Do some searches in the forums ,there are some "interesting" responses which would give you general opinions.This is a subject people feel strongly about and rightly so.

Birger

It took me this long to figure out this was an online auction totally different situation than what I was thinking.
Have to go with what Coryman suggests that's about all you can do.

Birger

Do a search in forums for "deworm" you should find enough imfo.

Birger

It can be a gamble when getting fish at auctions, buyer beware, even with the most well intentioned seller there can be things that they cannot control,I was at an auction a while ago that was so cold in the building people were keeping their coats on, fish were there as well for over six hours just...

Do a search for bristlenose or ancistrus in the forums or go to shanes world and read all the pleco articles, all good imformation.

Start with this one
http://planetcatfish.com/shanesworld/s_r_244.php

Birger

Check this out

http://www.planetcatfish.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=5786

Around here these kinds of ponds often get sprayed with insecticides especially near the larger centers but you can usually find out if and when they have been spraying.

Birger

For some reason the Metriaclima lombardoi is often called a kenyi as well around here, must have had that name at one time or maybe just a name given commercially.

Birger

To start I change the water about every other week. you do not sound to sure here,partial changes weekly would be much better. You have a bit of a mix of fish ,maybe rethink what you want to keep especially the parrot thingy.(personal taste here) As for the syno(hope he is still with you) he is gett...

I have been working with Microsynodontis sp.Nigeria for a while, trying different things to trigger spawning, as far as temperature I have been keeping them about 78 F, raising a few degrees during the "dry" times and dropping during the "rains", I have been going more extreme ev...

I am definately no scientist,just a hobbyist for thirty some years,choice of words and their understanding of them can be different depending where you are from and sometimes I tend to simplify.
Mike thankyou for the exellent explanation and jumping in on this.

Birger

Try this translator, it is fairly simple to use, even I can make it work

http://babelfish.altavista.com/


Birger

Is he getting enough to eat?

I will add to this "when" do you feed him?

Also what other fish are in with him?

Birger

If there were more than one female, the male could keep a number of spawns from different females at the same time if conditions are right. Keep in mind, a group of young ancistrus can be quite messy.(understatement) :) Check out this article on spawning techniques http://www.planetcatfish.com/shane...

Possibly PH shock. Not sure if this is what happened to your fish but with deaths like this it can be the case, I have seen this especially with Rift Lake fish due to the extremes in PH that occur.I realize your fish is not from these lakes but the same theory is still involved.For myself, often it ...

Mule check this out http://www.planetcatfish.com/forum/view ... hp?t=10321

Birger

as they are purely sweet-water living species. Do not want to shoot you down but a little research is in order,this depends on the particular type of Molly,there are some that are quite comfortable in coastal or estuarine areas of the southeast U.S.A. They can be rather adaptable though,there are s...

S.ocellifer is a West African catfish so come from different water conditions than the Tangies,but after saying that they are rather tolerant and you could carefully accustom them to the water conditions and "should" have no problem. I have four in a tank with sand substrate with lots of r...

Suprisingly ended up with a longer list than I thought originally. Have kept: Siluridae Schilbeidae Pangasiidae Callichthyidae Pimelodidae Doradidae Asprenididae Currently "trying" to stick to Mochokidae but like to keep one species of Loricariidae on the go For the future certain Bagridae...

Found what I think it is in the Burgess Atlas but not sure if you would consider this cheating so I won't say outright, page 578-second up on the left,page 581-second down on the left, I still peruse this book a lot.

Birger

Syno's seem to get the short end in "some" dealers tanks and in this case your friends friends tank,I have picked some up that are in pretty rough shape(I don't really recommend this but with some fish you have to pick them up when you can)usually when given some space, good food and time ...

The small "bee catfishes" from India

Is this a "commonname" for the Hara type of fishes or different kind altogether? If not, do you know the location of any pictures of these?

Thanks Birger

Definately second the Pekoltia or Ancistrus,right size,affordable,care is fairly simple and plenty of character.

Birger

Look at the top of the page in the FAQ area, the info you need is there, (I even figured it out)

Birger

I suppose they would eat very expensive tattoo enhancing fish food, this is ridiculous!

The acrylic tank can be drilled so I would look into drilling each end, installing fittings and using external pumps or canisters which would also add to your water volume without making your tank any bigger than the official allowed size,this would also leave more living space for the fish in such ...

With a tank like this the dark treatment is just one way and I agree hit or miss at best, same with the trap treatment, sometimes a well timed scoop with the net does the job,after over thirty years it almost becomes a zen thing :) stay "calm" don't overuse any one method, sometimes you lu...

Try leaving the tank in total darkness for a while and when the cichlids have settled down(give a half hour) using a flashlight you can net them, they will not be as active.

Birger

See if you have a local fish society, get to know them and try to get to see as many fish rooms as possible, even check out the systems at different fish stores if available, could save you a lot of headaches.

Birger

Graeme wrote:Lets call them natural evolved species from a river system untouched.

Nothing natural about it I would say tang-eupterus mix.

Birger