APRIL 2014 Newsletter

Transcription

Raleigh Aquarium Society (RAS)
Volume 33, Issue 4
April 2014
APRIL 2014 Newsletter
The Raleigh Aquarium Society (RAS) meets on the first Thursday of every month at 7:30 pm. All meetings
are held in the South Theater of the NCSU CVM campus library (North Carolina State University - College of
Veterinary Medicine) located at 4700 Hillsborough Street in Raleigh, North Carolina 27607 (USA). Agendas
begin with introductions, followed by a discussion of assorted business topics, then by a program of interest to
the membership, and conclude with a ticket raffle and silent auction of fish, plants, and equipment/supplies.
Complimentary light refreshments are provided and guests are always welcome. For more information, visit us
at http://www.raleighaquariumsociety.org/ or e-mail [email protected]. You can also find us
on YAHOO (www.groups.yahoo.com/raleighaquariumsociety), MEETUP (www.meetup.com/raleigh-aquariumsociety), and FACEBOOK (www.facebook.com/raleighaquariumsociety). RAS is a member in good standing of
FAAS (the Federation of American Aquarium Societies) with a mission to increase the knowledge, enjoyment,
and conservation of home ponds & aquariums for aquarist hobbyists/professionals at all levels of experience.
NOTE: RAS club meetings are held in the South Theater of the NCSU Veterinary School Library,
downstairs level. Park across the street and enter via the main library lobby no later than 8:00 pm.
© 2014 RAS (All Rights Reserved)
www.raleighaquariumsociety.org
Page 1 of 24
Volume 33, Issue 4
April 2014
Table of Contents:
Table of Contents: ................................................................................................................................. 2
April 2014 Program (4/3/14 @ 7:30pm) – “Fish Watching in the Carolinas”:......................................... 2
RAS Club Officers and Committee Chairs: ........................................................................................... 3
From the Fishing Desk: ......................................................................................................................... 3
RAS 2014 Calendar of Events: ............................................................................................................. 4
Fishy Business: ..................................................................................................................................... 5
Proposal Status .......................................................................................................................... 5
Fish & Trips: .......................................................................................................................................... 5
April Roadie - Fintastic in Charlotte ............................................................................................ 5
Fish Action: ........................................................................................................................................... 6
March 2014 Silent Auction (SA) Report ...................................................................................... 6
March 2014 Breeder’s Award Program (BAP) Report ................................................................ 6
Fish Hobby Happenings: ....................................................................................................................... 7
Fish Market: .......................................................................................................................................... 8
Fish Posts: ............................................................................................................................................ 9
70 People Injured After Piranha Attack in Argentina ................................................................... 9
Angry Billfish Jumps into Boat .................................................................................................... 9
Give Fish a Chance .................................................................................................................. 10
Feeding Fish a Pinch at a Time ................................................................................................ 11
Bizarre See-Through Sea Creature Baffles Angler ................................................................... 11
Fish References: ................................................................................................................................. 12
Fish School: ........................................................................................................................................ 13
Fish Tales: ........................................................................................................................................... 17
American Characid Basics ....................................................................................................... 17
Keeping Your Aquarium Warm During A Winter Power Outage ................................................ 20
“SoMeThInG’s PhIsHy”: ...................................................................................................................... 21
Go Fish!: ............................................................................................................................................. 22
RAS Sponsors:.................................................................................................................................... 23
RAS Membership Application:............................................................................................................. 24
April 2014 Program (4/3/14 @ 7:30pm) – “Fish
Watching in the Carolinas”:
Wildlife watching is a popular activity, but watching fish in their natural habitats is a bit more challenging than watching
birds, dragonflies, or lizards. The air/water interface is a difficult barrier for our eyes, and fish have a vested interest in not
being conspicuous to animals on land or in the air. In this follow-up to our February program on native fish, RAS’s native
collection chairman, Gerald Pottern, will review the diversity of freshwater fishes in the Carolinas, their habitats and
behaviors, and discuss how and where to observe fish in nature, either from the shore, kayak, wading, or with mask and
snorkel. This talk was originally conceived for the local Audubon Society to encourage bird-watchers to take interest in
other animals. We hope you can join us! And, if you've got the urge to fish-watch, come join the North American Native
Fishes Association (NANFA) annual convention in early June near Linville Falls with 3 days of field trips to watch, collect,
and photograph the many beautiful native fishes of northwestern NC. Also, during April 15-19, wildlife artist Jan Porinchak
will be in town visiting family (in Apex), and will do some fish outings with us that week.
Keep those raffle/silent auction items coming in! You can get up to 3 free tickets when you donate up to 3 items for the
monthly raffle. Visit our raffle chairman before each meeting to drop off donations. Also, if you have non-raffle fish/plants
for the silent auction, see our silent auction chairpersons (you’ll get a portion of the proceeds as per our auction policy).
We’re always looking for great programs to educate our membership on ordinary and not-so-ordinary aquatic-related
topics. If you’d like to be a speaker at any of our upcoming meetings, contact our program chairman to be scheduled.
