the
>>>"standard" fish with some noteable exceptions so I love to dabble...
>>>
>>>All in all, if you have a small tank and you are looking for something a
>>>little different that has immense character I would recommend these
>>>little fellows....I do, however, think that their charm would be lost
>>>mixed in a larger community tank...
>>>
>>>Gill
>>>
>>>PS If I ever find the gobies again I would do the same thing and buy as
>>>many as I could fit in
>>
>>
>> Thanks. They sound fascinating. I can visualize them in a tall hex
>> tank - and I think they would be great as the only species in that
>> tank. Well, maybe a couple of panda cories.
>>
>> -- Mr Gardener
>
>I have been tempted to add some more pandas but I'm reluctant on the
>basis that they would polish off any eggs or fry...and if what I have
>read about their "annual" nature is correct I obviously want them to spawn.
>
>As you have discovered there is very little info available on these fish
>on the web so everything I'm learning is really through
>observation...one thing I noticed was that they need a lot of surface
>plants in order to gain confidence - in the Hex tank they were very shy
>until I got some drifting vallis cuttings (they broke loose)...they also
>do need a heavily planted tank at the lower levels to feel
>comfortable...they hold their own with bettas...but I doubt any fry will
>survive...the successful spawning have actually been in a tank where I
>struggle to control the temp so it is warmer than I would normally have
>a tank at....I do 20% changes in this tank twice weekly...
>
>If you can find them, and you are looking for something a little
>different I would certainly recommend them...
>
>Gill

I have water sprite growing out of my ears. It's everywhere, I keep
giving it away by the bucket and it keeps growing back. It's a great
floater and it works well rooted. Now you really are getting my
attention. I'll ask my lfs about them when I see him tomorrow.

-- Mr Gardener

[Gill Passman]

Mr. Gardener wrote:
> On Fri, 17 Feb 2006 23:39:53 +0000, Gill Passman
> > wrote:
>
>
>>Mr. Gardener wrote:
>>
>>>On Fri, 17 Feb 2006 23:34:48 +0100, Marco Schwarz
> wrote:
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>>Pseudomugil gertrudae
>>>
>>>
>>>Wow. Pretty fish. Thanks. Are these available in the U.S?
>>>http://members.optusnet.com.au/chelmon/Gertrud.htm
>>>
>>>
>>>-- Mr Gardener
>>
>>All I know is that there are 50 odd sitting at my LFS on the basis of
>>the sale success when I bought 30 of the things - lol
>
>
> Gee. How far is that from Maine? Maybe I could get my wife's credit
> card back for just one more little purchase. I have a 15 gallon high
> tank, 15 gallons with a 10 gallon footprint, that I think would be
> perfect for 50 of those little guys and girls.
>
> -- Mr Gardener

I guess quite a few miles as I am in the UK...maybe they might export
them again but we have quite strict controls...I'll ask next time I go
there which will be early next week...

[Altum]

>> Should I keep searching for a
>> corpse?
>
>Not really.. :-)

Well, since it's been almost a week since the little fellow went AWOL.
Maybe it did jump, or maybe I have some well fed snails. Thanks,
everyone.

[Gill Passman]

NetMax wrote:
> "Gill Passman" > wrote in message
> ...
>
>>Mr. Gardener wrote:
>>
>>>On Fri, 17 Feb 2006 23:34:48 +0100, Marco Schwarz
> wrote:
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>>Pseudomugil gertrudae
>>>
>>>
>>>Wow. Pretty fish. Thanks. Are these available in the U.S?
>>>http://members.optusnet.com.au/chelmon/Gertrud.htm
>>>
>>>
>>>-- Mr Gardener
>>
>>All I know is that there are 50 odd sitting at my LFS on the basis of
>>the sale success when I bought 30 of the things - lol
>
>
> Threadfins or Featherfins (Iriatherina werneri)
> http://members.optusnet.com.au/chelmon/Werneri.htm seem to be more
> popular in North America.

We have these on sale here as well...the problem I believe is that are
not really suited to hard (high pH) water - or at least that is what my
LFS told me - lol

[~Roy~]

YOu should have noticed ammonia levels going up as well as nitrite
levels inclreasing if its dead somewhere. Those little hang in the
tank "ammonia alerts" are good for a quick visual indication. I have a
lot of tanks, and lots if not most are heavily planted lots of rock
work and caves and nooks for fish to hide......both sal****er and
fresh, and often times you miss seeing one particular fish, for a
period of time and then have it reappear later.......but sometimes
they just no longer reappear, but with those ammonia laerts, if that
fish is indeed dead, within 24 hours the indicator is going to
indicate an ammonia increase, so it alerts you to somehting in that
water, doing it....If a head count shows an AWOL inhabitant, its time
to start looking then, so the water quality doe snot go south and make
for other problems. Yes, usualy a snail (s) or other critters will
devour the dead fish and yu never see signs of it, but thats not
always the case as everyone does not have snails etc..Those ammonia
alerts have alerted me to problems numeorus times and well worth the
$5 they sell for..

