Search found 2900 matches

by Bas Pels
12 Mar 2024, 08:01
Forum: Taxonomy & Science News
Topic: Pterygoplichthys loose in the Scotland
Replies: 3
Views: 178

Re: Pterygoplichthys loose in the Scotland

How couold they survive the winters? Finding a pleco in a lake in September does not tell me much, finding it in March would be a much larger problem
by Bas Pels
02 Mar 2024, 08:32
Forum: Taxonomy & Science News
Topic: Mixing albino corys and pigmented corys influences their movement behaviors
Replies: 5
Views: 1162

Re: Mixing albino corys and pigmented corys influences their movement behaviors

That could very well explain the albino behaviour.

But in that case, the whole study does not fit as an attempt to investigate the well being of albinos
by Bas Pels
29 Feb 2024, 07:58
Forum: South American Catfishes (Everything else)
Topic: Spotted/Striped Raphael Questions!
Replies: 8
Views: 1759

Re: Spotted/Striped Raphael Questions!

It is a long while, between 1997 and 1999, but I had 3 Platydoras combined with a lot of platyfish, all males. One day all the platys were gone. Eaten. 30 or more Platydoras can eat fish, but it can take a while before the realize it is possible. As they like to eat too much, the whole shoal can dis...
by Bas Pels
27 Feb 2024, 07:50
Forum: Taxonomy & Science News
Topic: Mixing albino corys and pigmented corys influences their movement behaviors
Replies: 5
Views: 1162

Re: Mixing albino corys and pigmented corys influences their movement behaviors

I think this is a very interesting, and important question, but looking at the results in the article, I get the idea the albinos are more active, the have less fear. Although that would reduce their lomnglivity in the wild - less fear means earlier cought by a predator, it also implies the well bei...
by Bas Pels
17 Feb 2024, 07:40
Forum: South American Catfishes (Everything else)
Topic: Temperate cool water Catfish
Replies: 3
Views: 270

Re: Temperate cool water Catfish

I wonder whether the Megalechis thoracata would like this water. For the others it is OK.

Did you know Scleromystax barbatus likes current?
by Bas Pels
23 Jan 2024, 13:04
Forum: South American Catfishes (Loricariidae - Plecos et al)
Topic: Driftwood from Alabama River
Replies: 9
Views: 1919

Re: Driftwood from Alabama River

That would be a good incicator, but I would also look the wood pieces over after a few weeks. For dark, rotten pieces. However, as the wood is intended to be eaten, your fish will love these rotten pieces. After all, they live from the rotting bacteria.
by Bas Pels
22 Jan 2024, 07:42
Forum: Taxonomy & Science News
Topic: Augmenting commercial feed with live food enhances survival and grown of juvenile Trachelyopterus galeatus
Replies: 3
Views: 859

Re: Augmenting commercial feed with live food enhances survival and grown of juvenile Trachelyopterus galeatus

With regard to the ad libitum feeding - the commercial food must be dried, and that makes this kind of feeding hard to imagine. Mice can be supplied with pellets for a fortnight in one feeding without any harm, fish cannot. The pellet will dissolve, and spoil. Therefore I am afraid this ad ligbitium...
by Bas Pels
28 Nov 2023, 07:52
Forum: Asian Catfishes
Topic: About Cephalocassis borneensis
Replies: 7
Views: 2560

Re: About Cephalocassis borneensis

A rare opportunity to keep a fresh water Arid.

And if they look a bit similar to the well known species, they mus be beautiful. I'm a bit anvious
by Bas Pels
15 Nov 2023, 07:57
Forum: Tank Talk
Topic: Potassium permanganate and South Am. Species
Replies: 4
Views: 2386

Re: Potassium permanganate and South Am. Species

PP als Victor named the stuff, is a fierce oxydator. That is, it will cause certain harm to tissue, and this harm is intended to kill parasites and deseases, while the fish will survive this. Still, all fish are especially vulnerable in their gills. And in case one would use PP - please provide the ...
by Bas Pels
27 Oct 2023, 07:50
Forum: Taxonomy & Science News
Topic: Host specialization in parasitic cuckoo catfish
Replies: 2
Views: 1505