Page 2 of 24
Volume 33, Issue 4
April 2014
RAS Club Officers and Committee Chairs:
President:
Vice-President and Vendor Coordinator:
Secretary and Newsletter Editor:
Treasurer and BAP Chairman:
Past President and Program Chairman:
Frank Montillo [fmontillo @ aol.com]
Jon Haddad [jhaddad88 @ comcast.net]
Michael Maieli [michaelmaieli @ aol.com]
Larry Jinks [bapman13 @ hotmail.com]
Todd Wenzel [wenzelt @ netzero.net]
Workshop/Auction Chairman:
Monthly Raffle Chairman:
Monthly Silent Auction Chairpersons:
Field Trip Coordinator:
Utility Chairpersons:
Yahoo Groups/Forum Administrator:
Webmaster:
Chris Smith [ctyank @ frontier.com]
Robert Sanderford [onearmr @ gmail.com]
Richard Poole and Maggie Poole
Jeremy Maciejewski [jjmaciej @ yahoo.com]
Jim Corbett, Jeff Jenkins, and Emily Hirtle
Gerald Pottern [gbpottern @ yahoo.com]
Walter Wu [chunker.geo @ yahoo.com]
From the Fishing Desk:
With the cold of winter (finally) behind us, many aquarists begin their springtime obligations. This
might mean getting ponds ready, cleaning big tanks, or starting daphnia cultures. RAS has its own set
of obligations as well. One of our club’s objectives is to educate and serve the local community that
we live in. Last month, we started that by assisting the NCSU Veterinary School with their annual
Open House held on March 29th. Over 10,000 people, half of them budding Veterinarians under 12,
were invited to tour the entire CVM campus (classrooms, research facilities, labs, library, etc.) and
view a number of educational displays, demonstrations, and exhibits. RAS was one of only 17 local
animal/pet-oriented groups asked to participate (the only fish-related group), where we met many
potential new members and explained to them what we do. Thanks to everyone who helped out. We
also have been asked to host a booth at the annual Elk’s Club Open House, the annual Shriner’s
Open House, and possibly some elementary school exhibitions. Plus, we are resurrecting our
enrollment in Raleigh’s Adopt-A-Stream program, assisting the city with public waterway policing and
cleanups. If you can volunteer to help in any of these activities, we’d like to hear from you.
Membership dues are $20.00 per calendar year, starting each January. This is a per-family price. Prorated fees for joining at other times are listed on our application form (last page of every newsletter).
Kindly remit your dues in person to the Club Treasurer or by mail to POB 31564, Raleigh, NC 27612.
Contributions to this newsletter are always welcome. This includes business/technical articles, items
to buy/sell/trade/donate, activity updates, forum posts, trip reports, classes, job openings, etc. Submit
news softcopy via e-mail or hardcopy via our P.O.B. When submitting any type of communication to
us, please include your full name, phone number, and e-mail address. Monthly newsletters are
published about a week prior to each regular club meeting and sent blindcopy to your e-mail address
on file. If you have any updates to your contact information (including subscription removal), or
questions/comments/concerns about our web page, newsletter, forum, MEETUP page (join us on
MEETUP!), or FACEBOOK page (like us on FACEBOOK!), please contact the club secretary. FYI,
last month’s find the hidden RAS logo was contained in the “Fish References” section. A final note
should be made about the locations we use at the NCSU Vet School for any of our meetings - please
keep in mind that we are guests of this excellent and generous facility and must treat the room, its
furniture, and all equipment in a responsible manner. Direct any questions/problems that you may
have to the club secretary for resolution. Thank you for your responsible actions. Happy Easter!
Page 3 of 24
Volume 33, Issue 4
April 2014
RAS 2014 Calendar of Events:
Club Meetings Board Mtgs. W.S./Auctions Fish Food
Field Trips
Other
th
st
th
January
9
31
18 (AJ)
th
th
th
th
February
6
13
14 -16
14th
March
13th
1st - 2nd (AM)
29th
6th
April
3rd
17th
19th (FT)
st
th
th
May
1
15
17 (NCA@M)
th
th
June
5
19
5th – 9th (NANFA)
rd
th
th
July
3
17
19
11th – 13th (ACA) 19th
August
7th
14th
September
4th
18th
nd
October
16th
2
November
6th
13th
December
4th
18th
4th
Page 4 of 24
Volume 33, Issue 4
April 2014
Fishy Business:
<Information of interest to the membership regarding recent club board meetings and business.>
Proposal Status
By Michael V. Maieli
The latest RAS board meeting was held at 7:30pm on 3/18/14 at the NCSU CVM library in Raleigh.
Any club member can attend any meeting at any time to provide any input on any item of business.
Board meetings usually occur on the 3rd Thursday of each month (same time/location as club
meetings), but check with the club secretary for exact schedule details of upcoming meetings.
Proposals/actions discussed but not yet decided upon or FYI items include:
• RAS bylaws discussions in progress (contact = RAS board).
• Remaining 2014 RAS meeting program schedule (contact = T. Wenzel).
• Joint RAS/JRAS field trip to visit the NC Aquarium @ Manteo [5/17/14] (contact = J. Maciejewski).
• RAS Fall auction to be held on 9/28/14 (contact = C. Smith).
• Bob Toelle Printing tropical fish posters order (contact = M. Maieli).
Proposals/actions passed include:
• Treasurer’s report (contact = L. Jinks).
• Reserve amount in RAS treasury [amount tbd] (contact = C. Smith).
• Only RAS members can enter monthly SA; anyone can enter raffle (contact = L. Jinks).
• Followup Workshop discussions [thank-you letters sent, raise entrance fee by $5.00, do a banquet
roundtable discussion, relocate to NCSU CVM, dates & speakers for 2015] (contact = C. Smith).
• RAS logistics for the NCSU CVM Open House on 3/29/14 (contact = F. Montillo).
• RAS logistics for summer picnic @ Umstead [7/19/14], order #2-9218990 (contact = J. Corbett).
• RAS permanent presence on the NCSU CVM closed circuit TV system (contact = M. Maieli).
• NC’s “Adopt-A-Stream” enrollment for RAS (contact = M. Maieli).
Proposals/actions denied include:
• None.
Fish & Trips:
April Roadie - Fintastic in Charlotte
By Jeremy Maciejewski
In April, we’re thinking about taking a day trip to Charlotte to visit one of our sponsors, Fintastic. Right
now, Saturday April 19th is the choice. Let us know if you are interested. We’re always looking for fun
places to go (aquariums, pet shops, fish clubs, etc.; {trips require a 5 person minimum), neat things to
do (collecting trips, ark projects, community volunteering, etc.), or interesting people to see (meetups,
parties, socials, etc.). If you have any suggestions, please contact Jeremy by phone (919)740-4067 or
e-mail [email protected].
