29:05 June

cichlid
the
monthly
Vo l u m e 2 9 , # 5
Ju n e 2 0 0 0
PREMIUM FLAKE FOOD
Wardley Total Tropical is the ultimate
freshwater flake food, created to
provide an extraordinary diet that
considers not only your fishes health
of today, but their nutritional needs
for tomorrow. Better metabolic
responses, faster attraction to the
food, brilliant color and improved overall health and vitality are only a few of
the benefits of feeding Total Tropical
as your everyday staple food. Total
Tropical begins where all other staple
foods leave off.
QUALITY PRODUCTS FOR THE AUSTRALIAN FISHKEEPER
AUSTRALIA’S PREMIER BRAND
INSIDE:
Gymnogeophagus
balzanii
Victorian
Cichlid
Society
Incorporated
Certificate of Incorporation
# A12794D
Auction pics
L o w - Te c h S o l u t i o n s
Water Movement
Vegemite – Plant Food
$1
R E G I S T E R
A U S T R A
P O S T
P P 3 4 2 7 8 0
E D
B Y
L I A
—
/ 0 0 2 4
Vegemite –
cWe
i chave
h l iadfewsfriends
c e nthat
e
^
^
^
From `The South Australian Aquarist’, October 1999
The Magic Plant Food
you might like to meet ...
By Don Crettenden
24
VICTORIAN
water. I found it
does not harm
the fish in any
way, if anything it
would give them
vitamins too.
The vitamins in
the
Vegemite
seem to work
miracles, (don’t
laugh until you try
it “because it
does work”).
Also only make
enough to use
that day. If you
do not use it all
then pour the
excess on your
pot plants, and
they will thrive as
well.
Vegemite
is
a
product
of
Australia. It is a concentrated yeast
extract, and is made by Kraft Foods
Limited (now an American-owned
company – Ed).
Ingredients: yeast extract, salt, mineral salt (508, 509), malt extract, natural color (150), vegetable extract,
thiamine, riboflavin, niacin.
SPACE
FOR
RENT
EASTERN DISTRICTS AQUARIUM SOCIETY
THIS
About six months
ago I went to see
a friend in the
hydroponics
industry, to ask
him what they
used to supplement the nutrients, for plants.
He told me they
used a product
called
Superthrive as a vitamin supplement.
As an experiment
I bought the
smallest bottle,
which was 15 mls
and it cost $695.
I took it home
and
when
I
opened the lid,
the
Vegemite
smell hit me. So
as an experiment I used the Superthrive in one tank and in another tank
I used Vegemite. Over the next couple of weeks I started to notice a difference in the plants’ condition. They
were a lot greener and healthier.
The plants and fish in the tank that
the Vegemite was used in were looking better than the other tank. So ever
since I tried it, that is what I am using
twice a week, at a rate of one teaspoon of Vegemite dissolved in 500
mls of warm water, allowed to cool,
then use 1 ml to 4.5 litres of aquarium
(Presumably, Aussiemite would
work just the same. When you have
made your comparison, write it up
and submit the results for publication
here – Ed.)
t
CICHLID
SOCIETY
INC
THE NEXT MEETING will be held on the second Friday of the month at 8 pm sharp
(Trading Table opens earlier) in the Courtyard Room at the Nunawading Civic Centre,
Whitehorse Road, Mitcham. Visitors are encouraged to come along.
MINI TALK: `
MAIN TALK:
DOORMeets
PRIZES:on the 4th Friday of month at the Nunawading
Civic Centre, Whitehorse Rd, Nunawading.
DRAW PRIZES:
1. Call 9802 3968 or write to PO Box 502, Ringwood 3134.
2. Wetlands frozen food.
3.
TABLE SHOWS
Do your own thing. (See page 24.)
AUSTRALIAN & NEW GUINEA FISHES ASSOC
Meets bi-monthly at Melbourne Zoo, starting January.
Contact Glenn Briggs on 9725 3665 (AH)
Check our
for .more
www
b l ainformation.
ze.net.au/~darylh
Web page:
COMMITTEE MEMBERS:
AQUARIUM SOCIETY OF VICTORIA
PRESIDENT
John McCormick
5944-3502 LIBRARIAN
Anthony Caiolfa 9886-5775
VICE-PRES
Peter Robinson
9807-8196 TRADING TBL Glenn Lacey
9512-6706
on the last
Thursday of the month
SECRETARY Meets
Graham Rowe
9560-7472
TREASURER Keith Patford
9716-2425
-AT-Hill.
LARGE:
at 29 Grant
Street,COMMITTEE
Clifton
EDITOR
Daryl
Hutchins
9872-3225
Lee
Ashton
9561-5131
Call 9478 6028 or write to PO Box 140, Clifton
Hill 3068
Facsimile
9872-3225
Granville Lawrence9564-7247
SOCIAL SEC Position vacant
Lynda Haymes 9704-2046
SHOW SEC
Sebastian Zwalf
9885-8651
Jason Taylor
9569-3772
Sub-Committee
Chairpersons:
Species Maintenance:
Graham Rowe.
Mailing: Peter
NATIONAL
AUSTRALIAN
KILLIFISH
ASSOC
Robinson. Constitution:
Hutchins. BAA:
Haymes. Handbook:
MeetsDaryl
BI-monthly
in Lynda
members’
homes.Daryl Hutchins.
LIFE MEMBERS: Graham
Rowe, David
Heinz Staude,
Kevin
Archibald,
Keith Patford,
Contact:
Skop
9563
7231.
Danny Genovese and Daryl Hutchins.