On 17 Feb 2006 20:10:15 -0800, "Altum" > wrote:
>><>>> Should I keep searching for a
>><>>> corpse?
>><>>
>><>>Not really.. :-)
>><>
>><>Well, since it's been almost a week since the little fellow went AWOL.
>><>Maybe it did jump, or maybe I have some well fed snails. Thanks,
>><>everyone.

--
\\\|///
( @ @ )
-----------oOOo(_)oOOo---------------


oooO
---------( )----Oooo----------------
\ ( ( )
\_) ) /
(_/
The original frugal ponder ! Koi-ahoi mates....

[Richard Sexton]

In article >,
Mr. Gardener > wrote:
>On Fri, 17 Feb 2006 23:34:48 +0100, Marco Schwarz
> wrote:
>
>>Pseudomugil gertrudae
>
>Wow. Pretty fish. Thanks. Are these available in the U.S?

Oh sure. Not common but there's a few blueeyes in that genus that
show up from time to time. The Rainbowfish people would be a good
place to ask, that is anybody into rainbows will probably know where
some are.

And in the spring, there's always aquaqbid, they're not uncommon
on there.

Similar looking and acting are the "lampeyes" - killifish of the
genus Aplocheilichtys. There were a lof of them around last year;
they're more common than the gertrudae.

There's a few pics of mine here. I love 'em to death.

http://images.killi.net/n/NOR/

--
Need Mercedes parts ? - http://parts.mbz.org
Richard Sexton | Mercedes stuff: http://mbz.org
1970 280SE, 72 280SE | Home page: http://rs79.vrx.net
633CSi 250SE/C 300SD | http://aquaria.net http://killi.net

[Richard Sexton]

>> Threadfins or Featherfins (Iriatherina werneri)
>> http://members.optusnet.com.au/chelmon/Werneri.htm seem to be more
>> popular in North America.
>
>We have these on sale here as well...the problem I believe is that are
>not really suited to hard (high pH) water - or at least that is what my
>LFS told me - lol

Doesn't mesh well with my experience. But then I never tried to breed
them; they may require that kind of water to reproduce.

I see very few females of these fish in stores tanks, if any.


--
Need Mercedes parts ? - http://parts.mbz.org
Richard Sexton | Mercedes stuff: http://mbz.org
1970 280SE, 72 280SE | Home page: http://rs79.vrx.net
633CSi 250SE/C 300SD | http://aquaria.net http://killi.net

[NetMax]

"Richard Sexton" > wrote in message
...
> In article >,
> Mr. Gardener > wrote:
>>On Fri, 17 Feb 2006 23:34:48 +0100, Marco Schwarz
> wrote:
>>
>>>Pseudomugil gertrudae
>>
>>Wow. Pretty fish. Thanks. Are these available in the U.S?
>
> Oh sure. Not common but there's a few blueeyes in that genus that
> show up from time to time. The Rainbowfish people would be a good
> place to ask, that is anybody into rainbows will probably know where
> some are.
>
> And in the spring, there's always aquaqbid, they're not uncommon
> on there.
>
> Similar looking and acting are the "lampeyes" - killifish of the
> genus Aplocheilichtys. There were a lof of them around last year;
> they're more common than the gertrudae.
>
> There's a few pics of mine here. I love 'em to death.
>
> http://images.killi.net/n/NOR/
>
> --
> Need Mercedes parts ? - http://parts.mbz.org
> Richard Sexton | Mercedes stuff: http://mbz.org
> 1970 280SE, 72 280SE | Home page: http://rs79.vrx.net
> 633CSi 250SE/C 300SD | http://aquaria.net http://killi.net

I purchased a shipment of Lampeyes (Norman lampeyes?) but I couldn't sell
any if my life depended on it. Most walk-in customers were quite fickle
(looking for the most colourful fish). Those who would appreciate unique
fish tended to already have many well stocked tanks, and a mental list of
new fish they were going to buy when space was available. I had a bit more
luck introducing the neighbourhood to some of the more colourful Killis (ie:
Nothobranchius) because of their coloration), but these were relatively
expensive in the Ottawa area.
--
www.NetMax.tk

[Gail Futoran]

"Mr. Gardener" > wrote in message
...
> On Fri, 17 Feb 2006 23:34:48 +0100, Marco Schwarz
> > wrote:
>
>>Pseudomugil gertrudae
>
> Wow. Pretty fish. Thanks. Are these available in the U.S?
> http://members.optusnet.com.au/chelmon/Gertrud.htm
>
>
> -- Mr Gardener

Gorgeous fish! I can't find any US references,
darn it. And I adore small fish. Just had a
10 gallon go empty with no immediate plans
for its use...