Page 5 of 24
Volume 33, Issue 4
April 2014
Fish Action:
March 2014 Silent Auction (SA) Report
By Larry Jinks
Mother Nature kept the attendance in check at our March meeting, but the silent auction still saw ten members
bidding on 14 lots of fish and dry goods. Fish offerings included African and Central American cichlids,
livebearers, catfish and barbs. The most competitive bidding was on the Lake Tanganyikan cave-spawning
cichlid Julidochromis transcriptus and a bag of albino bushy nose plecos (Ancistrus sp.). The silent auction was
relocated to the back tables as it was felt that moving it up front wasn’t a good idea. We are trying something
new to alleviate complaints that it was difficult to get last bids in as the members were down front for the raffle
and the silent auction was all the way in the back. At the end of the silent auction we live-auctioned the lots that
had the most competitive bidding on the sheets, thus giving the members an opportunity to bid if they were
busy with the raffle. We’ll continue this practice in the future.
Through the monthly silent auction quality livestock and plants are provided to the membership at reasonable
prices which enables the membership to try working with new species of fish and plants that they won’t see at
local shops. If you have any extra fish, plants or aquatic items, please consider a donation to the silent auction
to help build our treasury. The silent auction form will be posted on the website to allow members to save time
by downloading the forms and filling them out before the meeting. See Rich or Maggie Poole at the meeting to
enter items in the silent auction and check the tables in the back at meetings for more aquatic treasures.
March 2014 Breeder’s Award Program (BAP) Report
By Larry Jinks
The Breeder Award Program had five new entries from two members at last month’s meeting. Frank Montillo
topped the 500 point plateau with an African cichlid, a Central American cichlid and a killifish. Frank also took
over the lead in the “Breeder of the Year” race. His entries were Scianochromis fryeri (electric blue ahli), a
Lake Malawi mouthbrooder; Cryptoheros sajica (T-bar cichlid), a cave spawner; and the African mop-spawning
killifish Epiplatys togoensis. Dan Koenig moved into the top ten in the cumulative standings with two
livebearers. His entries were the “least killifish” (Heterandria formosa) which can be found in southeastern
North Carolina and Xiphophorus mayae, a swordtail from the Rio Bellaire in Honduras. Our Breeder Award
Program is growing as eight different members already have 23 entries in the first quarter of the year.
Through the BAP, RAS offers quality livestock to our members at reasonable prices. Anyone wanting to join
should contact chairman Larry Jinks at meetings or e-mail him at [email protected]. BAP standings are
posted here and on the website along with rules and entry forms. Participants don’t need to have anyone come
to their house; just bring in 6 fry at least 60 days old to a meeting with a completed form for credit. You can
also get credit by entering the fish in the monthly silent auction or semi-annual auction, donate them to the
raffle, write a newsletter article on the fish spawning, or present a meeting program on your experiences.
Annual BAP Standings (as of 4/1/14)
1. Frank Montillo
= 65
2. Larry Jinks
= 55
3. Elvin Eaton
= 45
4. Ben Guardiola
= 30
5. Dan Koenig
= 30
6. Lauren Layton
= 15
7. Todd Wenzel
= 10
8. Justin Ho
= 10
9.
10.
11.
12.
13.
Cumulative BAP Standings (as of 4/1/14)
1. Larry Jinks
= 1175
2. Todd Wenzel
= 655
3. Frank Montillo
= 515
4. Neil Frank
= 300
5. Eric Hanneman
= 250
6. Gerald Pottern
= 230
7. Dave Herlong
= 120
8. Ben Guardiola
= 55
9. Dan Koenig
= 50
10. Phil Lamonds
= 30
11. Lauren Layton
= 15
12. Allan O’Briant
= 10
13. Justin Ho
= 10
Page 6 of 24
Volume 33, Issue 4
April 2014
Fish Hobby Happenings:
<Tips, techniques, and commentary from resident RAS master breeder, Larry Jinks. Larry invites you
to contact him at [email protected] for any questions you may have about the hobby.>
My annual fishroom assessment got delayed this year due to preparations for our February
workshop. After the smoke settled from that, I can go through the fishroom and make adjustments
and set some goals.
The physical part of the fishroom is functioning well. I still have four 20 gallon longs to set up. They’re
all drilled and painted. I just have to build a rack and hook up the plumbing. The refrigerator got
moved (at Joanne’s suggestion) to the garage to be closer to our kitchen. This leaves an alcove in
which I can build a desk and shelves for paperwork and microscopes. I can also fit in a small rack for
five gallon tanks or 2 ½ gallon tanks. I’d like to mount the dehumidifier on a shelf over the sink so I
can run a hose directly into the sink and eliminate the chore of daily emptying. I also have to build a
shelf to support my second linear piston air pump. In terms of fish, I usually go through the fishroom
and decide which fish to keep and which to move on. I usually consider BAP points. If I’ve gotten
points in all the clubs for spawning the fish, it could be moved on to open up tank space. Sometimes,
I keep the fish if they’re still spawning to donate fry to our monthly auction or to trade for new species.
Generally, I’m still leaning toward getting rid of most of the Malawi cichlids and keeping
Tanganyikans. I have quite a few new world cichlids growing out that I’m hoping to get spawns from.
I’d also like to clear space to start spawning more corys, barbs, Apistos, and tetras.