HONORARY MEMBER: Max Davenport. FELLOW OF THE SOCIETY: Graham Rowe.
Victorian Cichlid Society
MEMBERSHIP
APPLICATIONS
© Copyright, Victorian
Cichlid Society Inc 2000.
Anyone wishing to reprint material from `The Cichlid Monthly’ for non-commercial
or other
enquiries may be directed to:
purposes, may do so (unless the item is copyright by the author) provided due credit
Graham
is The
given toSecretary,
the author and `TCM’
and one copyRowe
of the relevant publication is
forwarded to the author, care of the Secretary. Enquiries re the use of material in
23 Mangana
Drive,
Mulgrave
Vic
3170
other publications may be directed to dhutchins@theage.fairfax.com.au.
Ph/fax 9560 7472 -- e-mail hgrowe@blaze.net.au
^
THE
CICHLID
MONTHLY
1
| From
| T |MayE1998.
|N|T|S|
Circular',
C |`Cichlid
O|N
of
the water
At a
thefilm
timeon
of writing
(May surface,
24,
which
inhibit
23:23) I would
am aware
of onlygaseous
three
exchange
water
and
entries for between
the Homethe
Show.
A little
the air.
disappointing numerically, but I
Water
moving
around and
the that
tank
think
they
are all novices
effectively increases the surface
is very good – if only there were a
area of the tank by constantly
few more to
make
things
little in
changing
the
layer
of awater
more
interesting.
Oh
well,
at
least
contact with the atmosphere.
everyone
wins
something.
This, of course, dramatically
increases
rate could
at which
oxyI wonder if the
anyone
tell me
gen
can
be
dissolved
into
the
why there is not a lot more particiwater
and
carbon
dioxide
pation in things like the Art
released into the air. WellCompetition and Table/Home
oxygenated water is essential for
shows
– especially
latter. Iplus,
the
health
of thethe
fishes,
know
there
are more
a lot offishes
members
we
can
keep
in a
who have
at least
one
display
given
space
if the
water
is well
tank, so why do they not enter?
oxygenated.
How about anonymously
faxing/emailing me (see top of the
next column) with your reasons for
not participating. I’ll get something
done about it.
Water Mo
1 vement
i n t h e A q3 u a r i u m
Cichlid Scene . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
“Geophagus” balzanii . . . . . . . . . 12
Editorial . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
May Table Show Results . . . . . . . 18
By
Richard
BrownMeeting
Minutes
of Previous
. . . 4-5
The movement
the
Rowemin’
‘Round . .of. . .water
. . . . . in
. . 6-7
Jawlockings . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20-21
water movement generated in
aquarium is probably a subject to Water
this way
will in
depend
upon the
Movement
the
which
most of
us give. .little
and number of fishes in the
New
Low-Tech
Solution
. . . .direct
. 8-9 size
Aquarium
. . . . . . . . . if. . we
. . 22-23
thought. However, it is one of the tank.
For example,
only
vital
functions
in
the
aquarium
have
half-a-dozen
Neon
Tetras
in
Fish-Only Auction Happy
and is directly responsible for a Wardley
the tank,
the
amount
of. . water
Table
Show
Calendar
.
.
23
Snaps . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-11 movement will be negligible.
number of important processes.
If we now
airstone, or
Water movement
– the add
MagicanPlant
Gymnogeophagus
balzanii can be Vegemite
some
other
device
that
achieved
in
several
ways.
Food . . . . . . . . . . . . . .generates
. . . . . 12
– a Treasure Revisited . . . . . . 12 a stream
of bubbles, such as a
Consider an aquarium filled
with water with perhaps, a gravel box filter, a much greater amount
of water movement is generated
substrate
and Cichlid
some
rocks
and by cichlidophiles
The Victorian
Society
was formed
in March
the
mechanically
by1972
thethus
airbecoming
bubbles
plants.
suchaquarist
an environment,
first In
specialist
group in the State of Victoria. Its main aims are:
rising
in
the
water.
very 1.little
waterthemovement
takes
To promote
keeping of cichlids;
If we wish to create an even
place.
2. To gain and disseminate knowledge of cichlids,
their habits
and attributes
throughmovethe use
greater
amount
of water
If we ofadd
a heater
to our
aquarslides,
films, books,
lectures,
practical demonstrations,
localaquarium,
and overseas magazines,
ment
in
our
we
can
ium, water
is discussions
generat-with fellow members or experts in the field;
articlesmovement
by members and
use
a
power
filter,
which
will
ed by
currents,
3. Toconvection
assist, in any way
possible, theas
establishment
and/or
maintenance
of around
approved public
forcibly
pump
water
the
the warm
aquaria; water around the
tank,
thereby
generating
very
heater rises (warm water is
water
4. To be involved in the education of the strong
general public
withmovement.
regard to the benefits of
lighter
than cold water) and is
fishkeeping (particularly cichlids), and the
potentially
harmful
effects
of animal
So, now that we
have
disreplaced
by colder water. With
mismanagement;
just the heater in the tank, how- cussed how to move water
To promote
fellowship
between
members; around the aquarium, let us look
ever,5.we
will end
up with
a layerof the functions water
6.
To
further
the
conservation
of
species
theirsome
natural habitats;
ing effect, with the warm water and at
movement
performs.
sitting
at
the
top
of
the
tank
and
7. To further the identification, distribution, breeding, maintenance
and enjoyment of species
the cold
at Family
the bottom.
Firstly, water movement will
in the
Cichlidae.
