Search found 32 matches

by Stevetd
11 Aug 2004, 11:58
Forum: Asian Catfishes
Topic: ShortBody Paroon Shark
Replies: 28
Views: 9514

Sharkman

I have read the above posts and did agree with the GOOD advice the others all gave you.
However, I didn't realise that your tank was as big as 7ft x 5ft x 4ft!
Gosh, that closely replicates the hundreds/thousands miles these migratory fish will swim.
Well done.

Steve
by Stevetd
11 Aug 2004, 11:54
Forum: South American Catfishes (Callichthyidae - Corys et al)
Topic: unexplained death
Replies: 6
Views: 1636

Hi
Sorry to hear about your fish.
Are you saying that your tank had completely cycled?
I know with Pims that a reddening of the underside can be a reaction to
elevated ammonia levels?
When youy say your friend tested the water, how long later did the fish die?

Steve
by Stevetd
29 Jul 2004, 13:49
Forum: Other Catfishes
Topic: ???tank Size???
Replies: 9
Views: 3106

You also have a point. Disease transmission can be a two-way process. Over-time, a fish will have built up a certain level of immunity to conditions typical of a home aquarium. Upon release, these conditions do not exist in the wild so this immunity is useless - and vice versa with the fish being ...
by Stevetd
29 Jul 2004, 10:08
Forum: Other Catfishes
Topic: ???tank Size???
Replies: 9
Views: 3106

I'd have to agree with Taratron, that was pretty irresponsible advice from lilobitrice14!!!
by Stevetd
17 Jun 2004, 16:46
Forum: South American Catfishes (Everything else)
Topic: Getting Some GIANT catfishes
Replies: 40
Views: 9726

Well it't nice to hear of a shop with a responsible attitude to larger fish. There is also a shop in the UK which has a fantastic selection of fish - big and small. They always have RTC's in stock, but also have a 1500 gallon display tank with a 3ft adult in, and a little notice next to the tank ...
by Stevetd
16 Jun 2004, 14:54
Forum: South American Catfishes (Everything else)
Topic: Getting Some GIANT catfishes
Replies: 40
Views: 9726

Hello all, Well that is the main question - what can be done? For many shops, money is the main objective. IT would be unfair to say this of all shops, but it is true of most that I know. When I'm just browsing around certain stores, I hear the most appalling advice being given - but what can be ...
by Stevetd
14 Jun 2004, 10:32
Forum: South American Catfishes (Everything else)
Topic: Getting Some GIANT catfishes
Replies: 40
Views: 9726

Fishman - re: the 55g scenario you paint is spot on. I felt semi-obliged to buy a TSN a few weeks ago, due entirely to the fact that the LFS were quoting the following: 5ft recommended tank size ' ok' with community so long as over 1/2 length of the TSN Max size of 16 - 18 inch!!! I felt that if i ...
by Stevetd
11 Jun 2004, 16:25
Forum: South American Catfishes (Loricariidae - Plecos et al)
Topic: Pls help me sex my gibby.
Replies: 5
Views: 1064

Wow, I'm glad the content of this thread didn't follow the theme that first sprang to mind when I read the title.....
by Stevetd
11 Jun 2004, 16:22
Forum: South American Catfishes (Everything else)
Topic: Getting Some GIANT catfishes
Replies: 40
Views: 9726

People have opinions. Therefore, there will always be dispute over subjects such as this. Learn to live with that. I can't see what the problems with Fishman is, considering an admittance that the 400 gallon tank will not be big enough when fully grown? Let's be fair that this person has already ...
by Stevetd
04 Jun 2004, 17:00
Forum: South American Catfishes (Loricariidae - Plecos et al)
Topic: eye problem with my albino gibby :(
Replies: 20
Views: 3904

It sounds very much like a corneal edema whereby the cornea becomes inflamed. It develops a lot of fluid making the eye look cloudy. It can be caused by a bacterial infection, though should not be a major problem provided you treat it correctly. I would suggest treating with a standard bacterial ...
by Stevetd
26 May 2004, 17:29
Forum: Tank Talk
Topic: tank on an uneven surface: levelling it out. need advice
Replies: 13
Views: 2900