After Eric Bodrock’s talk at our workshop, I’m excited to try to spawn all of the Corydoras species I’ve
been collecting. I also have some Apistos grown out to adult size. I traded with members from the
Atlanta club for these and other new world cichlid fry. I also would like to finish the cyprinid specialty
for the NJAS BAP and get to work on the characin specialty. It looks like I’ll make the March NJAS
meeting as we have to go up to NJ for a wedding and birthday party the following weekend. I’m
looking forward to seeing Rosario’s talk and catching up with fish friends. The Atlanta auction is
March 30th and a group of us from Raleigh AS are going to attend. Speaking engagements include
JSAS and NJAS in May and Pittsburgh in June. I’ll be going to the TFCB 25th anniversary weekend
in early June, the ACA in Louisville in July and am planning to go to the Catfish Convention in
October. Along the way I’ll try to get some of these fish to spawn. Next month I’ll keep you posted on
the success or lack of success with those fish I obtained at our February workshop.
Page 7 of 24
Volume 33, Issue 4
April 2014
Fish Market:
<Contact the Club Secretary or enter an on-line forum post to list items in this section. When
submitting, whether it be via hard-copy, an e-mail or a forum post, please include your entire contact
information (full name, phone number, and e-mail address) to ensure accurate and timely feedback.>
•
FOR SALE: RAS-logo’ed items; various types of shirts, hats, jackets, towels, soft briefcases, etc.
Contact Queensboro Apparel Company [http://raleighaquariumsociety.qbstores.com/]. {never expires}
•
FOR SALE: Blackworms; @ $15.00/pound or $8.00/half pound. Delivery mechanism varies (call or
send e-mail). Contact Gerald Pottern [(919)556-8845 or [email protected]]. {never expires}
•
FREE: RAS bumper stickers; 6” oval black on white standard (available at meetings), can be removed
and reapplied. Contact Michael Maieli [(919)848-3053 or [email protected]]. {never expires}
•
WANTED: Back issues of assorted tropical fish, plant, pond, or aquarium hobbyist magazines and
literature. Contact Todd Wenzel [(919)791-7352 or [email protected]]. {never expires}
•
WANTED: Unwanted aquarium fish; don’t flush, rehome them! Contact NC Fish Rescue in Winston
Salem. [http://www.facebook.com/pages/Fish-Rescue-Of-NC/261786897257532]. {never expires}
•
FOR SALE: 55 gallon reef tank; $1500.00, loaded with equipment, fish, and coral. Spent over $5000
on original setup. Contact D. Evans [(919)901-8133 or [email protected]]. {expires 4/30/14}
•
WANTED: water-cooler sized heavy plastic jugs; the 2, 3, 4, or 5 gallon sizes to be used as portable
fishtanks. Contact Frank Montillo [(919)556-9004 or [email protected]]. {expires 4/30/14}
•
FOR SALE: 125g & 40g tank setups; includes wrought iron frames, pumps, storage barrels, etc. Best
offer. Contact Harry Clifford [(919)553-3658 or [email protected]]. {expires 4/30/14}
•
WANTED: Neolamprologus Tretocephalus or Sexasciatus; is anyone out there breeding these? I’d
like to buy some. Contact Bob Wolkan [(919)989-7812 or [email protected]]. {expires 5/31/14}
•
FOR SALE: 75g African Cichlid tank loaded (stand, lid, pump, filter, circulator, fish, etc.), $500.00.
Contact Tim Hopper [(919)641-7645 or [email protected]]. {expires 5/31/14}
•
WANTED: Badis badis; does anyone have these? I’d like to give them a try. Contact Jon Hamm
[(919)414-6894 or [email protected] ]. {expires 5/31/14}
•
WANTED: Mikrogeophagus altispinosus (Bolivian rams); for my 29g, especially if they are locally
bred. Contact Thierry Besancon [(919)480-0685 or [email protected]]. {expires 6/30/14}
•
WANTED: Nannacara; I’m looking for N. anomala, N. adoketa, or any other dwarf cichlid which are
juveniles. Contact Jon Hamm [(919)414-6894 or [email protected]]. {expires 6/30/14}
•
WANTED: Multies (shell dweller); I’m looking for 6 to start a colony in a 20g long near the Durham
area. Contact Josh Tilley [(336)725-4533 or [email protected]]. {expires 6/30/14}
•
Page 8 of 24
Volume 33, Issue 4
April 2014
Fish Posts:
<Assorted aquatic-related current snippets of Info regarding recent club forum discussion threads,
hobbyist or manufacturer web blogs/sites, RAS e-mail, RAS snail mail, or other published materials.>
70 People Injured After Piranha Attack in Argentina
By Roland Hughes, BBC News reporter
An attack by a school of carnivorous fish has injured 70 people bathing in an Argentine river, including
seven children who lost parts of their fingers or toes. Director of lifeguards Federico Cornier said
Thursday that thousands of bathers were cooling off from 100-degree temperatures in the Parana
River in Rosario on Wednesday when bathers suddenly began complaining of bite marks on their
hands and feet. He blamed the attack on palometas, "a type of piranha, big, voracious and with sharp
teeth that can really bite." Paramedic Alberto Manino said some children he treated lost entire digits.
He told the Todo Noticias channel that city beaches were closed, but it was so hot that within a halfhour, many people went back to the water. Officials added the heat wave was partially responsible for
why the fish congregated on the river's surface.
Angry Billfish Jumps into Boat
Posted by Pete Thomas, Yahoo.com staff writer
The trouble with marlin fishing is that sometimes, although rarely, acrobatic fish find their way into the
boat before they’ve been sufficiently tired out. When that happens, the scene can become chaotic
and the crew must react on instinct. For one crewman, as seen in the accompanying footage, that
meant jumping overboard to escape the flailing billfish. That leaves the other crewman to try to
protect the angler in the chair until the marlin wore itself out. In our video, a crew member jumped
overboard and needed to swim back to the boat. Presumably, this story had a happy ending for
everyone (but the marlin). Any veteran angler has experienced some sort of close call, but usually a
captain at the wheel can steer the boat away from incoming billfish. Occasionally, however, a hot
marlin gets into a boat and generates a lasting, and sometimes painful memory. Years ago in Mexico,
a man who was part of a large charter had gone into the cabin to lie down. A hooked marlin later
leaped into the boat, flopped all the way into the cabin, and stabbed him in the butt with its bill.