If we now add some fishes to overcome the problem of thermal
bycorrespondence
mixing the to:
warm and
Disclaimer:
expressed
herein are
the tank, Opinions
a certain
amount
of layering All
cold water
layers,
so we end up
those
of movement
the authors, and
arebe
not generatnecessarily
water
will
THE
SECRETARY
an evenly
heated
tank. INC
those
of the Editor of TCMbyor the
committee
VICTORIAN
CICHLID
SOCIETY
ed mechanically
their
fins with
ofpushing
the Victorian
Cichlid
Society
Inc.
You
are
c/23
Mangana
Drive,
Mulgrave,
against the water as
The movement of waterVictoria,
in the
encouraged
to
write
to,
or
e-mail
the
Editor
on
Australia 3170
they swim around. The amount of tank also prevents
the formation
2
22
the aquarium, as produced by a
power
filter, provides
the fishes
Peter Robinson
– yes Graham’s
with
a
current
in
which
to swim,
comment in “Rowemin’ ‘Round”
and
many
fishes
find
this
both
last month was tongue-in-cheek.
enjoyable
and
beneficial.
One or two took it seriously, of
course.
But can
anyone
reallywater
As you
seewho
then,
knows Peter would
realiseaquarium
that no
movement
in the
matterbe
howtailored
peeved hetowas
about
can
suit
the
anything
he would never
take
it to
type
of environment
we
wish
out on the club in any way whatsoestablish.
t
ever. That includes depriving the
magazine of his experiences and
wisdom.
You will notice that this edition
features another contribution from
February
March
April
May
June
July
August
September
October
November
December
Kevin Archibald Show
Keith Patford Show
Angels, Uarus and Discus
American of Your Choice
Lake Tanganyikans
African of Your Choice
Uarus and Discus
Lake Malawians
JAngels,
ustAmericans
South
Lake Tanganyikans
brin
g
Central
Americans
African Riverines and Lake Victorians
wha
a m
SouthsAmericans
Lake
Malawians
t
e
any
Dwarf Americans
Africans
as y verDwarf
y
u lik
Central Americans
ou c LakeoTanganyikans
aPairs
Pairs (American)
(African)
n m e ... and
ana
South Americans
Lake Malawians
e.Lake Victorians
Central Americans
African Riverine g
and
NOTE: Asian Cichlids may be entered in any show, but must meet the special requirements
in June (dwarfs) and August (pairs).
Fax 9560-7472. E-mail hgrowe@blaze.net.au
VVI ICCTTOO R
R II A
C II CCHHLLI D
I D SS
OO
CC
I EI TE YT YI N ICN C
AN C
Fax:
9872-3225
A strong
movement of water in
~ War dl ey ~ daryl..
Table Show Calendar 2000
Aims of the Society
any subject raised herein.
editorial
Moving water carries oxygen to
the nitrifying bacteria in the tank,
which are responsible for the
breakdown of harmful waste
dhutchins@
products, and also carries nutritheage.fairfax.com.au
ents to the plants.
Horseface
^
PICTURE: Mark Coleman
T H E TC
H I EC H
C LI C
I DH LMI D
O NMT OH N
LT
YH L Y
23
3
Previously ... at a VCS Meeting
Envy
Everyone
Corner
present
($US):
also received a packet of OSI Nibblers, courtesy of OSI
Imports.
Aulonocara ethylwynnae . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1” . . . . . . . . . .3.00
Aulonocara
. . . . . . . . Peter
. . . . . .Robinson.
. . . . . . . .1”Second,
. . . . . . . .Box
. .2.50
Draw
Prize:hueseri
First, “Midnite”
Set of Platters,
of
Neolamprologus
falcicula
“walteri”
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.1”
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.4.00
Chocolates, Peter Robinson redonated and won by Anthony Zambory.
Cichlasoma
(Thorichthys)
aureum
“blue” . . . . . . . . . . . . .1” . . . . . . . . . .2.50
Third,
Wetlands
frozen food,
John
McCormick redonated and won by
Cichlasoma (Theraps) synspilus F2 Belize . . . . . . . . . . . .2” . . . . . . . . . .2.50
Maurice
Breward.
Pseudotropheus demasoni . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1.5” . . . . . . . .2.00
If Cyphotilapia
you are interested
helping .the
able
talk
frontosain
“Burundi”
. . .club
. . . . and
. . . .don’t
. . . . .feel
. . .1”
. . .to
. . give
. . . .a
.4.00
or write
an article
then perhaps
mini
Aulonocara
sp. maleri
“Germanyou’d
Red” .like
. . .to
. . donate
. . . . . . .something
. . .1.5” . . for
. . . the
. . .4.00
Cyphotilapia frontosa “Mpimbwe blue” F1 . . . . . . . . . . . .1.5” . . . . . . . .6.00
auction.
Altolamprologus
calvus “Zaire
. . . .fish
. . . for
. . . sale,
. . . .1”
. . . can
. . . .list
. . .5.00
Members
were reminded
thatblack”
if theyF1have
they
them
Otopharynx sp “Blue Otter Island” . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .2” . . . . . . . . . .8.00
on the
whiteboard at meetings and in the magazine.
Acarichthys heckelii . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .2” . . . . . . . . . .7.50
The
meeting sp
adjourned
supper atF110.02
t
Aulonocara
“Maulanafor
bi-color500”
. . . .pm.
. . . . . . . . .1.25” . . . . . . .5.00
The May 12, 2000 meeting opened at 8.07 pm with the President in the
chair. He welcomed everyone present. Apologies were received from Daryl
Hutchins, Marty Bell, Lee Ashton, Peter Mander, Danny Genovese and
Heinz Staude. Several members indicated that they had not received their
magazine, due to the late posting. The minutes of the April meeting were
accepted as read on a motion moved by Carl Bentin and seconded by
Scott Haymes. There was no business arising.