Gail

[Gill Passman]

Gail Futoran wrote:
> "Mr. Gardener" > wrote in message
> ...
>
>>On Fri, 17 Feb 2006 23:34:48 +0100, Marco Schwarz
> wrote:
>>
>>
>>>Pseudomugil gertrudae
>>
>>Wow. Pretty fish. Thanks. Are these available in the U.S?
>>http://members.optusnet.com.au/chelmon/Gertrud.htm
>>
>>
>>-- Mr Gardener
>
>
> Gorgeous fish! I can't find any US references,
> darn it. And I adore small fish. Just had a
> 10 gallon go empty with no immediate plans
> for its use...
>
> Gail

As much as I love my Gertrudes there are also some great little fish out
there...if you can find Peacock Gobies (difficult) they are great...the
lampeyes suggested by Richard also seem to be a good bet - they have
them in our LFS (UK) I just happened to research the Getrudes
first...the feather-fin rainbows also seem attractive...

The most striking thing to start with is their vivid blue eyes and then
when you watch them closer you get the full impact of their display (the
photo on the link has a male displaying) - the females are also quite
pretty...

I seem to be having a little bit of success in breeding - got around 2
or 3 fry in one tank without trying...shame I'm in the UK and can't get
them out to you...

When I discussed with my LFS they don't seem to have any issues in
getting them...next time I go in I'll try and find out which country
they are getting them from or whether it is a local breeder...

Gill

[Gill Passman]

NetMax wrote:
> "Richard Sexton" > wrote in message
> ...
>
>>In article >,
>>Mr. Gardener > wrote:
>>
>>>On Fri, 17 Feb 2006 23:34:48 +0100, Marco Schwarz
> wrote:
>>>
>>>
>>>>Pseudomugil gertrudae
>>>
>>>Wow. Pretty fish. Thanks. Are these available in the U.S?
>>
>>Oh sure. Not common but there's a few blueeyes in that genus that
>>show up from time to time. The Rainbowfish people would be a good
>>place to ask, that is anybody into rainbows will probably know where
>>some are.
>>
>>And in the spring, there's always aquaqbid, they're not uncommon
>>on there.
>>
>>Similar looking and acting are the "lampeyes" - killifish of the
>>genus Aplocheilichtys. There were a lof of them around last year;
>>they're more common than the gertrudae.
>>
>>There's a few pics of mine here. I love 'em to death.
>>
>>http://images.killi.net/n/NOR/
>>
>>--
>> Need Mercedes parts ? - http://parts.mbz.org
>>Richard Sexton | Mercedes stuff: http://mbz.org
>>1970 280SE, 72 280SE | Home page: http://rs79.vrx.net
>>633CSi 250SE/C 300SD | http://aquaria.net http://killi.net
>
>
> I purchased a shipment of Lampeyes (Norman lampeyes?) but I couldn't sell
> any if my life depended on it. Most walk-in customers were quite fickle
> (looking for the most colourful fish). Those who would appreciate unique
> fish tended to already have many well stocked tanks, and a mental list of
> new fish they were going to buy when space was available. I had a bit more
> luck introducing the neighbourhood to some of the more colourful Killis (ie:
> Nothobranchius) because of their coloration), but these were relatively
> expensive in the Ottawa area.

When I bought the Gertrudes the tank next to them was full of
lampeyes...it was touch and go but as I'd already done a google on the
getrudes they won the day....

At the risk of being told to go off and do a "google" can anyone tell me
what type of fish I could mix with the Lampeyes or would I have to try
and sneak in a species tank for them? (something I don't think I'd get
away with right now - lol)

Gill

[NetMax]