Another story involves a swordfish that struck a boat in mid-flight, its bill penetrating the wall of the
head. They removed the fish from its bill and used the bill as a toilet-paper holder. In 2012, an
estimated 600-pound black marlin leaped into a cruiser as it was being reeled in off Cairns, Australia.
It smashed some equipment and sent the crew scattering, but flopped back into the water before
anyone got hurt. Last August off the Dominican Republic, a 350-pound blue marlin almost speared an
angler after leaping onto the boat as it was being reeled to the leader. The angler got his catch, but
the marlin nearly made him pay dearly for the experience.
Page 9 of 24
Volume 33, Issue 4
April 2014
Give Fish a Chance
By Jeremy Lange, The Independent newspaper reporter
Page 10 of 24
Volume 33, Issue 4
April 2014
Feeding Fish a Pinch at a Time
E-mailed from Pet Supermarket
What’s Best - Feed your fish twice a day with floating food. Flake, tablet, and pellet foods are the
most widely used food for aquarium fish for good reasons: they are inexpensive, easy to use, and
well-balanced.
Start Small - Start by feeding your fish a very small pinch of food. Carefully watch them eat. If they
eat it all quickly, then give them another small pinch. Feeding your fish slowly in small amounts will
give you a chance to watch them and make sure they are all eating the amount you have given them.
Watch Those Flakes - Flakes can be fed up to four times a day, but only in small amounts which can
be consumed by the fish in two minutes or less. Keep giving them small pinches as long as they eat
all of it quickly. Feed them as much as they’ll eat without leaving any uneaten food that can decay.
Make Sure Your Fish Clean Their Plates - Food that sinks to the bottom and not eaten will cause
water pollution, so be sure all the food is eaten. Use your net to remove the food that is not eaten
after ten minutes. Many new or casual fish owners are guilty of overfeeding fish. It may not seem like
a big deal, but uneaten food could quickly pollute your tank water. Instead, feed your fish an amount
they can eat within 2 or 3 minutes (watch your fish during feeding time to ensure this occurs).
Give It a Try - Some specific fish species do best with certain foods. Our associates can help you
choose an all-purpose premium food or a food specially formulated for your finny friends.
Feeding Fish When You’re Gone - Do your fish need to eat every day? No, they don't, but most fish
that you buy are very young, and like all young animals, they need food at least twice a day every
day. Fish can survive a short while without food, but you don’t have to put them on a diet while you’re
on vacation. Consider using a food block or automatic fish feeder.
Bizarre See-Through Sea Creature Baffles Angler
By David Strege, U.K. Mail-Online reporter
A fisherman sailing the waters north of New Zealand came across an odd-looking translucent sea
creature swimming on the surface. Curious, he caught the creature to get a closer look. It was
described as a see-through, shrimp-like creature. “It felt scaly and was quite firm, but jelly-like, and
you couldn’t see anything inside aside from this orange little blob inside it,” fisherman Stewart Fraser
told Mail-Online. Fraser, who had been fishing with sons 43 miles north of the Karikari Peninsula, took
photos and shared them with his fishing buddies, none of whom could identify the sea creature. “We
had no idea what it could have been, but it was quite something, and I’d never seen anything like it
before,” he said. Fortunately, the folks at the National Marine Aquarium in Plymouth, U.K., had an
idea, identifying it as a Salpa maggiore (Salpa maxima). Paul Cox, director of conservation, said salps
are barrel-shaped and move by pumping water through a gelatinous body. Its life-cycle includes
alternate generations of existing as solitary individuals or as a group forming long chains. “In common
with other defenseless animals that occupy open water (like jellies and hydroids) the translucence
presumably provides some protection from predation. Being see-through is a pretty good camouflage
in water”. It is presumed Fraser threw the bizarre sea creature back into the ocean.
Page 11 of 24
Volume 33, Issue 4
April 2014
Fish References:
<Some of the sources of information from where this newsletter draws its data. Please inform the club
secretary if any of these sources or URL’s change, are obsolete, or become irrelevant.>
[COLOR KEY TO REFERENCES: BOOKS - CATALOGS - CORPORATIONS - MAGAZINES - NEWSPAPERS - WEB SITES]
1.
About Fish Online website = http://www.aboutfishonline.com/
2.
Age Of Aquariums website = http://www.aquahobby.com/age_of_aquariums.php
3.
Aqueon Corporation = http://www.aqueonproducts.com/products/aquariums/
4.
Aquaarticles website = http://aquarticles.com/articles/index.html
5.
Aquatic Community website = http://www.aquaticcommunity.com/
6.
Bailey Brothers Aquarium Fish website = http://www.aquariumfish.net/
7.
Daily Tarheel newspaper = http://www.dailytarheel.com/
8.
Dennis Bangerter’s “Know Your Stuff: Cichlids” = http://freepdfbooks.tripod.com/downloads/cichlids.pdf
9.