New members Peter and Vicki Clarkson and Suzette Khaw were welcomed to the club by the President and presented with their badges and
Handbook etc. Matthew Chaplin, Andrew Payet and Bill Phillips were not
present.
I suppose that it is a sign of the sick. However, to avoid a repetition
times
I startCorrespondence
off by mentioning awas Itabled:
am giving you good warning of
The that
following
new Association that
has Internet
events.
NEC Showcase
2000
Whitehorse
Council these
Grant
Application
form
access before their
first
meeting
is
on
September
30
to
October
1 in
Whitehorse Council GST Seminar notice
was held. The Canadian
Rift
Lake
Westport,
Connecticut.
Contact
or
Manark Printing Bill
Cichlid
AssociationWhitehorse
can be contactThe other event is New
Outgoing:
Council email
Grant application.
ed at . You can also call 00 11 1 Jersey Tropical Fish Extravaganza
The President reported on an Open Night with good numbers, good con519 837 8608 or email for more in Iselin New Jersey on October 20versation, good fish and good nibblies at Rayonne Aquarium. Thanks to all.
information. I don’t have a snail mail 22. Contact Christine on 00 11 1
Glenn Lacey then presented a very 732
interesting
mini talk on his experiaddress.
290 7942.
ences
on
starting
with
dwarf
cichlids.
If you have a few days spare then
I don’t have to remind you that the
After
the normal
short break
was called. 2000
We then
watched
you
should
be inreminders,
Yorkshire.a Not
ACA Convention
is almost
on
a
video
Aquarama
`99, courtesy
John
thenbooked
reportonly
willofyou
see all those
marvel-of Greg
us. I Ure.
know
thatReeves
you have
ed
aboutcricketers
15 Ectodus
if anyone
lousthat
Aussie
in decampsii
the local were
youravailable
ticket, but
if you was
wishinterestto find
ed.
Graham but
Rowe
asked the
if anyout
member
fish fornew
salespeakfor a
competition,
youthen
can catch
who thehad
additional
telephone
inquirer.
It
was
stated
that
the
Social
Secretary’s
position
was
Club Night with Roman Sznober on ers are or just wish to book your
still
vacant
andSummer
anyone Auction
interested
a committee
member
the 9th
and the
on could
friendsee
in then
call 00 11
1 888 to
8
express
their(Sounds
interest. a bit like ACA 678 or email It is from July 20the 11th.
Melbourne
Did
you enjoy
sum23 but registration
deadline
June
Members ...
then
recounted
some
mini disasters
that perhaps
were is
associmer. with
It was
lastalignment
Thursday.)
Contact
19.John
They
have called
The New
ated
“the
of the
planets”.
McCormick
thenit mentioned
Philaquaculture
on 00 11 44venture
1302 880512
forbe Millenium
Rockin’toCichlids
so it
an
that may
interestingofenough
visit. Lynda
more details.
attracts alltothose
newMagnussen
groovy cichlid
Haymes
then presented First Bred certificates
Aussie
for
(and
theirMozambique”
owners). Theand
list
We just missed
Jersey Shore
AS species
Aulonocara
sp “Sunshine”,
Aulonocara
sp “Blue
Neon
of then
speakers
includes
Loiselle,
Meet the Experts
Panel
night onZwalf
Aulonocara
gertrudae
. Sebastian
announced
the Wardleys
May 18.
Who
were the experts? Konings, Leibel, Wessel, Danko,
Table
Show
results.
Paul
Loiselle,
and Zadnik,
Rybicki,
Seto, Lawrence,
Cardwell,
Door
prizes,Rosario
courtesyLaCorte
of OSI Imports,
were won
by: Granville
Wayne
Leibel.
Makes
our
expert
Lundblad,
Artigas-Azas
and
Rapps.
John McCormick, Peter Robinson, Robbie Toth, John Reeves and Anthony
panel
of
You,
Me
and
Him
look
a
bit
No
comment.
Zambory.
JAWLOCKINGS
4
20
VICTORIAN CICHLID SOCIETY INC
Cyprichromis leptosoma “blue flash” . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1.5” . . . . . . . .6.95
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1.5” . . . . . . . .5.00
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1.5” . . . . . . .20.00
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ..75” . . . . . . .5.00
SUPPORT
OUR ADVERTISERS
SUPPORT
OUR ADVEROtopharynx
lithobates
“yellow
blaze”
TISERS SUPPORT OUR ADVERTISERS SUPPORT OUR
ADVERTISERS
SUPPORT OUR
ADVERTISERS
SUP- . . .
Opthalmotilapia
boops
“Tembwe”
PORT OUR ADVERTISERS SUPPORT OUR ADVERTISERS SUPPORT
OUR ADVERTISERS
Nandopsis
istlanum F1SUPPORT
. . . . OUR
......
ADVERTISERS SUPPORT OUR ADVERTISERS SUPPORT OUR ADVERTISERS SUPPORT OUR ADVERTISERS
SUPPORT OUR ADVERTISERS SUPPORT OUR ADVERTISERS SUPPORT OUR ADVERTISERS SUPPORT OUR
ADVERTISERS SUPPORT OUR ADVERTISERS SUPPORT OUR ADVERTISERS SUPPORT OUR ADVERTISERS SUPPORT OUR ADVERTISERS SUPPORT OUR
ADVERTISERS SUPPORT OUR ADVERTISERS SUPPORT OUR ADVERTISERS SUPPORT OUR ADVERTISERS SUPPORT OUR ADVERTISERS SUPPORT OUR
Support our Advertisers
AQUA-LIFE
NATURAL
Graham
WATER CONDITI0NER
FOR PONDS & AQUARIUMS
That should be enough to whet the appetite. (They would probably be
cheaper at one of the Auctions I mentioned.)