Re: Host specialization in parasitic cuckoo catfish

Would it be correct to assume from this lack of host specialism that this S multipunctatus is a young brood parasite? Perhaps too young yet to spezialize - that is, to divide into more species with each their own host?
by Bas Pels
07 Oct 2023, 08:05
Forum: Tank Talk
Topic: Tank age and leaks
Replies: 16
Views: 3931

Re: Tank age and leaks

Assuming the tanks are glued together with siliicone glue, please realize this was invented in 1970 or so, and the glue has seen a lot of improvements. The current glue lasts longer than the privious ones However, apart from old age, I wonder whether vibrations also hurt these tanks. I have repaire ...
by Bas Pels
05 Oct 2023, 07:39
Forum: South American Catfishes (Loricariidae - Plecos et al)
Topic: Pleco from Central America
Replies: 3
Views: 623

Re: Pleco from Central America

As Jools indicated, there are no Lorricarids from your area, only a few species from Panama excist - and these are not available. You would have to go to Panama yourself to get them. Costa Rica has an export ban on all wild cought animals, so that would not help. The common Ancisturs would be your b...
by Bas Pels
04 Oct 2023, 07:52
Forum: Tank Talk
Topic: Just how important is pH and water softness?
Replies: 4
Views: 2104

Re: Just how important is pH and water softness?

Rain is the same everywhere - very soft and lightly acidic. If it falls on a swamp, or a rinforrest, it will not come into contact with minerals, and remain soft. It can get very acidic. If it falls on other places, it will contact minerals and harden rather rapidly. However this will take time. The...
by Bas Pels
25 Sep 2023, 15:40
Forum: Tank Talk
Topic: Pleco suggestion for a small tank
Replies: 9
Views: 2935

Re: Pleco suggestion for a small tank

Frankly, I wonder whether otos are an option

These are best kept in a group, and personally I never saw 2 doing fine - and 2 is the maximum I would put in a 9 US gallon = 35 liter tank

Shrimps or snails, that's it. I do have quite a few good algae eating snails.
by Bas Pels
22 Sep 2023, 15:22
Forum: Taxonomy & Science News
Topic: Freshwater fishes of Uruguay
Replies: 1
Views: 416

Re: Freshwater fishes of Uruguay

Thak you for this link. It's among the best presents I got this year
by Bas Pels
12 Sep 2023, 07:36
Forum: What is my catfish?
Topic: Pterygoplichthys ambrosettii?
Replies: 2
Views: 1574

Re: Pterygoplichthys ambrosettii?

The fish is rather small, which can make a determination more difficult.
by Bas Pels
01 Sep 2023, 07:34
Forum: South American Catfishes (Loricariidae - Plecos et al)
Topic: Panaqolus Maccus profile - hardness measurement
Replies: 8
Views: 1366

Re: Panaqolus Maccus profile - hardness measurement

Shane wrote that in most cases the dissolved matter has an electrically charge. That is right - but the most important exception is peat. In blackwater, the conductivitiy is low. 1 or 2 microsiemens per cm. But a lot of meat is dissolved, which does not reflect on the conductivity. As a TDS machine ...
by Bas Pels
24 Aug 2023, 07:28
Forum: What is my catfish?
Topic: Hemibagrus?
Replies: 7
Views: 1945

Re: Hemibagrus?

That's a good combination, I have had it myself.

They did get large, the biggest one was 40 cm, or 16 inches
by Bas Pels
15 Aug 2023, 14:58
Forum: What is my catfish?
Topic: Neoarius graeffei (?)
Replies: 13
Views: 1916

Re: Neoarius graeffei (?)

Why does it matter what size the literature says? There is not much difference to keeping a 60cm fish than an 80cm fish .. especially as you should keep these in groups Also many captive fish get much larger than wild caught. While I do agree that 60 or 80 cm does noet matter much- the fish is far ...
by Bas Pels
11 Aug 2023, 07:39
Forum: South American Catfishes (Everything else)
Topic: Platydoras armatulus: gill operculums folded
Replies: 9
Views: 2040

Re: Platydoras armatulus: gill operculums folded

I wonder whether a better tank will refold the operculums. Obviously, if this is the cause, putting them back will only be an option if the soil has been improoved

That can happen because you changed it, or by good plant growth. But that would require more than a year I'm afraid
by Bas Pels
11 Aug 2023, 07:36
Forum: Tank Talk
Topic: New emergent plant experiments
Replies: 15
Views: 4074

