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Post by Carl on Mar 31, 2009 22:27:18 GMT -5
I have it up on aquabid and nycichlids Carl, but if your client/former client wants the fish, I'll take it down and send to them. If the shipping label helps move this along, even better, BUT there is something about Fed Ex that makes me worry. I tried to bring a shipment one time to a drop off center and was closing the box there. They saw it was fish and said there is restrictions on them accepting this package and wouldn't take it, yet I've gotten fish in from Fed Ex numerous times. I'd prefer not to use Fed Ex because they are a bunch of bungholes. I sat there with a manager on the call center and explained to them, they ship fish every single day, why am I being singled out...typical stupid answers, so Fed Ex isn't exactly on my Christmas Card list. If you have any trade secrets to get around this let me know. If they want it Carl I'll send. If someone else gives me an offer and will pick up between now and when I hear from you, I'll do what I can. I'm happy to give priority to the person you know. The problem you had with Fedex is you told them what you had, ALL of the main shippers are best not told; in fact the USPS is the worst in responding to liquid shipments. In fact to be more blunt, even though you may have had problems with Fedex, I can tell you from much experience shipping not only with my business, but as the manager over seeing shipping at the Candy Factory I worked at that Fedex had by far the best customer service, with the USPS by far the worst, & UPS in the middle. I can gice you many horror stories with both UPS and USPS (most with USPS as they RARELY honor their mistakes, which is why we do not guarantee any shipment I have to ship via USPS) What I need to do is find out from Gregg if Lisa Kao Coaster Co. is interested, then if your Jardini is still available, I will give you his email. If agreed on terms, I can print a shipping label based on your ready to ship weight. Carl
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Post by jonv on Apr 1, 2009 3:04:09 GMT -5
So far Carl, I have one offer for 150 dollars, but I'd have to bring it to Baltimore, so bascially that's a dead deal. I have an offer for 125 and they will come pick up, BUT I have not heard back from them since Friday night, so I'm figuring this isn't going anywhere either. 3 other people asked what price, I responded back no answers. I just posted it on nycichlids today, but I'm not holding my breath on this one much Carl. I hardly ever see oddballs outside of maybe pleco's being moved on there. If Lisa Kao is interested and the price isn't an issue, I think my Jardini is going to Cali Many thanks Carl for the help on this. I did pick up a pair of Firefish. Short story on these, and I know I'm going to get the Bible for this, but trust me, there is a plan. Basically they are a hybrid of sorts. It's a certain type of Peacock, a Rubescens I believe, crossed into a Red Zebra bringing up the red coloring, but it has a white base. The idea in works, is hopes to cross this into the OB peacock I have that's strawberry red, improving up the red color patterns. I want to say now for all reading, I have full intentions, if I get a line of red I think will be popular, I will clearly with no doubts let anyone buying know, this isn't a pure species, but a hyrbid. I want in no way to start polluting up bloodlines. I also picked up an Electra Hap, I have to do some look ups on. Vinny also gave me some Aeneocolor fry he had left, and 1 more F1 yellow.
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Post by Carl on Apr 1, 2009 13:10:52 GMT -5
Do you have any pictures of this Firefish hybrid?
I almost need a scorecard to keep up with these new fish you and others get here
I honestly think it would be great just to get some members pictures with names attached on a new blog post for others to keep up with (with common names and scientific names applied)
Carl
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Post by jonv on Apr 1, 2009 14:20:50 GMT -5
The male is out in the open now so that shouldn't be hard. In short, what the whole project where these were made, the object was to work up a pure red bodied fish. I have seen this done in many Aulnocara Peacocks, where the males that had the most solid and most bright colors were selected and continually bred back with females that had the most color as well. The Firefish is a cross between a Peacock and a Red Zebra, but which type of Peacock they used, I am unsure, because these base color on the body is basically white, and that's a very uncommon color for a Peacock that I've seen.
The white pair I picked up and are in the 75, those are hybrids also as far as I understand, however, I only intend to breed the male and female together, not intermix other males with the female and start playing geneticist. I just thought it would be nice to have a pure white Peacock, since I've never seen one in the stores. These fish to my understanding were made in Asia somewhere.
Being I am no fan of intentionally making hybrids, using this firefish to help develop a more red looking fish, I am going to document and carefully house offspring and which ones will be crossed with which, so that the main pure bloodline fish do not get polluted with any hybrids. Basically I'm going to keep the Hybrids in the 20 only, and when they grow, whichever ones I select to breed back with the first, is all I will keep, the rest I'll send back to Vin.