Until next month ...
The Elaine Turner Memorial
Art & Photographic
For all your
signwriting requirements
Competition
will be judged at the
November General Meeting
COMPUTER-CUT
... but you can submit your entry
An Austr(to
alianthe
proSecretary)
duct,
SIGNS
any
time
before
tested by the Queensland Unthen.
iversity
CAR, TRUCK, BOAT
of Technology.
and FACTORY SIGNS
Also, there is no limit to how many entries
Factory 1, 11 Swift Way,
Availableyou
fromcan
:
have.
Dandenong South
BLACKBURN, MAROONDAH and
MENTONE AQUARIUMS
9706 5916
^
THE
CICHLID
and other good aquarium shops
MONTHLY
21
5
heckelii, which are currently being sold
as Geophagus thayeri. And, although
two of the A. heckelii were half the size
of the balzani, and the other two were
nearly as large, the balzani completely
ignored them even when they swam
near the spawning site. If these annoying, precocious young fish approached
the brooding female she would quietly
retire into a distant corner and turn her
back on their cheeky invasion of her
maternal duties; but never did she show
any aggressive or defensive traits. In
the end, however, I removed the male
balzani and the four heckelii, if only to
give her a little peace.
Even
we don’t after
have10many
The though
first fry appeared
days
stopovers
on this
journey,
and I must say
that month’s
I have never
seen
fry of a
mouthbrooder
at such
they
are
varied andappear
in distant
anda
small size.
They were
too have
small plenty
to eat
diverse
locations
so we
brineshrimp and had to be fed liquid fry
food and powdered food. Brine shrimp
were not accepted until the fry had
been free-swimming for five days; this
gives you some idea of just how small
Geophagus balzani fry are.
The temperature of the breeding tank
was 85-86°F and the pH 6.7. The
breeding tank was bare except for gravel and some fontinalis and a covering of
floating plants to reduce the light intensity. The male was approximately 1.5
inches the female being slightly larger,
about an inch and three-quarters. As
these fish are reputed to grow over six
thrilled
with must
Don be
Zilliox’s
article
in
inches, they
considered
relatively immature.
I therefore Post’
hope that
`The
Cichlid Evening
for
they have
many
of interestbreeding
March
on one
fishyears
they find
t
ahead–of `Crenicichla
them.
ing
regani, The
name of their journal. I believe it is
the latter; changing from `AIC’ to
`Cichlidae Society’. They have sent
three journals December, Special
and February. It is a bimonthly obviously with occasional specials. This
259II Plenty
Road,
special is Special
1999 and
is
devoted to Jean Claude
Nourrissat.
Preston
All three are stunningly produced
Melbourne
Vic 3072
with ten, 14 and 14 pages respecPh/fax:
tively of some of the best color photographs I have seen in a society
magazine. I am tempted to subscribe just for the photos. I can’t
understand the text but I know that I
will get a review of the articles from
Rowemin’
‘Round
Melbourne Reptile Warehouse
(03) 9480 2622
NEED
SOME
FRESH
AIR?
D o e s a n y o n e h a v e a n y p uabout
rebred
D a f f o d i l P“The
r i n c e sPump
s
that they would like to sell or swap with me?
Or, does anyone know where I can buy some?
100”
at
If so, please conta
c t $420
me ...
ono
you
can’t
go
S e b a s t i a n Z w a l f 9 8 8 5 8 6wrong
51
A COMPREHENSIVE RANGE FOR THE DISCERNING HOBBYIST
All Aquarium & Pet Supplies P/L
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
African and American Cichlids
Selected Tropical and
Imported Goldfish
Range of Discus
Marine Fish
Aquatic Plants
Tanks * Stands * Rocks
All Accessories
* Frozen and Live Foods
RAYONNE AQUARIUM
H
I
F
I
N
A
Q
U
A
R
I
U
M
257 BLACKBURN RD, SYNDAL 9803 3109
Victoria’s First and Original Cichlid Centre
VICTORIAN CICHLID SOCIETY INC
Graham
Call Manny Vella
on
5629 1012
M e m b e r ’ s A d vand
e r ttalk
i s eto
me
nt
him
of time to devour our MRIFL while Gentle Pike’. He chronicles the
actually still on the magic carpet.
efforts to condition the wild-caught
fishh
and
the eventual
M
ay
00
TaSouth
ble S
ow
Resthrill
ultofsa:sucOur
first 2
stop
is 0
at The
cessful spawning.
Australian
AS
Inc
in
response
to
the
Keith Patford Show (American)
invitation
in the May issue ofCond`TheFins Shape
OurScales
final stop
is Jersey
Species
Age Total
Entrant Shore AS
South
Australian
Aquarist’. Here- we - in response
1 Symphysodon
sp (Turquoise)
- the
92 invitation
Sebastian Zwalf
to
in the
find
the indefatigable
Barry Gooley
2 Apistogramma
borelli
- May
- issue
- `Shoreline’.
89 Glenn LaceyLarry
of
3 Cleithracara
- Jinks
- shares
-his 87
Granville Lawrence
extolling
themaronii
virtues of the dwarf
successful
expericichlid
Julidochromis
ornatus
.