Doctors Foster & Smith Aquarium Supply catalog = http://www.drsfostersmith.com/fish-supplies/pr/c/3578
10. Durham Herald Sun newspaper = http://www.heraldsun.com/news/localnews
11. Fish website = http://www.fish.com/
12. Fish Channel’s website = http://www.fishchannel.com/
13. Fishlore’s website = http://www.fishlore.com/
14. Hagen Corporation = http://usa.hagen.com/
15. New Aquarium Information website = http://www.newaquariuminformation.com/index.html
16. Pet Solutions Sales catalog = http://www.petsolutions.com/
17. Raleigh News & Observer newspaper = http://www.newsobserver.com/news/
18. Tetra Corporation = http://www.tetra-fish.com/Splash.aspx
19. Tim’s Tropical Fish & Aquariums website = http://www.tropicalfishandaquariums.com/
20. Tropical Fish Data’s website = http://www.tropicalfishdata.com/
21. Tropical Fish Hobbyist magazine = http://www.tfhmagazine.com/
22. Tropical Tank’s website = http://www.thetropicaltank.co.uk/Fishindx/fishindx.htm
23. Wardley’s Corporation (a Hartz Company) = http://wardley.com/
24. Wildlife In North Carolina magazine = http://www.ncwildlife.org/Learning/MultimediaCenter/WildlifeinNorthCarolina.aspx
25. William Berg’s “Tropical Fish Beginner’s guide” = http://www.aquaticcommunity.com/Tropical_Fish-A_Beginners_Guide.pdf
Page 12 of 24
Volume 33, Issue 4
April 2014
Fish School:
<Academic aquatic information regarding biology, chemistry, physics, earth science, math, etc., in
textual, diagrammatical, graphical, or tabular format of interest to the membership. All textbook, sales,
magazine, internet, catalog, or other data is copyrighted by their respective authors/manufacturers
and listed when provided. Any included web links in this material are not operational.>
Interesting Piranha Facts:
Piranhas have a silver body covered with red patches that serve as camouflage in the muddy waters in
which they inhabit.
Piranha can be 5.5-17 inches in length and weight about 7.7 pounds.
Most people think that piranhas have insatiable appetite for blood, but they are actually omnivores
animals (eat animals and plants). They usually eat snails, fish, aquatic animals and plants, seeds and
fruit. They will feast on mammals and birds when they fall into the water, which doesn't happen often.
Their sharp and pointed teeth are arranged in a single row. They can bite through hook made of silver.
Their jaw bone is so strong, that it can crush a human hand in 5-10 seconds.
Local people use piranha's teeth to make weapon and other tools.
Just like sharks, piranhas are equipped with special sensory organs which help them detect blood in
the water.
Piranhas are cannibals (eat their own species). They will attack and eat other piranhas when other
meat sources are not available.
Scary movies represent piranhas as ferocious man-eaters that can eat human body in just a few
seconds. Although they live and feed in large groups, piranhas need more time to finish large prey.
Groups of piranhas are known as "schools". School can consist of 1000 fish.
Dolphins, crocodiles and turtles are the biggest enemies of piranhas.
Mating takes place during the South American rainy season in April and May.
Females can lay up to 5000 eggs in one spawning.
Since both males and females take care of eggs, 90% of eggs survive until hatching.
They can live up to 25 years in the wild and up to 10-20 years in captivity.
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Volume 33, Issue 4
April 2014
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April 2014
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Volume 33, Issue 4
April 2014
Fish Tales:
<Assorted aquatic-related articles of information obtained from various sources (usually those listed in
the “Fish References” section). Full author and/or organizational credit is listed when provided.>
American Characid Basics
By Eric Rogne; from Splash (newsletter of the Milwaukee Aquarium Society), Aquarticles.com
More and more, I’ve become fascinated with small schooling community Characid (or characin) fish.
Many species come with a variety of red, blue, black, orange, yellow, silver, and gold colors. They
bring an accent to really set off the look of any planted aquarium, along with other small aquatic life.
Their schooling characteristic gives the aquarium a soothing flow and they have a sense of
dominance and aggression, most displayed to others of the same kind. Males present themselves to
females and spar off with other males (just like cichlids). This is in a side to side presentation of erect
fins to show off their body size. It is very intriguing to see these pint-sized animals combat each other.
At times, you can see a dominant male stake out a section of a breeder tank where he wants to
spawn. On the other hand, they do not defend the territory after spawning (like cichlids), and their
eggs end up being scattered among the fine-leafed plants, oftentimes serving as food for other fish.
Recently, a few species of American Characins spawned in my aquarium. They were tetras, and easy
to spawn, but I soon realized it can be rather difficult to raise the fry under typical aquarium living.
Mentioned below are the four species that I was able to spawn and raise to the required time for BAP.
They were the Hyphessobrycon columbianus (Colombian Blue Tetra), Aphyocharax anisitsi (Bloodfin
Tetra), Hemigrammus rodwayi (Golden Tetra), and Moenkhausia sanctaefilomenae (Red Eye Tetra or
Yellow-Banded Moenkhausia). I spawned and raised them under similar conditions, but differences
will be pointed out with the individual information. The way I planned to have these species spawn
was to have one or two community aquariums where I could easily pull out the species that I wished
to try. This could be a 20 gallon tank on up to a 55 gallon tank. You should choose what you have
available. The water conditions can be around a pH of 7.5 to 7.8, TDS of around 80-140, and a
temperature of around 76 to 78 degrees F. The breeders are fed standard tropical flake as a staple
food. The day before and day of transfer to the breeder aquarium, I feed them Cyclops and
zooplankton. These are freeze-dried foods, but live would be better in the best case. I travel a lot,
thus I have to use what is convenient.
The breeder aquariums are a 10 gallon bare bottom. I use a simple sponge filter and the water
conditions are set up anywhere from a day to a week prior to transfer of the breeder colony. The
conditions are set with a pH of 6.0-7.3 (most 7.0), TDS of 20-45, and a temperature of 82-84 degrees
F, but this can vary with the species. These modifications may not work with light sensitive egg layers,
such as the Paracheirodon innesi (Neon Tetra). I have not had any experience with this grouping, but
hope to do so soon. I usually buy a group of one species with any fish (I used to spawn little fish like
this in standard trios or pairs). I found for me it takes too long to get them to spawn. These fish
naturally spawn over a couple of days, so I chose to develop them using a group (usually two males
and four females). For species where females are much larger than males, I use two females and
four males. By doing this, you will risk predation on the eggs being laid, but the spawning usually
occurs the same day of placement in the aquarium. The breeders are placed into the tank with a
quick acclimation period (I call this a “shock shift” style). The fish will be stressed for a few minutes,
but most species handle this procedure well. Do not do this to very sensitive tetras. The breeders of
choice are also fed just before being pulled from the community aquarium and I have found that some
species will not eat while in a species only aquarium (but they will spawn).