"Gill Passman" > wrote in message
...
> NetMax wrote:
>> "Richard Sexton" > wrote in message
>> ...
>>
>>>In article >,
>>>Mr. Gardener > wrote:
>>>
>>>>On Fri, 17 Feb 2006 23:34:48 +0100, Marco Schwarz
> wrote:
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>>Pseudomugil gertrudae
>>>>
>>>>Wow. Pretty fish. Thanks. Are these available in the U.S?
>>>
>>>Oh sure. Not common but there's a few blueeyes in that genus that
>>>show up from time to time. The Rainbowfish people would be a good
>>>place to ask, that is anybody into rainbows will probably know where
>>>some are.
>>>
>>>And in the spring, there's always aquaqbid, they're not uncommon
>>>on there.
>>>
>>>Similar looking and acting are the "lampeyes" - killifish of the
>>>genus Aplocheilichtys. There were a lof of them around last year;
>>>they're more common than the gertrudae.
>>>
>>>There's a few pics of mine here. I love 'em to death.
>>>
>>>http://images.killi.net/n/NOR/
>>>
>>>--
>>> Need Mercedes parts ? - http://parts.mbz.org
>>>Richard Sexton | Mercedes stuff: http://mbz.org
>>>1970 280SE, 72 280SE | Home page: http://rs79.vrx.net
>>>633CSi 250SE/C 300SD | http://aquaria.net http://killi.net
>>
>>
>> I purchased a shipment of Lampeyes (Norman lampeyes?) but I couldn't
>> sell any if my life depended on it. Most walk-in customers were quite
>> fickle (looking for the most colourful fish). Those who would
>> appreciate unique fish tended to already have many well stocked tanks,
>> and a mental list of new fish they were going to buy when space was
>> available. I had a bit more luck introducing the neighbourhood to
>> some of the more colourful Killis (ie: Nothobranchius) because of
>> their coloration), but these were relatively expensive in the Ottawa
>> area.
>
> When I bought the Gertrudes the tank next to them was full of
> lampeyes...it was touch and go but as I'd already done a google on the
> getrudes they won the day....
>
> At the risk of being told to go off and do a "google" can anyone tell
> me what type of fish I could mix with the Lampeyes or would I have to
> try and sneak in a species tank for them? (something I don't think I'd
> get away with right now - lol)
>
> Gill

I don't know if you could easily get compatibility information on obscure
fishes through Google. They are small fish, mostly interested in each
other (at least the males are) with an upturned mouth
(carnivorous-omnivorous, feeds off bugs, insect larvae) living in the
mid. to upper levels of the tank, with plants as shelter (they are not
fast long distance swimmers, so they would stay within range of cover).
This description applies to the Featherfins and the Gertrudes too I
think.

Compatible fish? hmmm, first I would acclimate them to neutral to soft
water, then Chocolate gouramis, Pearl gouramis (in a larger tank),
Brochis, Corys, maybe a Betta, Neons, Cardinals, Hatchetfish, Rams,
Keyholes, Discus (larger tank again, and there would be some risk with
Discus)... is that enough?

In a hard water environment, that's a much harder question. Someone help
me out here.
--
www.NetMax.tk

[Richard Sexton]

>I purchased a shipment of Lampeyes (Norman lampeyes?) but I couldn't sell
>any if my life depended on it. Most walk-in customers were quite fickle
>(looking for the most colourful fish). Those who would appreciate unique
>fish tended to already have many well stocked tanks, and a mental list of
>new fish they were going to buy when space was available. I had a bit more
>luck introducing the neighbourhood to some of the more colourful Killis (ie:
>Nothobranchius) because of their coloration), but these were relatively
>expensive in the Ottawa area.

Nothos are one of the least usefull and desirable community tank
fish, they're reallyfor kill specialists, and they already
know where to get them. In that hobby the red tail blue
typ are usually N. foerschi which seldom get $3/pr at local
club auctions. They breed like teenage rabbits on hormones
and everybody has/had them. But lampeyes are rare,
caomparatively among killifans. Go figure.

Ponit of trivia: in 1989 I was told the Walter Foersch,
for who the fish was named, had at that point been keeping
them for 35 years.

--
Need Mercedes parts ? - http://parts.mbz.org
Richard Sexton | Mercedes stuff: http://mbz.org
1970 280SE, 72 280SE | Home page: http://rs79.vrx.net
633CSi 250SE/C 300SD | http://aquaria.net http://killi.net

[Richard Sexton]

>At the risk of being told to go off and do a "google" can anyone tell me
>what type of fish I could mix with the Lampeyes or would I have to try
>and sneak in a species tank for them? (something I don't think I'd get
>away with right now - lol)

I have, of course, other killies with mine: Aplocheilus panchax. but
I'm probbaly going to split them into 2 tanks. They're just too cool
when they're in a large school by themselves.

If they look a bit livebearer-ish it's because livebearers, as of
the list revision, are technically killifish now and lampeyes are
closer to livebearers than any other family.

They compatible with anything that won't eat them; fast moving,
pelagic (unlike pretty much all other killies) they won't give anything
trouble, they're hardies that most every other fish and breed freely.