If
you
ences
with
`Pseudotropheus
crabro
Kevin Archibald Show (African) No Entries.
l
wish to have success with this – The Bumblebee Cichlid’ with the
beautiful Tanganyikan dwarf then members and with us. They were
this is a must-read article.
taken with the sentiments Ian
Our next stop is Sunshine Coast Robinson expressed in `How to be
(Cichlidarium)
AS in response to the invitation
in a Successful Fish Breeder … and
Make a Fortune’
that (off
wasPolice
printedRd)
in
April issue of `Sunfish’.
Simon
Ives
8 Dunoon Court, Mulgrave,
Victoria 3170
tells us `A Quick Bit on Angel Fish’. `TCM’ recently.
We specialise in
He mentions the variety, the beauty
I’m going to digress from my norCICHLIDS,
KILLIFISH, MARINES
and the breeding strategy
of this NATIVES,
mal format here and comment on a
andnew
all other
rare
favorite.
(to me) species.
journal that has been
EVERYTHING
FOR
AQUARIUM
potential
exchange. Due
We travel further north to sent as a THE
to
my
ignorance
Italian, I am
Hamilton & District AS in response
Phone: (03) 9546 of1025
whether
the
Associazone
to the invitation in AprilMon-Sat
issue 9am-7pm;
of unsure
Sun 11am-5pm. Closed
Wed.
`H&DAS Bulletin’ … this is their Italiana Ciclidofili publishes two
Golden Anniversary! They were newsletters or has just changed the
6
18
one of our members who can read
Italian and I can give a clearer indication of its quality then.
Our
MRIFL
this
trip
is
`DISCUSsions’ April, Australian
Discus
Association;
`Cichlid
Circular’ May, NSWCS; `The Sifter’
April, The Yorkshire Cichlid Group;
`Revue
Française
des
Cichlidophiles’ May, Association
France Cichlid. We have one noncichlid invite `H&DAS Bulletin’
March, H&DAS.
Well that’s it until next trip ...
MELBOURNE’S LARGEST RANGE OF
TROPICAL AND COLD WATER FISH
712 Plenty Road, Reservoir 3073
^
THE
CICHLID
Phone: 9478 6614
MONTHLY
19
7
From `Aquarium
December World’,
1974 `TCM’
August 1999
“Geophagus” balzanii
New
Low-Tech
Solution
By Peter Robinson
balzani,
am also fairlyofcertain
that
BOOKand
is Iconstructed
sequenthey were
not Aequidens
vittatus
either,
tially
numbered
sheets
of paper
so I am sendingeach
preserved
specimens
(recyclable),
is capable
of
over
to
America
for
positive
holding thousands of bits identificaof infortion which will be passed on to readers
mation.
The pages are locked
as soon as it is to hand.
together with a custom-fit divider
Whena I binder
became
aware,
several
called
which
keeps
the
weeks ago, that there were Balzani to
sheets
in
their
correct
sequence.
be had in Melbourne, I just had to have
Opaque
Paper Technology
some.
Unfortunately,
I was busy(OPT)
at the
time, somanufacturers
Graham Rowe kindly
went
to
allows
to use
both
the shop
them
for me - the
the
sides
ofand
thebought
sheet,
doubling
whole two that density
they had. He
uncerinformation
andwascutting
tain about their sex and I must say it
costs.
Experts are divided on the
prospects for further increases in
information density; for now,
BOOKS with more information simply use more pages. Each sheet is
scanned optically, registering information directly into your brain. A
flick of the finger takes you to the
next sheet.
BOOK never crashes or requires
rebooting. Though, like other
devices, it can become damaged if
coffee is spilled on it and it becomes
unusable if dropped too many times
on a hard surface.
The “browse” feature allows
you to move instantly to any
sheet, and move forward or
backward as you wish.
Many come with an “index”
feature, which pin-points the
Gymnogeophagus
balzanii
male.
exact
location of any
selected
information for instant retrieval.
pattern of bluish-green iridescent
An optional “bookmark” accessory
scales, this color also being noticeable
allows
you to
to Itthe
in the finnage
andopen
on theBOOK
gill covers.
is
exact
place beautiful
you left fish,
it in but
a previous
not
a gaudily
a subtle
session,
if the BOOK
haswithout
been
pearl
can even
be appreciated
quietly
THIS rare and unusual mouthbrooding
cichlid was first named by Perugia in
1891 but seemed to have disappeared
until as late as 1972, when it was rediscovered in the Rio Parana in Paraguay.
Paraguay is virtually untouched as
Introducing
the
far as the search
fornew
tropical fish is
Bio-Optic
Organized
concerned, due
probably to its being
at the extremedevice,
south end
of the
was very difficult to tell male from
Knowledge
tradetropical belt. Little exploration of cooler
female as the huge forehead, as shown
named
BOOK
South American waters has so far been
in the TFH article was not present on
carried out.
BOOK
is a revolutionary break- my male. I scrutinised the two fish very
Since its
intowires,
America,
through
inre-introduction
technology: no
no closely and after some time I noticed
that one had a slight indentation above
Geophagus balzani
beenbatteries,
bred and
electrical
circuits,hasno
the eyes, and that this characteristic
specimens sent to Germany, from
nothing to be connected or was not present in the smaller fish. My
where these specimens that we have
switched
hopes rose anew. On reflection, howeveventually on.
came. Their arrival was well
er, I am not sure if this is a patent sex
It is as
so I easy
to use,
a child
timed
had just
read even
an article
on
difference in all specimens and my
this species
in the
edition
of
can
operate
it. October
Compact
and
belief that I in fact had a pair was prob‘Tropical Fish
Hobbyist’
andanywhere,
was dying
portable,
it can
be used
to
get
my
hands
on
some.
even sitting in an armchair by the ably only wishful thinking.