A shim is also known as a packer i.e. a piece of material used when adjusting the position of another material. They are thin slips of say timber, steel etc and can be any plan size you want. If you used shims, I would suggest thin steel plate as the pointloading would cause failure in most other ...
by Stevetd
26 May 2004, 10:57
Forum: South American Catfishes (Loricariidae - Plecos et al)
Topic: feeding plecs
Replies: 3
Views: 805

My plec never used to see veggies as food but does now. Might take time that's all.
I've also starting feeding my Gibby by hand - he rises to the surface and sucks on food if i hold it for him ! the lazy sod!!
by Stevetd
25 May 2004, 15:40
Forum: Tank Talk
Topic: tank on an uneven surface: levelling it out. need advice
Replies: 13
Views: 2900

I would also add that rather than attempt some solution you are uncomfortable with, it might be a case of sticking with an even water level. With a weight of about 250kg - 10mm glass is more than adequate for a tank of that size, and any additional pressure onm the glass as a result of the tilt ...
by Stevetd
25 May 2004, 11:34
Forum: Tank Talk
Topic: tank on an uneven surface: levelling it out. need advice
Replies: 13
Views: 2900

Hi there, have you considere using a metal frame stand, with adjustable feet? You could then enclose the frame with a 'dummy' timber cabinet? Personally, I can't see the wedges working as the slope is 3 dimensional!! Using steel shims under the feet of a timber cabinet may work, but settlement over ...
by Stevetd
05 May 2004, 12:01
Forum: South American Catfishes (Everything else)
Topic: Getting Some GIANT catfishes
Replies: 40
Views: 9726

Isn't the sequence of your fish order then care enquiries a bit back-to-front?
by Stevetd
31 Mar 2004, 11:26
Forum: South American Catfishes (Loricariidae - Plecos et al)
Topic: Damaged nose on Gibby
Replies: 1
Views: 602

Hi there, G.Gibbiceps can be quite boisterous at times, and will quite happily wedge itself into crevices face first! One of my fish is extremley 'rough' and has this white calous due to the way he dives nose first into everything. As he has got abit older, (and wiser) he has calmed down a lot and ...
by Stevetd
25 Mar 2004, 17:46
Forum: Tank Talk
Topic: help me build a tank
Replies: 14
Views: 2306

I think that plate glass would be the most suitable.

Cheers

Steve
by Stevetd
25 Mar 2004, 17:20
Forum: Tank Talk
Topic: help me build a tank
Replies: 14
Views: 2306

I'm not 100% sure, but would imagine it to be about 60% of the cost of the tanks you see ready made.
Do you know what type of glass you will be using? also, make sure the glass is not 'second-hand' i.e. salvaged. It can be re-worked to look new.

Cheers

Steve
by Stevetd
25 Mar 2004, 16:49
Forum: South American Catfishes (Everything else)
Topic: red tail x tiger shovelnose
Replies: 9
Views: 3509

Unfortunatley I saw them labelled up in a shop near me simply as 'spotted catfish'. There was absolutely no information on the fish. I was also told my 8x2x2 tank would be fine to house a small group!! Luckily I know better, but it still angers me they are mis-sold. I wish there was something I ...
by Stevetd
25 Mar 2004, 16:44
Forum: Tank Talk
Topic: help me build a tank
Replies: 14
Views: 2306

Do you mean fit bracing straps on the inside bottom of the tank? The wider a tank is made, the more stress is put on the silicon joints at the corner. Hydrostatic pressure on the glass may also build up. The bracing bars become less effective the longer they have to stretch to 'tie-in' the panes of ...
by Stevetd
25 Mar 2004, 13:27
Forum: South American Catfishes (Everything else)
Topic: red tail x tiger shovelnose
Replies: 9
Views: 3509