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Volume 33, Issue 4
April 2014
Now, how about the décor? I used live plants (Naja grass, and Java moss) and found these to work
best for me. The live plants not only give good hiding spots for fry, but also will contain some live food.
The main plants are weighted down with small rocks, but other plants are left floating to give the
breeders hiding spaces and privacy. The sponge filter is first placed at a high current flow to give
enough dissolved oxygen for the breeders. Lights are placed on a timer for 12 hours per day. Once
the breeders have spawned (as seen by looking under the bare bottom aquarium), they are removed
to minimize the predation on their eggs. Do this as soon as possible. I have had some situations that
resulted in losing the eggs because I waited until the next day. At this time, I may add a black water
extract and/or methyl-blue. A small rock is placed under one of the corners of the sponge filter and
this prevents any of the fry from getting crushed. The sponge filter is also slowed down to a very slow
rate of about one bubble per second. The fry will generally hatch for most species within 36 hours.
The eggs are 1mm. in size, and the fry 2mm. when hatched. The eyes develop within three days of
spawning. They require small food, thus use something with a small micron size that is also
digestible. I use a prepared powder that I will go more into detail on a later article.
The fry will grow at a stratified rate and some grow faster than others. It will get to a point where if you
do not separate the larger from the smaller, you will end up losing fry due to predation of siblings so
get other tanks ready ahead of time. These little fish are predators by nature. They will do best with
live food (infusoria, and later baby brine), but will convert to a prepared food when offered. They
constantly look for food. My fry only get fed once per day, but they can be fed multiple times per day.
Water changes are done once per week (initially they are given 10%), and eventually they will handle
25-50% water changes in the weeks following. With these species, a smaller water change is better. I
tend to get them acclimated over time to the conditions of the breeder community tank.
Hyphessobrycon columbianus comes from the Darien region of Colombia. It is a newer fish to the
atlases of our fish community, but a fish that has been enjoyed in the hobby for at least six or more
years. Known as the Colombian Blue Tetra, it sports a vivid blue color base on the body with red fins.
Males are slightly larger than females and have a longer dorsal fin. This species is very passive and
will only get about 5cm. They were spawned with two males and four females.
Aphyocharax anisitsi comes from the Rio Parana in Argentina. This fish comes equipped with a
silver body and red fins; hence the name Bloodfin Tetra. The males and females are about the same
size. Females will have a larger belly when mature. The males on the other hand will have white tips
on the pelvic and anal fins. Watch out they are highly predacious on the eggs. They are spawned in
the same quantity as the species prior. The fry will also cause a big problem with preying on each
other. They are slightly nippy in nature. Not too bad, but may be better placed in a faster moving
community aquarium when adults.
Hemigrammus rodwayi can be found in Guyana. They sport a gold body, thus being called the
Golden Tetra. Males will be slightly smaller with brighter gold color and a white tip on the anal fin.
They are spawned the same. Do not prey too bad on spawns. Found fry in the aquarium with the
parents. I had to leave the breeders in the breeder aquarium for week. Fry do at least pick on each
other as they grow (bigger on the smaller ones). Rather peaceful in nature when adults.
Moenkhausia sanctaefilomenae comes from western Brazil over to Paraguay. Plus this species has
a not so much good name to pronounce in Latin. This fish is silver in color on the body with a
white/yellow and black stripe on the caudal peduncle. The eyes are red and can be called the Red
Eye Tetra. The body is squat and compact. The males are brighter and much smaller than that of the
females. This species is very aggressive with each other, and the females bully the males around. I
found it better to use four males and two females to get them to spawn. Keep the adult breeders in a
larger group in an aquarium that is faster moving with other nippy fish (such as mid-sized barbs).
That’s it for now. Until next time, give some American Characins a try.
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Volume 33, Issue 4
April 2014
The Characidae, characids, or characins are a family of freshwater tropical and subtropical fish,
belonging to the order Characiformes. Fish of this family are important as a food source, but also
include many popular aquarium fish species. These fish vary in length, though many are less than
4cm (the smallest species grows to a maximum length of just 13mm). They inhabit a wide range of
aquatic environments, ranging from open lakes and rivers to confined caves, and originate in the
Americas (ranging from southwestern Texas through Argentina).
Page 19 of 24
Volume 33, Issue 4
April 2014
Keeping Your Aquarium Warm During A Winter Power Outage
By Michael Maieli (Raleigh Aquarium Society Secretary and retired IBM Software Engineer)
This past winter, the unusal arrival of frigid weather experienced in the Raleigh area brought along
with it several power outages. Although no light or filtration may be an inconvenience for fish (no light
is more inconvenient for plants), these conditions can be tolerated temporarily in freshwater
environments (marine tanks pose a more serious problem). However, no heat in the winter can be a
game changer for tropical fish. Depending on the temperature drop, your natives, goldfish, and catfish
may be fine, but your cichlids, characins, or anabantoids will not be. I’ve researched this topic and
discovered that our very own faculty advisor Dr. Greg Lewbart at the NCSU Vet School wrote an
article several years ago entitled (“Dealing with a Power Outage: Aquariums and Ponds”,
www.cvm.ncsu.edu/news/2011-08-24-Dealing-with-a-Power-Outage-Aquariums-and-Ponds.html)
where he poses some great suggestions, ranging from reducing your feeding regiment to using
blankets for external insulation or trying to find creative alternate heating sources (such as a gasoline
generator or a kerosene heater). Greg also suggested physically moving your fish or tanks to a
warmer place, like a room where a fireplace is burning. In some cases, however, it may be impractical
or impossible to move your fish or tanks, and, in any case, you’ll have to move them back.