Geophagus balzani has a number of
Eventually
beautiful
cichlid
fire.
Yet, it isthis
powerful
enough
to
unique traits the most noticeable of
became
a fetish
with me and
was
hold
as much
information
as aI CDwhich are the unusual paired stripes
more keen
acquire
it than
many of
ROM
disc. to
Here’s
how
it works:
which ornament their sides, rather
the other rare cichlids available at the
resembling paint running from beneath
time. At one stage I thought my wish
the dorsal. Their heads have a rather
had been granted when some fish
foreshortened, blunt appearance when
arrived bearing the name Aequidens
compared to other species of
vittatus. The fish were only young, and
Geophagus and the male develops a
so to increase my chances of obtaining
large hump on his head which looks
AQUARIUMS
& PET SUPPLIES
a pair, I purchased
three of them.
ratherGOLDFISH
out of place on a fish his size. A
IMPORTERS
TROPICALS
As they grew,
I noticedOF
that
they had AND
third feature is the line beneath the eye,
a Geophagus-shaped head, and joywhichTO
looks
rather like a tear and gives
ORDER
ously thought that they were myTANKS
dream MADE
the
fish
a
rather
comical, clown-like
fish. I even succeeded inFULL
coaxing
them OF PET ACCESSORIES
RANGE
appearance.
to breed but, as I removed the eggs
EXTENSIVE RANGE OF The
“BETTACARE”
PRODUCTS
overall coloration
is a silvery-gold
before they had hatched, I can not say
a delicate
pink overlay, and a
OPEN
DAYS – with
CLOSED
WEDNESDAY
for certain whether they
are a6mouthprominent black spot, mid-body, just
brooder. I say “were” because shortly
54-56
Glenferrie
9509
1141
belowMalvern
the lateral -line.
Between
the
after spawning,
the female
died. I nowRoad,
black Card
spot and
andreceive
the head
is discount.
an overall
know that they
wereyour
notcurrent
Geophagus
Present
VCS Membership
a 10%
VICTORIAN CICHLID SOCIETY INC
BOOK’s appeal seems so
Wayne Liebel
certain that PHOTO:
thousands
of
content creators have
two females
uncoveredto
a rock
I had
committed
the that
platform
deliberately
buried
a corner flockof a
and investors
are inreportedly
six-foot tank in about an inch of sand.
ing to invest. Look for a flood of new
The rock was located and excavated
titles soon!
t
within
24 hours.
dazzling the eye of the beholder.
When Graham delivered the original
These fish must have a built-in asdic
pair to me, he commented that one of
sense, as they seem to be able to unthe fish had a damaged tail. This, hownervingly locate a stone buried in the
ever, is another distinguishing trait of
sand even to a depth of over one inch. I
Geophagus balzani. The tail has a
have also noticed that Balzani prefer to
strange upturned
appearance
Melways
Ref: Map 41and
B9 is
* Expert advice
carried cocked at an angle, rather like a
excavate a breeding site even though
Geelong Road
pup unusual to say the least.
there are
a number
of sell
stones
above
* We
buy and
tanks
and precocious
fish
But this cockiness is a facade which is
ground level which would be suitable for
* Specials
week
very easily seen
through.
The Francis
fish Stare
this purpose. This
has beenevery
observed
in
Service
Rd
very
shy
and
unobtrusive
and
exhibit
no
both
the
breeding
pair
and
the
two
other
* Wide range of Cichlids at reasonable
prices
aggressive tendencies toward
females that I have since obtained. In
Livingtheir
tankmates, no matter how Picture
large or
* Cichlids
* Tropicals
Goldfish
both cases
the fish have
removed *the
Aquarium
small.
is here
sand covering the rocks and, in one
OPEN 7 DAYS A WEEThe
K pair spawned in a 30” tank
case, unearthed a rock that I did not
even
knowGeelong
was there. Another
time the
shared
four young
Acarichthys
555A
Rd, Brooklyn
3025 --withPh/Fax:
9314
7711
Living Picture Aquarium
Milla
rs R
d
MALVERN
8
16
closed. Bookmarks fit universal
design standards; thus, a single
Bookmark can be used in BOOKS
by various manufacturers. Conversely, numerous BOOK markers
can be used in a single BOOK if the
user wants to store numerous views
at once. The number is limited only
by the number of pages in the
BOOK.
You can also make
personal notes next to
BOOK text entries with
optional
programming
tools, Portable Erasable Nib
Cryptic Intercommunication
Language
Styli
(PENCILS).
Portable, durable, and affordable,
BOOK is being hailed as a precursor of a new entertainment wave.
^
THE
CICHLID
MONTHLY
17
9
tank, as they had grown to around
5-7 cm. This large tank gave them
more room to grow and spawn without being crowded.
Up until this time all spawnings
were on large rocks, so I tried an
experiment – burying some small
round stones in the gravel to see if
they would repeat the interesting
behavior that I had observed in the
1970s. Sure enough, the stones
were located and the gravel
cleaned away – the females
seemed to prefer the stone at the
rear of the tank. I feel the second
rock was too exposed in the middle
of the tank for the fish to feel
secure. The only time they
spawned on the large rocks thereafter was when the small stone was
already in use.