Hello there, I can't say I've had any real first-hand experience of these hybrid fish, but the chances are a 3 foot RTC and 2.5 - 3ft TSN will top out at around 3ft (36 inches). There is also a condition where hybrid fish actually grow larger than the original species from which they were intially ...
by Stevetd
25 Mar 2004, 09:16
Forum: Tank Talk
Topic: help me build a tank
Replies: 14
Views: 2306

Hello again,
the price of a 7x3x2 is a lot more as any tank over 2ft wide should be made with a double base to give extra rigidity. You can find companies who will make them with a single base over 2ft wide, but I certainly wouldn't be willing to risk it

Cheers

Steve
by Stevetd
24 Mar 2004, 17:13
Forum: Tank Talk
Topic: Who oh Who will not become lunch for lima sorimba shovelnose
Replies: 5
Views: 1410

Yes that is a good point. However, pimellodus pictus - particularly in a shoal will be active most of the daytime, so do not seem to 'switch on' the same as perhaps a S.Lima does. They are also inclined to stick to their territories quite fiercely even if that involves risk or danger.They will leave ...
by Stevetd
24 Mar 2004, 15:16
Forum: Tank Talk
Topic: Who oh Who will not become lunch for lima sorimba shovelnose
Replies: 5
Views: 1410

The plecos should be fine. However, P.pictus is something you might want to think twice about? Over the years I've lost a few of those to fish not that much bigger. ALthough they can lock their fins, they are not big or powerful enough to make this feature really effective against bigger predators ...
by Stevetd
24 Mar 2004, 15:13
Forum: Tank Talk
Topic: acrylic aquarium
Replies: 4
Views: 1156

Acrylic aquariums only really justify their price when 12mm glass would otherwise be required (for tanks taller than 24 inches) or when a curved tank (or siomething equally as fancy) is required. Otherwise I would stick to glass. It's something which can be argued over forever - and there's a lot of ...
by Stevetd
24 Mar 2004, 15:11
Forum: Tank Talk
Topic: help me build a tank
Replies: 14
Views: 2306

Hello there, A tank can be made of 10mm glass as long as it does not exceed 24 inches deep. If it exceeds this 12mm glass is required. A tank wider than 2ft should ideally have a double base (still using 10mm) to ensure rigidity. Is there any reason you want to build your own? There are companies ...
by Stevetd
23 Mar 2004, 17:18
Forum: South American Catfishes (Everything else)
Topic: Merodontotus Tigrinus - Questions
Replies: 13
Views: 3203

Hello Again, The Platystomatichthys is a fish I know very little about. I have seen a few images of them. Would you have any more info on them i.e. average and max sizes etc? The 'shovelnose' fish tend to have the same basic requirements so I assume this fish follows those too? I have seen ...
by Stevetd
23 Mar 2004, 15:13
Forum: South American Catfishes (Everything else)
Topic: Merodontotus Tigrinus - Questions
Replies: 13
Views: 3203

Hi there, Thanks for your comments! I already have the Arowana, and he's about 8 inches at the moment. They are very flexible fish so I opted to give them more swimming room lengthways rather than widthways (as I had been contemplating a 7 x 2.5ft wide). THey are one fish who's maximum size has been ...
by Stevetd
23 Mar 2004, 14:17
Forum: South American Catfishes (Everything else)
Topic: Merodontotus Tigrinus - Questions
Replies: 13
Views: 3203

Hi there, 8x2x2 feet ! (metres - I wish!!) The Silver arowana is likely to average out between 22 and 30 inches. The gibbiceps at 14 - 16 inch, and the sorubims at about 12 inches. The royal panaque is a bit small at around 8 inches average size in captivity. Thanks for your comments though, it is ...
by Stevetd
23 Mar 2004, 13:24
Forum: South American Catfishes (Everything else)
Topic: Merodontotus Tigrinus - Questions
Replies: 13
Views: 3203

Merodontotus Tigrinus - Questions

Hello All - I'm new to this board but have been reading for a while. I'm researching into buying a Merodontotus Tigrinus, but over here (UK) they cost a fortune so I have to be 100% satisfied before I buy one. The main question is over size. It is easy to quote sizes from well known books ...

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