A simpler way to warm your aquarium is to utilize the concept of specifc heat capacity (also know as
"thermal inertia"). All matter (elements or compounds) in all forms (solids, liquids, or gases) possess
an ability to retain heat energy, in varying amounts. If you have an oil or natural gas water heater
unaffected by an electric power outage, you already have access to warm, if not hot, water. You can
also heat water on a gas or wood stove, a kerosene heater, a non-combustible container put in a
fireplace, etc. Of course, you wouldn't just add the warm water directly to you aquarium since its
chemistry is probably incorrect without treatment, but you can put the warm water into a glass or
ceramic jar and sink or float it in your tank. Floating is better as it will distribute the heat more evenly.
The first law of thermodynamics assures us that heat always flows from a warmer object to a cooler
one, not vice-versa. In that case, cooler water in your aquarium will warm up as the water in the jar
loses (transfers) its heat energy to the outside of it. Other objects may also be heated which can be
directly added to your tanks, such as non-toxic metals (aluminum, tin, or steel, but don't use copper or
lead), masonary products (cinderblock or concrete bricks), or even ornaments (stone gravel or glass
marbles). Some may be physically easier to handle than others (like having a hole or a hook in them),
and some may be cleaner than others (don't add a sooty brick to your tank), but the basic concept still
applies; heat will transfer out of them and into the water. In all cases, the aquarist should be vigilent in
monitoring the tank environment to ensure the health of their aquatic plants and animals during this
time. Temperature, pH, chlorine, nitrates/nitrites, etc. should all be closely watched and corrected as
needed, but by planning ahead, a potential disaster becomes merely a minor hassel. Stay warm!
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Volume 33, Issue 4
April 2014
“SoMeThInG’s PhIsHy”:
“A wet fish smells better than a wet dog (tastes better too!) – overheard at the very rainy NCSU Vet
School open house event on Saturday March 29, 2014
Page 21 of 24
Volume 33, Issue 4
April 2014
Go Fish!:
Page 22 of 24
Volume 33, Issue 4
April 2014
RAS Sponsors:
<The following businesses give RAS club members discounts on purchases when displaying a valid
membership card. Please help support these stores. If you would like to become a club sponsor, just
contact the club secretary at [email protected] for more information.>
Animal Jungle (20% discount on dry goods)
4318 Holland Road, Virginia Beach, VA 23452; (757) 463-4065; www.animaljungle.com
Down Under Saltwater Fish & Coral (15% discount on dry goods, 20% discount on livestock)
1543 US Highway 70 West, Garner, NC 27529; (919) 662-8820; www.downundersaltwater.com
Fins, Furs, & Feathers Pet Center (10% discount on everything except tanks)
303 South Horner Boulevard, Sanford, NC 27330; (919) 718-0850;
Fintastic (10% discount on dry goods)
2135-C Ayrsley Town Boulevard, Charlotte, NC 28273; (704) 525-0049; www.fintastic.us
Pet Mania (10% discount on everything)
7901-125 Falls Of Neuse Road, Raleigh, 27615; (919) 676-3225; www.petmanianc.com
5289 Sunset Lake Road, Holly Springs, NC, 27540; (919) 362-8711; www.petmanianc.com
924 Gateway Commons Circle, Wake Forest, NC, 27587; (919) 554-8898; www.petmanianc.com
Pet Market (50% discount on saltwater fish/coral purchases over $100.00)
5711-E West Market Street, Greensboro, NC 27409; (336) 253-1294; www.petmarket.co
Reef Keepers Aquarium (10% discount on everything)
1673 Old US Highway 70 West, Clayton, NC 27520; (919) 359-2424; www.reefkeepersaquarium.com
The Pet Pad (10% discount on everything)
1347 Kildaire Farm Road, Cary, NC 27511; (919) 481-6614; www.petpadpets.com
Triangle Tropical Fish (10% discount on everything except tanks and stands)
3600-36 North Duke Street, Durham, NC 27704; (919) 479-0088; www.triangletropicalfishnc.com
Page 23 of 24
Volume 33, Issue 4
April 2014
RAS Membership Application:
Membership in the Raleigh Aquarium Society entitles you to many privileges including:
• Discounts at all club functions.
• Voting rights on all club business issues.
• Auction benefits (larger commission split, free priority stickers).
• Membership discount card for purchases at all participating club sponsors.
• Ability to post items for sale in the club newsletter and YAHOO internet forum.
• Ability to participate in group orders of fish and supplies from various mail-order companies.
Annual RAS membership dues for individuals or families are $20.00 per year and are in effect
from January 1st to December 31st of the current calendar year. Payment is due by January
31st. When joining at any other time of the year, dues will be assessed at $5.00 plus $5.00 per
quarter for each quarter (whole or partial) remaining in the calendar year.
PLEASE PRINT LEGIBLY FOR ACCURACY!
Full Name:
(print & sign)
________________________________________________________________
Street Address:
________________________________________________________________
City, State, Zip:
________________________________________________________________
Telephone(s):
(day & night)
________________________________________________________________
E-mail Address:
________________________________________________________________
Favorite Fish:
________________________________________________________________
Payment Info:
date = _____/_____/_____; amount = $ ___________; type = CASH or CHECK
renewal? = YES or NO
Please mail this completed application with return address to:
Club Secretary
The Raleigh Aquarium Society
Post Office Box 31564
Raleigh, NC 27612
(USA)
or give to the club secretary at any meeting. Thank you for your interest, support, and participation!
Page 24 of 24

APRIL 2014 Newsletter

Transcription

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