The usual pre-CSG shop-tour ...

[MatsP]

Plans made with Jools to meet at Rare Aquatics at 13.00, then off to Pier in Wigan and from there to Aqualife.

I may pop in to EV Aquatics in Nottingham around 11 as well.

--
Mats

[Jools]

See you there. I'll be the one with Anubias.

Jools

[CoryWally]

See you tomorrow Mats. Not sure of my shop visit times, maybe pop to Aqualife tomorrow afternoon around 2'ish.

Cheers,
Mark.

[MatsP]

See you there. I'll be the one with Anubias.

Jools

I may be carrying a computer and a camera... ;)

--
Mats

[sidguppy]

have fun at the CSG, folks

my favorite mainland LFS guy (Oliver Frank) will be joining you as well....

if he can get his hands on weird catfish, I'm in the position to buy them off him

[The.Dark.One]

I called in to Pier Aquatics today. Unbelievable selection of rare and beautiful fish. As usual - loads of catfish, but also loads of rare Indian and Chinese loaches. I bought a massive pair of Glanidium/Tatia. The male is 15cm SL and over 20cm TL!!! Very similar to Tatia dunni but very elongated!

Some of the species seen (there were many, many more):

Hypostomus margaritifer


Hassar orestis


Aguarunichthys tocantinsensis


Auchenipterus cf. nuchalis


Hypostomus LDA09?


Hypancistrus zebra


Hypancistrus L399


Ageneiosus atronasus


Glyptothorax malabarensis


Corydoras ornatus


Rita sacerdotum


Hypostomus from Colombia (didn;t get the L number)


Sturisoma aureum


Hypancistrus L260 (gorgeous!)


Some kind of Heptapterid (like Cetopsorhamdia) or young Brachyplatystoma? Black in life with a white patch - beautiful!


Gogangra viridescens (sorry for the poor pic)


Schistura pridii


Panaque cochliodon (huge) (but not as big as the other Panaque. It was so large I didn't notice it was a fish. I thought it was tank decor (large rocks etc)!

[The.Dark.One]

Panaqolus sp?

[The.Dark.One]

Look at the plates on this beauty!

[wrasse]

Visiting Pier Aquatics is always a real treat for me. I've never been disappointed and there's always a very warm reception, which includes a cuppa
It was also great to have Adele back where she belongs!

Those black pims (steve posted above) are lovely fish, but the real superstars for me were those Glanidium/Tatia. They're almost a luminous green gold background colour. Mine are now settled in a quarantine tank, Steve and Ingo also had some. Snap them up!!!
Of course there were several other stars, including a cracking blue-eyed panaque and a monster of panaque which strangely, almost goes unnoticed due to the screen of green discus that share it's tank, but it is HUGE.
It's also worth mentioning the quality of the guppies Neil has in stock... really healthy and glowing colours. You don't often see guppies like that... I liked them so much I bought 10.
Neil has experienced some delays with one or two shipments, so over the next few weeks we need to 'watch this space' very closely...

The other shop I visited is Aqualife. Superb selection of fish and a really friendly reception. Every tank
has to be closely studied in case you miss something special... usually a catfish!

[The.Dark.One]

I agree. Some amazing fish and great staff.

Here is the Panaque. Bear in mind that the discus are about 17cm across!

[kruseman]

Wow: It's humongous!

But what about the new Tatia/Glanidium?
Any pictures yet?

[The.Dark.One]

I think Neil is going to post a pic of a smaller female on his website when he gets chance.

I will try and get pics too though my camera might struggle to do the male justice.

[coelacanth]

Those Auchenipterus are the mutt's nuts for me, but that Gigapanaque is just incredible

[MatsP]

The big Panaque is definitely very nice. Shame that a) it's already sold, and b) I don't have an "El Tofi" style tank.

Here's my favourite fish-purchase of the weekend:

--
Mats

[Scleropages]

Here is the Panaque. Bear in mind that the discus are about 17cm across!

That is one impressive sucker! I wonder how many pounds of wood it goes through in a year. There used to be (and may very well still be) one of similar size at Shark Aquarium in NJ. It's always a treat to see something like that in a LFS.

Thanks for sharing those pics.

[The.Dark.One]

Here is the Panaque. Bear in mind that the discus are about 17cm across!

That is one impressive sucker! I wonder how many pounds of wood it goes through in a year. There used to be (and may very well still be) one of similar size at Shark Aquarium in NJ. It's always a treat to see something like that in a LFS.

Thanks for sharing those pics.

Yeah. It has to be seen in the flesh to be believed. An awesome specimen. I'm sure he will need a steady supply of wood lol

You are welcome.

[sojapat]

Thankyou for your Kind words particularly on the subject of my lovely wife no one is happier than me to see her recovering from what has been a very hard time .
Neil

[Scleropages]

Thankyou for your Kind words...

By the pictures alone, you deserve it. For a LFS, you are doing things right. Bravo!

[The.Dark.One]

Thankyou for your Kind words particularly on the subject of my lovely wife no one is happier than me to see her recovering from what has been a very hard time .
Neil

Hear, hear. It was lovely to see her at the Convention and chat with her in the shop.

And yes Scleropages, as a fish shop it is unbelievable!

[Birger]

Three more pictures of the beast...probably the most photographed fish of the CSG weekend...I really enjoyed the tour(all shops) and had the privilege to see Neils treasures (rays) in the inner sanctum.


my favourite

[sidguppy]

that Panaque is insane.....

did Neil ever put a tape measure on it?
cause it'll change some settings in the catelog, I tell ye.

is it a very old Blue Eye (suttonorum/cochliodon) or another species?

[rob rensen]

It looks like an old Panaque Titan

[MatsP]

It certainly didn't have blue eyes (there was a large blue-eyed in stock as well).

--
Mats

[The.Dark.One]

I think Neil said it was an adult(!)

Panaque sp(l191)

[MatsP]

I think Neil said it was an adult(!)

Panaque sp(l191)

I was just going to go back and edit my reply to include this information...

--
Mats

[Birger]

I think Neil said it was an adult(!) Panaque sp(l191)

That is what I understood as well.

Birger

[sojapat]

Hey Birger...Tis a L191 ... Beast .
I have to catch it this week .... GULP !
Nice to have met you BTW ..sorry I did not see your talk would have been nice to see .

[sidguppy]

whoa

someone with an indoor pond bought it off you?

it'll be the untimate showpiece I think...the largest Panaque this side of the equator!

[Birger]

I have to catch it this week .... GULP !

Haha...better you than me...you should get that on film.

Birger