Once you're hooked on the micropanchax lampeyes like A. normani
then you graduate to Procatopus which are fairly rare even
in the killi world but there are enough dedicated hobbyists
they they're always available. I've seen them in a store
exacly once in 30 years - at The Menagerie in Toronto.

http://images.aquaria.net/stores/Canada/Ontario/Toronto/Menagerie/05/jan22/


--
Need Mercedes parts ? - http://parts.mbz.org
Richard Sexton | Mercedes stuff: http://mbz.org
1970 280SE, 72 280SE | Home page: http://rs79.vrx.net
633CSi 250SE/C 300SD | http://aquaria.net http://killi.net

[NetMax]

"Richard Sexton" > wrote in message
...
> >At the risk of being told to go off and do a "google" can anyone tell
> >me
>>what type of fish I could mix with the Lampeyes or would I have to try
>>and sneak in a species tank for them? (something I don't think I'd get
>>away with right now - lol)
>
> I have, of course, other killies with mine: Aplocheilus panchax. but
> I'm probbaly going to split them into 2 tanks. They're just too cool
> when they're in a large school by themselves.
>
> If they look a bit livebearer-ish it's because livebearers, as of
> the list revision, are technically killifish now and lampeyes are
> closer to livebearers than any other family.
>
> They compatible with anything that won't eat them; fast moving,
> pelagic (unlike pretty much all other killies) they won't give anything
> trouble, they're hardies that most every other fish and breed freely.
>
> Once you're hooked on the micropanchax lampeyes like A. normani
> then you graduate to Procatopus which are fairly rare even
> in the killi world but there are enough dedicated hobbyists
> they they're always available. I've seen them in a store
> exacly once in 30 years - at The Menagerie in Toronto.
>
> http://images.aquaria.net/stores/Canada/Ontario/Toronto/Menagerie/05/jan22/
>
>
> --
> Need Mercedes parts ? - http://parts.mbz.org
> Richard Sexton | Mercedes stuff: http://mbz.org


Sweet, but my eyes were drawn to the Dwarf cichlids on that page, and
once I got past your always original spelling ;~), I realized they were
Golden-eye Dwarfs (which are very difficult to find here).
http://filaman.ifm-geomar.de/Summary/SpeciesSummary.cfm?id=11180
This was one of the first fish I bred (after Guppies of course).
Apparently it isn't hard to breed them, but that didn't take away from
the fun :o).
--
www.NetMax.tk

[Gill Passman]

Richard Sexton wrote:
>>At the risk of being told to go off and do a "google" can anyone tell me
>>what type of fish I could mix with the Lampeyes or would I have to try
>>and sneak in a species tank for them? (something I don't think I'd get
>>away with right now - lol)
>
>
> I have, of course, other killies with mine: Aplocheilus panchax. but
> I'm probbaly going to split them into 2 tanks. They're just too cool
> when they're in a large school by themselves.
>
> If they look a bit livebearer-ish it's because livebearers, as of
> the list revision, are technically killifish now and lampeyes are
> closer to livebearers than any other family.
>
> They compatible with anything that won't eat them; fast moving,
> pelagic (unlike pretty much all other killies) they won't give anything
> trouble, they're hardies that most every other fish and breed freely.
>
> Once you're hooked on the micropanchax lampeyes like A. normani
> then you graduate to Procatopus which are fairly rare even
> in the killi world but there are enough dedicated hobbyists
> they they're always available. I've seen them in a store
> exacly once in 30 years - at The Menagerie in Toronto.
>
> http://images.aquaria.net/stores/Canada/Ontario/Toronto/Menagerie/05/jan22/
>
>

Oh dear, and I thought I was doing so well with my resolve not to fill
the 4 footer up again once I'd moved the fish to the new tank <sob>...

[Gill Passman]

