Polarhound
March 21st 04, 03:16 AM
http://www.cichlidae.info/articles/a092.php
Individual guapotes will sometimes develop a violent aversion towards
filter intake siphons and heaters. Such an individual will try to eject
the offending objects from the aquarium with a few vigorous upward flips
of the snout. Such efforts, when successful, produce a remarkably
faithful imitation of a Poseidon missile leaving its launching tube and
result in either an inoperative (and possibly burnt out) power filter or
a broken heater.
Other individuals will seize a heater and slam it repeatedly against
either the tank walls or a convenient rock until they perceive it to be
safely dead. This rarely has any drastic effects upon the fish, but it
can have literally electrifying consequences for anyone unfortunate
enough to come into contact with the tank water before the broken heater
is disconnected! Solitary specimens are the most common offenders in
this regard, but some individuals will take offense at these intrusive
pieces of glass and plastic tubing even when housed in a community
situation.
The only way to prevent such sabotage is to deny the fish access to both
intake siphons and heaters. Simply attaching these implements to the
tank wall with suction cups, the remedy usually recommended doesn't work
very well, as large guapotes can pull them free with very little effort.
The best means of protecting these appliances is to fence off the two
rear corners of the aquarium with a perforated partition before filling
the tank with water. A pre-cut piece of plexiglass with I/4" holes
drilled to allow free water circulation or a similarly trimmed piece of
plastic egg crate sheeting, cemented in place with silicone elastic
sealant will serve this purpose admirably. Any guapote capable of
overcoming these protective measures should be donated to the Navy as a
candidate for an underwater demolition team!
Individual guapotes will sometimes develop a violent aversion towards
filter intake siphons and heaters. Such an individual will try to eject
the offending objects from the aquarium with a few vigorous upward flips
of the snout. Such efforts, when successful, produce a remarkably
faithful imitation of a Poseidon missile leaving its launching tube and
result in either an inoperative (and possibly burnt out) power filter or
a broken heater.
Other individuals will seize a heater and slam it repeatedly against
either the tank walls or a convenient rock until they perceive it to be
safely dead. This rarely has any drastic effects upon the fish, but it
can have literally electrifying consequences for anyone unfortunate
enough to come into contact with the tank water before the broken heater
is disconnected! Solitary specimens are the most common offenders in
this regard, but some individuals will take offense at these intrusive
pieces of glass and plastic tubing even when housed in a community
situation.
The only way to prevent such sabotage is to deny the fish access to both
intake siphons and heaters. Simply attaching these implements to the
tank wall with suction cups, the remedy usually recommended doesn't work
very well, as large guapotes can pull them free with very little effort.
The best means of protecting these appliances is to fence off the two
rear corners of the aquarium with a perforated partition before filling
the tank with water. A pre-cut piece of plexiglass with I/4" holes
drilled to allow free water circulation or a similarly trimmed piece of
plastic egg crate sheeting, cemented in place with silicone elastic
sealant will serve this purpose admirably. Any guapote capable of
overcoming these protective measures should be donated to the Navy as a
candidate for an underwater demolition team!