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Post by jonv on Apr 1, 2009 14:46:44 GMT -5
The light comming in off angle by the near by window distorted these a bit, but to get something up for now, here we go. I'll try later tonight when there isn't much glare. Male Firefish Female Placidochromis Electra, I believe this is a wild caught, not sure, I have to ask Vin again. I'll have to try to find a female for this guy. This is the CF information on the species www.cichlid-forum.com/profiles/species.php?id=1204Mine
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Post by jonv on Apr 20, 2009 22:17:46 GMT -5
Now for still images. Not quite all of them came out good, but not too bad. Zebra Red Top Hongi male I also have 3 breeding females with him Still of the newest male Astatilapia Aeneocolor that dorsal fin is just so huge I can't get over it. It's 2-3 times the size of the other male I have in the 75. Male Fulu in a crowd. Then alone A little bit better one of the Male Hongi And in this one, the one of the females is in front of him. When he's ready to breed, he will actually light up in color to a pale blue almost to the background of the forum page look. Very tealish looking. This would have been a great image had it not been for that glare, so what we see here, on the right hand side, 2 female Fulu with a female Astatilapia Lafasciata in between them, the male Astatilapia Aeneocolor in the middle, with 2 of his female to the left, which are top and bottom yet another Lafasciata female, and the big one in the bottom back, that's actually a Tilapia Bythobate. They have quite a similar look like the Hippo Point's BUT these are a substrate spawner from Mozambique, and I do plan to trade/sell them in the future. Male Lombardoi still keeping watch for the female. Here you can see a bit better the comparison to the Hippo Points to the Bythobates. Hippo point male in the front, Bythobate in the back. One female Lafasciata already spawned earlier tonight, this one is ready any time the male is, she's ready to POP. Smaller Hippo Point hanging out with some Flavus females Male Fulu again Male Hongi again, showing a slight bit of color. Probably the best still of the big Hippo point male I could get
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Post by Carl on Apr 21, 2009 9:01:13 GMT -5
Nice pics Jon; Question; is the Zebra Red Top Hongi a Labidochromis from Lake Malawi? www.bigskycichlids.com/Lsp_RT_kimpuma.htmAnother question, which sp. is your Fulu (I am sure you noted before, but I still need a score card to keep up here)? Carl
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Post by jonv on Apr 21, 2009 11:00:41 GMT -5
I would think that the Hongi is the one you listed, I didn't actually ask Vin about that, but from what I see in the link and what I see in them, it seems like a strong match really.
Fulu's are Xistochromis Phytophagus. He's really colored up well, but doesn't quite have the same spawning colors as some other show quality level pictures I've seen of them. Still he's pretty good at fanning his females and not so timid anymore as he used to be. I've seen him take on the Matumbai Hunter and keep him locked down in the cave in the past.
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Post by jonv on May 31, 2009 21:35:54 GMT -5
Ok, so I've taken the most current shots so far, but keep in mind this is still going to evolve more over time. Going right to left, bottom end of tank Best I could get of a whole tank shot backed out. Overhead of the cave areas I might have a better one taken later on, there's about 30 or so shots, but this is one of those suspect Fulu females. I am not sure if this will help narrow down if these really are Fulu or not, but if I need a different type of shot let me know. The male of that group. Now compare to this female/male of the more recent Fulu pick up from Vin who got them from a breeder in Long Island. I am not aware right now that there is that much of a different look possible, but if there is, it would be good to know before I move the older group. What I pick up on here is these females by far are more silver looking. Assuming too these are females. The known male of that group, the only one that's really showing any color. There might be some sub dom males, and as well I couldn't catch all the Fulu to get shots of each, but I did pick up 12. I see quite a bit of difference in look with this male compared to the older group male here too. Probably the best shot I was able to get of him Or this one A few extra shots of other fish. Male Pytchochromis Oligocanthus Female Protomelas Steveni "Taiwan Reef" Holding this OB male Peacock here, don't want to tempt the strawberry one in the 75 as he's pretty assertive. The lone Tangyangikan playing hide and seek in the rocks. He's actually doing very well, almost 3 years now in this tank. Pretty good shot of one of the, what I feel is male Paratilapia Polleni
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Post by jonv on Mar 10, 2010 22:07:31 GMT -5
Haven't posted in awhile been extremely busy but some updates here. Out at the house, had to put the 180 into storage for the time being since the downstairs won't accomodate 3 tanks. So I am operating out of the 75 and 100 for now. I trimmed out a large but I also did lose some in the moving process. Getting that 100 and 180 from upstairs to down was not fun nor easy. I first drained and moved all the 100 occupants to the 180. Moved and set up the 100 here. Sold/traded the ones I knew I wasn't going to keep. When the movers came to get the 180 that had to be drained the night before so thats when all I was going to keep moved to the 100. On the way there, someone pulled out in front of me and the bucket tipped and about half the fish went all over the car. Saved the ones I could find. Losing half the bucket water didn't help as a few died the next day just from the shock and exposure but I did what I could. Lost the male breeding peacock I'd been breeding which bites. He had super color quality and was a stud. Never too overbearing either since I'd been breeding them in a pair only. Mom did make it and about 20 of his offspring so the Rubescens Peacock line will be delayed. Kept as many female Obliquedins I could find, lost the adult males. Have numerous juvie males though from that line I was breeding. Probably a few more months since just before the move, some of the juvie