Mr. Gardener wrote:
> On Fri, 17 Feb 2006 23:49:19 +0000, Gill Passman
> > wrote:
>
>
>>Mr. Gardener wrote:
>>
>>>On Fri, 17 Feb 2006 22:39:27 +0000, Gill Passman
> wrote:
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>>Mr. Gardener wrote:
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>>On Fri, 17 Feb 2006 21:09:03 +0000, Gill Passman
> wrote:
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>>Altum wrote:
>>>>>>
>>>>>>
>>>>>>
>>>>>>>Lately, I've been allowing ramshorn snails to live in a 10 gallon
>>>>>>>planted tank - they seem to do more good than harm. I've also got
>>>>>>>Amano shrimp and Malaysian trumpet snails in the tank.
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>Now a guppy has gone missing. I cleaned the tank and couldn't find a
>>>>>>>trace of him. There isn't any smell, no corpse, and the water tests
>>>>>>>fine. Fancy guppies with huge tails can't jump and I don't have cats.
>>>>>>>Can shrimp and snails completely eat a dead guppy and plants absorb any
>>>>>>>water quality problems? Should I keep searching for a corpse?
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>
>>>>>>I quite often don't find dead fish unless I've noticed immediately after
>>>>>>their demise. I lost a platy in a 5 gall tank (QT) - only companions
>>>>>>where another 2 platys, some Platy fry and around 5 Blue Eyed Getrude
>>>>>>Rainbows (no snails) - there at breakfast and totally gone by lunchtime
>>>>>>with no opportunity for jumping or the cat getting at it...removed all
>>>>>>the decor, plants, filter etc. but no sign....
>>>>>>
>>>>>>As long as the water quality remains OK I would stop the search other
>>>>>>than a cursory glance for floaters or anything suspicious in the
>>>>>>substrate...I've sometimes found reducing the water level (through a
>>>>>>change) has exposed the poor demised fish but this is the exception
>>>>>>rather than the rule...
>>>>>>
>>>>>>I would guess the snails, shrimp and indeed the other fish have polished
>>>>>>him off - yuk...
>>>>>>
>>>>>>Gill
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>OK. I give. What is a blue eyed Gertrude? I searched on Google and
>>>>>came up with
>>>>> Gertrude, a blue-eyed and buxom girl was the oldest of the three
>>>>>Beckett daughters. She fell in love with Rizal. Tottie helped him
>>>>>and
>>>>> Lawrence the blond-haired, blue-eyed desert warrior representing
>>>>>good against ... Gertrude Bell stayed on in the East. But their paths
>>>>>would cross again. ...
>>>>>
>>>>>and numerous other dead ends. So please tell me, the suspense is
>>>>>killing me.
>>>>>
>>>>>-- Mr Gardener
>>>>
>>>>They are actually quite cute little fish, full of character and very
>>>>little more than 1cm in size. Here is a link - the fish pictured is a
>>>>male displaying:-
>>>>
>>>>http://www.tropicalfishfinder.co.uk/article_detail.asp?id=16
>>>>
>>>>They are a minature rainbow fish.
>>>>
>>>>Last April I set up a 7.5UK gall Hex tank and bought some Peacock Gobies
>>>>to live in it (along with some Panda cories). Before you ask here is a
>>>>link:-
>>>>
>>>>http://www.tropicalfishfinder.co.uk/article_detail.asp?id=16
>>>>
>>>>Sadly, after a short christmas break I came home to find that they had
>>>>been overfed and with it being such a small tank the results were
>>>>catastrophic... :-(
>>>>
>>>>They did give me a taste for trying to find small, rarer but interesting
>>>>fish...if I could ever find these fish again (the gobies) I would buy
>>>>them at a drop of a hat - they were great....
>>>>
>>>>Anyway, I picked myself, dusted myself down, kept the filter medium
>>>>bacteria alive, trashed the tank and set it up again and went out looking.
>>>>
>>>>My local LFS had these Blue Eyed Getrude Rainbows...I'd been looking at
>>>>them for months - they didn't sell...so here I am in a postition to give
>>>>them a home, plus some surplus space in a couple of other tanks. So in a
>>>>rash moment I buy all of the stock (around 30 of the things)...I had
>>>>around a 30% mortality rate within the first few days but the rest of
>>>>them are thriving. They are spread across 3 small tanks. In one tank
>>>>they have spawned - low survival rate (I blame the Platys) but at least
>>>>a couple of them have survived. The Hex tank gives me great
>>>>pleasure...there is a dominant male and even though in minature I would
>>>>say that his display and flaring rivals my betta....the tank is planted
>>>>with vallis and I'm not sure that this is the most conducive to spawning
>>>>so will replant the tank with more suitable plants...there are around 12
>>>>of them in there...
>>>>
>>>>Joke is...the LFS couldn't sell them until a nut like me came in and
>>>>bought the tank full...someone in marketing/management has now seen this
>>>>as a selling range - they now have another 50 - haven't shifted a single
>>>>one in a month...I think that they are a fish that requires
>>>>specialisation and a particular type of fish keeper to go out and buy
>>>>them - someone who likes slightly "off the wall" fish...I have all the
>>>>"standard" fish with some noteable exceptions so I love to dabble...
>>>>
>>>>All in all, if you have a small tank and you are looking for something a
>>>>little different that has immense character I would recommend these
>>>>little fellows....I do, however, think that their charm would be lost
>>>>mixed in a larger community tank...
>>>>
>>>>Gill
>>>>
>>>>PS If I ever find the gobies again I would do the same thing and buy as
>>>>many as I could fit in
>>>
>>>
>>>Thanks. They sound fascinating. I can visualize them in a tall hex
>>>tank - and I think they would be great as the only species in that
>>>tank. Well, maybe a couple of panda cories.
>>>
>>>-- Mr Gardener
>>
>>I have been tempted to add some more pandas but I'm reluctant on the
>>basis that they would polish off any eggs or fry...and if what I have
>>read about their "annual" nature is correct I obviously want them to spawn.
>>
>>As you have discovered there is very little info available on these fish
>>on the web so everything I'm learning is really through
>>observation...one thing I noticed was that they need a lot of surface
>>plants in order to gain confidence - in the Hex tank they were very shy
>>until I got some drifting vallis cuttings (they broke loose)...they also
>>do need a heavily planted tank at the lower levels to feel
>>comfortable...they hold their own with bettas...but I doubt any fry will
>>survive...the successful spawning have actually been in a tank where I
>>struggle to control the temp so it is warmer than I would normally have
>>a tank at....I do 20% changes in this tank twice weekly...
>>
>>If you can find them, and you are looking for something a little
>>different I would certainly recommend them...
>>
>>Gill
>
>
> I have water sprite growing out of my ears. It's everywhere, I keep
> giving it away by the bucket and it keeps growing back. It's a great
> floater and it works well rooted. Now you really are getting my
> attention. I'll ask my lfs about them when I see him tomorrow.
>
> -- Mr Gardener

