Intro + help needed from those in Europe/Germany

[David R]

Hi All.
I've been lurking around the site for many years now and finally decided to sign up! I've been keeping fish for over 10 years, mainly South American cichlids and oddballs. I've always had an interest in plecs though, but my disposable income has only recently begun to come close to matching that interest! My current project is a 1400L (240x97x62) South American tank (not authentic to any one biotope, just a general SA theme) with a black arowana, a group of Geophagus altifrons, a group of Uaru amphiacanthoides, and an assortment of plecs. I've hit several stumbling blocks with the build (problems with the stand, then the sump) and lost motivation for a while, but a new sump is being made this week and I'm hoping ot have it running by xmas. If anyone is interested pics and progress of the build can be found here; http://www.monsterfishkeepers.com/forum ... p?t=319793

My other tank (180x75x60, 800L) houses a group of 30 clown loaches ranging from 5cm up to 20+cm, and a young pair of Amphilophus festae. Other than fish my main interests are mountain biking, and our two dogs; a beagle/fox terrier cross and an 8 month old Hungarian Vizsla whos energy seems to know no limits....

Now for the questions....
My partner and I are planning a trip to Europe next May to see some of her family in the UK and to see a bit of the continent. We will have a couple of days spare staying somewhere around the south of London (Orpington, I think, forgive me if my geography isn't 100%!). From there we will be flying to Berlin for a few days before catching the train to Munich. While we are over there I would really like to visit some decent public aquaria (or zoos), especially those with large Amazon displays. Fresh water stingrays are actually illegal here in New Zealand and I have never even seen one in person, so that is one of my must-do things while I am away! We are also stopping over in Singapore for two days on the way home, if anyone could recommend some sites worth visiting in any of those locations it would be greatly appreciated!! Our itinerary in Germany is still undecided, other than flying into Berlin and flying out of Munich 8 days later, so if there is somewhere worth visiting but not in either of those locations then I'm open to suggestions.

Cheers,

David

[Silurus]

There aren't any decent freshwater public aquaria in Singapore. Well, there's the Underwater World in Sentosa, but they are geared towards marine displays (although they have the odd freshwater setup). The Singapore Zoo is building a River Safari, which would include a number of freshwater displays, but it's still under construction and won't be ready until next year.

Your best chance of seeing a freshwater stingray in Singapore is probably to visit an aquarium fish exporter.

[MatsP]

Welcome to Planet Catfish, David.

Not sure what's available at London Zoo - it's only a short distance from where I work, but I've never visited.

There are some good fish-shops in/around London. If you don't mind traveling a bit outside of London, Maidenhead Aquatics in St. Albans usually have a few rays for sale (not suggesting you try to smuggle them into NZ, just that you could see some there). Short distance by car (but awkward by train) is Wildwoods, which also have unusual and expensive fish on stock, much of which is from South America.

Wholesale Tropicals, 220 Bethnal Green Road, London, is within short tube/walk from Cental London. Again, it's a shop, which always have unusual fish in stock.

If you had more time to travel, I would also suggest a visit to Pier Aquatics in Wigan (near Manchester), but that's about 4 hours by car/train each way. They usually have rays in stock.

--
Mats

[RickE]

MA Wembley has rays too and wouldn't be too hard to get to by public transport. They also have a decent selection of cories and L-numbers.

[Marc van Arc]

I didn't visit it myself due to a lack of time, but Berlin Zoo should be worthwhile.
http://aquarium.findthebest.com/detail/ ... ium-Berlin

[David R]

Thanks all, yes I would like to visit some stores as well as aquaria/zoos, although I think it may make me a little jealous.
Mat we may be able to borrow one of the family's cars so might be able to drive to Wildwoods. I was planning on visiting one of the Maidenheads, would the St Albans be the best one?

Will certainly look into Berlin Zoo. I've heard good things about the shops [and the hobby in general] in Germans, so I'd love to hear from some of the locals about which shops are worth visiting in Berlin and Munich.

Cheers,

David

[MatsP]

St. Albans is the largest Maidenhead Aquatics store (at least anywhere in this area [I live about 60 km from London City Center, and about 100km from St. Albans). Different stores have different stock, but St. Albans have a good selection of most things, and if you are driving, then Wildwoods is nearby, making it a suitable "two shops in a go" (or three, if you go to Amwell Aquatics, which is also in that area).

So if you tell us what kinds of SA fish you are most interested in we may be able to suggest a better choice.

--
Mats

[David R]

So if you tell us what kinds of SA fish you are most interested in we may be able to suggest a better choice.

The fish I am most interested and therefore keep are mostly SA, but I'm interested in aquariums of any and every type, its more a time/money thing that restricts me to just SA fish. Reef tanks, planted nanos, african cichlids (especially tangs), oddballs/monsters, you name it, I enjoy looking at it and talking about it. Due to our very restrictive (and incredibly stupid, don't get me started!) import regulations it would be impossible for me to ship anything back to NZ, so I'm purely visiting stores to see some interesting fish that I'm not likely to see here. Luckily my other half is also interested in fish, although not quite to the same degree as I am, so she's not going to get upset about me wanting to spend our holiday looking at fish!

So any stores that have a good range of less common fish of any nature, and especially those with large/interesting display tanks....

[MatsP]

Then I suggest St. Albans and Wildwoods as a day out. And perhaps another trip to Wholesale Tropicals (combine with a visit to St. Pauls Cathedral, for example, which isn't that far away. They are open 9-5 most days, but one day a week they close at 2PM (I think it's Thursdays).

--
Mats

[RickE]

There is also, of course, the MA in the Wyevale garden centre at Crews Hill about 1km from Wildwoods. Not the greatest selection but probably worth a visit if you are going to Wildwoods.

This is the MA website which might be helpful:

http://www.fishkeeper.co.uk/store.aspx?id=44