Re: New emergent plant experiments

Basil will not work, the seeds are very sensitive towards to much water. I'm afraid the plants will not like too much either. My rosemary is also not found of too much water. Mint however does appreciate watrer a lot.
by Bas Pels
05 Aug 2023, 15:17
Forum: Tank Talk
Topic: New emergent plant experiments
Replies: 15
Views: 4074

Re: New emergent plant experiments

I have an enclosable bveranda, with fishtanks. These are on the ground, so they mare more ponds one can also see from aside, together with air filtering over mats. Between these mats, my Papyrus sp grow just wonderfull. This species gets over 2 meters tall I also added once a Begonia (leaf type, not...
by Bas Pels
29 Jul 2023, 08:39
Forum: Tank Talk
Topic: In your experience, has artificial turf hurt your fish?
Replies: 5
Views: 2108

Re: In your experience, has artificial turf hurt your fish?

I never even heard about artificial turf, but as with all strange materials, I would need to look at the ingredients. You made a few good points about some of them, UV resistence is most often not a problem, weed resistence I would not trust either. The problem is, however, that the ingredients are ...
by Bas Pels
11 Jul 2023, 07:32
Forum: Taxonomy & Science News
Topic: Thermal tolerance polygons for Corydoras paleatus
Replies: 1
Views: 581

Re: Thermal tolerance polygons for Corydoras paleatus

Odd that accimatizing to 32 C added 5.5 C to their range, w=hile 7 C gave only 0,5 C

Is it that lower temperatures are harder to adapt to or would something else be the explanation

Still, 3.4 C is a temperature a deep tank can provide all winter. Apparently C paleatus is winterhardy indeed.
by Bas Pels
09 Jul 2023, 08:38
Forum: Tank Talk
Topic: Remineralizing salt for Amazonian catfish
Replies: 10
Views: 2254

Re: Remineralizing salt for Amazonian catfish

Peat will not help lower the pH? If you use used peat and new peat in a 1:1 ratio, than you add a buffer. The pKa of humus - that is peat - is around 4.5. Therefore the buffer will try to get the pH at that value the trick is in the used peat. That will be revitalized if the pH gets under this valu...
by Bas Pels
08 Jul 2023, 08:43
Forum: Tank Talk
Topic: Remineralizing salt for Amazonian catfish
Replies: 10
Views: 2254

Re: Remineralizing salt for Amazonian catfish

In our tanks, we need to buffer the pH. Most often we do this with CO2- carbonate buffers, but under pH = 5 these so not do much. In nature, the very size of the waters also helps buffering the pH. A dead cow will spoil quite a few cubic meters of water - but not a river. I think that is why fishes ...
by Bas Pels
06 Jul 2023, 07:36
Forum: Speak Easy
Topic: Total tank losses are never welcome, but they still happen
Replies: 19
Views: 3764

Re: Total tank losses are never welcome, but they still happen

Reading this I'm so happy our tapwater is never chlorinated.

This is a problem I never have had to face. Still, I've had bad waterchanges, but not this bad
by Bas Pels
21 Jun 2023, 08:03
Forum: South American Catfishes (Loricariidae - Plecos et al)
Topic: Pleco yolk partially and slowly bursting out egg shell
Replies: 13
Views: 1494

Re: Pleco yolk partially and slowly bursting out egg shell

Thanks for the insight! i actually thought it might be the opposite. My mind goes to this being something to do with your water chemistry, such as water is too hard and them not being able to hatch properly. Here the question is, what is hard ater and what does it do? Waterhardness refers to the co...
by Bas Pels
21 Jun 2023, 07:49
Forum: Speak Easy
Topic: Policing the scientific lexicon
Replies: 9
Views: 1945

Re: Policing the scientific lexicon

I read the paper, completely, and Jools summerizing is remarcably correct. More to the point, I get the feeling that polictical correct language is something one sees especially in English. That is, especially in the UK and the USA people tell each other not to use certain words because these could ...
by Bas Pels
17 Jun 2023, 08:25
Forum: Taxonomy & Science News
Topic: How green is your fishkeeping?
Replies: 8
Views: 1149

Re: How green is your fishkeeping?

I'l be getting solar cells Monday 26 June. That will help reduce my fishkeeping footprint - I use more electricity for my tanks than thw average sized fiamilies would do.

So that will help a lot. Still, my brother races with a car, and compared to them, we're quite green :)

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