I seem to remember reading that your LFS might be able to get you some
in another posting by you - can't find it for the life of me...

They really are nice fish and a little bit different - and I do like at
least one small tank full of something not quite so common... <g>

Now, Richard has got me interested in Killies - oh dear, does the cycle
never end (pun intended)

Gill

[Gill Passman]

Mr. Gardener wrote:
> On Fri, 17 Feb 2006 23:49:19 +0000, Gill Passman
> > wrote:
>
>
>>Mr. Gardener wrote:
>>
>>>On Fri, 17 Feb 2006 22:39:27 +0000, Gill Passman
> wrote:
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>>Mr. Gardener wrote:
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>>On Fri, 17 Feb 2006 21:09:03 +0000, Gill Passman
> wrote:
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>>Altum wrote:
>>>>>>
>>>>>>
>>>>>>
>>>>>>>Lately, I've been allowing ramshorn snails to live in a 10 gallon
>>>>>>>planted tank - they seem to do more good than harm. I've also got
>>>>>>>Amano shrimp and Malaysian trumpet snails in the tank.
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>Now a guppy has gone missing. I cleaned the tank and couldn't find a
>>>>>>>trace of him. There isn't any smell, no corpse, and the water tests
>>>>>>>fine. Fancy guppies with huge tails can't jump and I don't have cats.
>>>>>>>Can shrimp and snails completely eat a dead guppy and plants absorb any
>>>>>>>water quality problems? Should I keep searching for a corpse?
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>
>>>>>>I quite often don't find dead fish unless I've noticed immediately after
>>>>>>their demise. I lost a platy in a 5 gall tank (QT) - only companions
>>>>>>where another 2 platys, some Platy fry and around 5 Blue Eyed Getrude
>>>>>>Rainbows (no snails) - there at breakfast and totally gone by lunchtime
>>>>>>with no opportunity for jumping or the cat getting at it...removed all
>>>>>>the decor, plants, filter etc. but no sign....
>>>>>>
>>>>>>As long as the water quality remains OK I would stop the search other
>>>>>>than a cursory glance for floaters or anything suspicious in the
>>>>>>substrate...I've sometimes found reducing the water level (through a
>>>>>>change) has exposed the poor demised fish but this is the exception
>>>>>>rather than the rule...
>>>>>>
>>>>>>I would guess the snails, shrimp and indeed the other fish have polished
>>>>>>him off - yuk...
>>>>>>
>>>>>>Gill
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>OK. I give. What is a blue eyed Gertrude? I searched on Google and
>>>>>came up with
>>>>> Gertrude, a blue-eyed and buxom girl was the oldest of the three
>>>>>Beckett daughters. She fell in love with Rizal. Tottie helped him
>>>>>and
>>>>> Lawrence the blond-haired, blue-eyed desert warrior representing
>>>>>good against ... Gertrude Bell stayed on in the East. But their paths
>>>>>would cross again. ...
>>>>>
>>>>>and numerous other dead ends. So please tell me, the suspense is
>>>>>killing me.
>>>>>
>>>>>-- Mr Gardener
>>>>
>>>>They are actually quite cute little fish, full of character and very
>>>>little more than 1cm in size. Here is a link - the fish pictured is a
>>>>male displaying:-
>>>>
>>>>http://www.tropicalfishfinder.co.uk/article_detail.asp?id=16
>>>>
>>>>They are a minature rainbow fish.
>>>>
>>>>Last April I set up a 7.5UK gall Hex tank and bought some Peacock Gobies
>>>>to live in it (along with some Panda cories). Before you ask here is a
>>>>link:-
>>>>
>>>>http://www.tropicalfishfinder.co.uk/article_detail.asp?id=16
>>>>
>>>>Sadly, after a short christmas break I came home to find that they had
>>>>been overfed and with it being such a small tank the results were
>>>>catastrophic... :-(
>>>>
>>>>They did give me a taste for trying to find small, rarer but interesting
>>>>fish...if I could ever find these fish again (the gobies) I would buy