females started holding for a bit. Lost the female Taiwan reef before the move. Not sure she just started looking weak and dead the next day. Wasn't aggression but she hadn't spawned in awhile. Still have the dad and a few of his offspring so that line will probably kick back in by fall. Looks like out of the 10 fulu I got from Vin, had 2 males and the rest females. I'll be damned if one of those nice looking males weren't one lost way under the seat in the car, but 1 male made it, and I made a trade at the pet store, think I picked up a nice looking male Sp. 44 from Petland. Will post that one as I'm not 100% sure what but I think it's a Sp. 44. Most of the female hongi died since the teen watching the 75 just wasn't doing it, but have a few nice males. I'll work to acquire females for that Mbuna line and I have a yellow lab holding, one of Vins group that's wild caught. For some reason though, my male OB peacocks are same gender seekers or just plain confused because no matter what females I try to entice him with, he just don't respond. Oh well. I'll look for a nice Ruby Red male and breed all my females to him. Kenyi line no longer going. Have that one dominant male who's very pale now for some reason, no females left. Keyni not hard to find so that line will go. The Flavescent is showing nice however I can't find the Electra. Teens these days I swear. Now that I have direct control of the 75 with the 100, the 100 set to fairly bare substrate, just some crushed coral, the landscape is ideal for the Africans. I'll breed the Mbuna out of the 75, and the Vics outta the 100. Here's the new ones I got in trade out of Petland and my prize ones. Can't belive I got that Sp. 44 from Petland, what an accidental score. Dominant male Hongi The Flavescent Another shot of the Hongi, he's really amazing in color: A nice female Peacock, tube down. Unsure of exact species but I will breed her to a Ruby Red when I get a male. Petland scores again! The male Fulu really showing color now. Need to clean a bit more in the 100 tomorrow. Suspected Sp. 44 Side by side with Fulu and Sp. 44. I can see clearly a difference. Vid since great stills were hard to get i200.photobucket.com/albums/aa25/knottypeater/Mobile%20Uploads/0310002136.jpg
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Post by jonv on Mar 10, 2010 22:10:32 GMT -5
Sorry that still on male Fulu doubled on the female peacock. Also, I'll probably use the 20 as isolation for holding females when the time needs and use a AC 110 on it. I still have the Fluvals and will implement that is the filter system for the 100 so it will be quite well over filtered.
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Post by jonv on Mar 10, 2010 22:11:16 GMT -5
This is insane lol.
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Post by jonv on Mar 10, 2010 22:12:16 GMT -5
The side by side
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Post by jonv on Mar 10, 2010 22:14:03 GMT -5
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Post by Carl on Mar 11, 2010 10:38:45 GMT -5
Thanks for all the updates; the Dominant male Hongi is beautiful!
Your tanks are looking good.
A few thoughts/questions: *Is the crushed Coral blended with the blue gravel? *How did male Fulu find its way under the car seat, I thought you were moving the aquariums within the house *A few of the fish in your video seem to be shimmying, have you tested your GH, KH lately or do you add slats, specifically SeaChem Cichlid Salt?
Sorry if I am asking too much, these questions/thoughts came to me as I was reading and viewing your post (& pics/video)
Carl
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Post by jonv on Mar 11, 2010 16:29:36 GMT -5
Carl,
No I dumped out all the blue gravel I used to have in the 100 and the 180 and that was a pain to do as well. All I keep in the 100 now is basically 20lbs or so of crush coral, the rest is all rocks and slate. I may add a bit more crushed coral or hit Vin up for some Texas holey Rock.
I didn't check GH and KH, I don't have a kit for that just yet. It's possible there is some minor nitrogen compounds there since it was a few hours between drain and move. I'm going to do a cleaning in there tonight or tomorrow and will run some more tests and see.
What happend on the bucket, it was on the back seat and I didn't think to buckle around it. So when I had to break on the one that pulled out from me, 10 gallon container half full, the weight shifted forward enough that the lid popped off and like 20-30 fish went all over the car. Some on the floor, some under the seat, some all the way under to the front seat. I saved the ones I could. Then the loss of the water with that many fish I really had to hurry.
I still use the salt buffers too just in case. Water locally usually is hard probably at least a pH too of like 7.5 or 6. I doubt I'd over harden the water but if you happen to have a GH KH tester for sale on your business I'll be buying one.
I have also a couple regular Taiwan Reefs in there. I still trying to ascertain why the albino shows no interest in them, especially given the loss of the female he was breeding with. As well, I have a feeling the female Peacock I was breeding Rubescins with, may have crossed with that male Albino Taiwan Reef. She was tube down and chasing that TR's tail and looks like she's got eggs in her mouth. I might just let her spit to see what it would look like.
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Post by jonv on Mar 12, 2010 20:01:59 GMT -5
Ok I pretty much finished the decor set up in the 100. I might tweak it slightly down the road, maybe build 1 pile of rocks up higher so there is columns in it. Haven't decided but they really seem happy with this set up. The vids do more justice since I think the crushed coral still had some residual debris and the water was a bit murky, so I'll post vids on the vid thread. Trying to get a good still of that suspected Sp. 44, best i can do for now. The male Fulu and man is he a happy camper really lighting up his color. I am willing to bet the ranch he's got one of the females holding now. Tried to get him lighting up for that female below but he's always on the move so it's a bit blurry. You'll see how lit up he is on the vids a bit better. A bit murky since this was just after the cleaning/water change but a zoom out of the overall look. Going to vids now
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