>>>>them at a drop of a hat - they were great....
>>>>
>>>>Anyway, I picked myself, dusted myself down, kept the filter medium
>>>>bacteria alive, trashed the tank and set it up again and went out looking.
>>>>
>>>>My local LFS had these Blue Eyed Getrude Rainbows...I'd been looking at
>>>>them for months - they didn't sell...so here I am in a postition to give
>>>>them a home, plus some surplus space in a couple of other tanks. So in a
>>>>rash moment I buy all of the stock (around 30 of the things)...I had
>>>>around a 30% mortality rate within the first few days but the rest of
>>>>them are thriving. They are spread across 3 small tanks. In one tank
>>>>they have spawned - low survival rate (I blame the Platys) but at least
>>>>a couple of them have survived. The Hex tank gives me great
>>>>pleasure...there is a dominant male and even though in minature I would
>>>>say that his display and flaring rivals my betta....the tank is planted
>>>>with vallis and I'm not sure that this is the most conducive to spawning
>>>>so will replant the tank with more suitable plants...there are around 12
>>>>of them in there...
>>>>
>>>>Joke is...the LFS couldn't sell them until a nut like me came in and
>>>>bought the tank full...someone in marketing/management has now seen this
>>>>as a selling range - they now have another 50 - haven't shifted a single
>>>>one in a month...I think that they are a fish that requires
>>>>specialisation and a particular type of fish keeper to go out and buy
>>>>them - someone who likes slightly "off the wall" fish...I have all the
>>>>"standard" fish with some noteable exceptions so I love to dabble...
>>>>
>>>>All in all, if you have a small tank and you are looking for something a
>>>>little different that has immense character I would recommend these
>>>>little fellows....I do, however, think that their charm would be lost
>>>>mixed in a larger community tank...
>>>>
>>>>Gill
>>>>
>>>>PS If I ever find the gobies again I would do the same thing and buy as
>>>>many as I could fit in
>>>
>>>
>>>Thanks. They sound fascinating. I can visualize them in a tall hex
>>>tank - and I think they would be great as the only species in that
>>>tank. Well, maybe a couple of panda cories.
>>>
>>>-- Mr Gardener
>>
>>I have been tempted to add some more pandas but I'm reluctant on the
>>basis that they would polish off any eggs or fry...and if what I have
>>read about their "annual" nature is correct I obviously want them to spawn.
>>
>>As you have discovered there is very little info available on these fish
>>on the web so everything I'm learning is really through
>>observation...one thing I noticed was that they need a lot of surface
>>plants in order to gain confidence - in the Hex tank they were very shy
>>until I got some drifting vallis cuttings (they broke loose)...they also
>>do need a heavily planted tank at the lower levels to feel
>>comfortable...they hold their own with bettas...but I doubt any fry will
>>survive...the successful spawning have actually been in a tank where I
>>struggle to control the temp so it is warmer than I would normally have
>>a tank at....I do 20% changes in this tank twice weekly...
>>
>>If you can find them, and you are looking for something a little
>>different I would certainly recommend them...
>>
>>Gill
>
>
> I have water sprite growing out of my ears. It's everywhere, I keep
> giving it away by the bucket and it keeps growing back. It's a great
> floater and it works well rooted. Now you really are getting my
> attention. I'll ask my lfs about them when I see him tomorrow.
>
> -- Mr Gardener

forgot to add...I'll try and get some pics of mine for you - just to
give you an idea - just need to get rid of the brown hair algae (blush)
to make a decent photo but have a whole week to play tanks coming up....

Gill