On February 13 a spawning
occurred, but the eggs vanished
overnight. February 14, another
spawning occurred. These eggs
were picked up on the 17th and the
female moved off into the rear corner of the tank where she hid
behind a large rock and an Anubias
plant.
February 20 – another female
spawned on the small stone.
February 24 – the first female was
removed to a bare 46 x 23 x 23 cm
tank containing only a sponge filter
that had been running in an old tank
for two weeks. Two hours later she
spat around 100 fry which were
very small – around the size of
Apistogramma fry. Feedings of
Liquifry and microworms began as
the fry were too small to eat newly
10
14
died – 20 that were left were still Argentinian blue strain whereas the
behaving normally. Heart-broken, I earlier fish were the yellow
siphoned out the one-centimetre Paraguayan morph. Maybe the
bodies. I tested the pH to find it was Argentinian fish are more timid than
slightly acid. Thinking this may be their southern cousins. Their fry on
the cause, I placed some shellgrit in the other hand are fearless and you
to buffer the pH. The problem could have to be careful when water
not be nitrite as I was doing daily changing as they swim all around
10-25 per cent water changes and your hand.
adding Cycle every week.
I have lost one female to a heart
These 20 fry still looked good so I attack when the Home Help lady
also cut back the feeding regime to was vacuuming the room where the
three times a day. But by March 25 fry tanks are. Unfortunately, I did not
these fry were also dead despite 25 find her in time to try bringing her
per cent water changes being done back by applying CPR.
with fresh water treated with
Another female decided to leap
Tristart.
from the net while being returned to
Then I tested for nitrite and the the main tank. She swan-dived into
impossible was present. Nitrite off a bucket of conditioning salts, flipthe scale – 5 on the Aquarium ping around until covered in blue
Pharmaceuticals Master test kit. I salts, then she went rigid. Quickly
am now wondering if Cycle works extricating her, I washed off the conas it is supposed to.
ditioner in the main tank but she
Now I am doing water changes remained stiff as a board, not
from the breeding tank every day breathing. Frantically, I grasped her
and this seems to have instantly by the caudal peduncle and gently
removed the nitrite problem from moved her back and forth, forcing
the equation. It also helps with the water through her gills. After three
adults as they are getting small or four minutes she gasped and
water changes each day and a larg- began breathing so I kept up the
er 30 per cent weekly change as motion for an additional few minwell. This is necessary as utes. Then I placed her on top of
Gymnogeophagus balzanii, like some Java Fern where she rolled
Satanoperca leucosticta, are very onto her dorsal and lay there gaspprone to Hole-in-the-head or ero- ing but not otherwise moving.
sion of the neuromasts. So their
I thought that she would not surtank needs to be kept scrupulously vive the night and was very pleased
clean to keep them in top condition. the next morning to find her swimThis particular lot of Gymno- ming quite normally.
geophagus balzanii seem to be very
All-told these unique fish are a
timid compared to the fish that I had challenge but well worth taking the
in the past. But these fish are the
trouble
to keep.
t
PICTURES:
Mark
Coleman
hatched brineshrimp for the first
week.
A very unusual thing occurred on
February 26 – for the second time,
two females had spawned together
on the same site. I had happened in
the 45-litre tank as well. Both fish
were guarding and fanning the
eggs in between tiffs (presumably)
as to who should be looking after
them. Things were getting out of
hand as I was running out of rearing
tanks. I have never seen two
females spawn together in any
other cichlid species – these fish
are certainly unique in the cichlid
world. It was very humorous to witness the argy-bargy that it created.
I shifted the larger female on
March 3, as she had won the tussle
over the dual spawning and was
brooding the eggs. Her new abode
was a 46 x 31 x 31 cm tank – again
bare except for a dual sponge filter
which had run in an old tank for
three weeks.
Then disaster struck – 24 hours
later all these fry, numbering
around 120, died. The female was
fine but the bottom of the tank was
littered with tiny bodies.
On March 18 most
of the first
spawni n g
also
VICTORIAN CICHLID SOCIETY INC
Fish-Only
Auction 2000
Happy Snaps
^
THE
CICHLID
MONTHLY
15
11
Gymnogeophagus balzanii – a Treasure Revisited
By Peter Robinson
This fish is undoubtedly one of my
best-loved cichlids. The love affair
began over a quarter-of-a-century
ago, in 1974, after reading an article
about them in `Tropical Fish
Hobbyist’ magazine. The article
described a fish that was unique in
appearance from any cichlid that I
had ever seen or heard of up until
then. It was so intriguing that I desperately wanted to obtain a breeding
pair – but alas, the fish was not available in Australia at the time.
Eventually, I heard that some
balzanii had been imported into
Melbourne and I obtained two fish
which turned out to be a pair. An
account of this was first published in
`The Cichlid Monthly’ in December
1974. Maybe our Editor could dredge
it up again if he thinks it is worth
revisiting. (I could, I do, see page 16
– Ed.) I am not going into all the
breeding details here, this time I am
going to cover some problems that I
encountered.
When I returned to the hobby about
five years ago, I could not locate any
balzanii in the shops at first. But
when Irene Alger retired from fish
breeding she gave her fish to a shop.
I spotted them, but unfortunately the
young fish were badly deformed and
the only ones worth getting were the
breeding females. She had lost her
male and the others did not survive.
12
Eventually the female, who was a fair
age, departed to the Great Fish Tank
in the sky. This looked like the final
act in this futile search and the end of
the species in Australia.
Then on December 13, 1999, I
obtained 10 young fish that looked to
be two males and eight females. You
can not imagine the absolute joy I felt
at finding these fish and having such
a male to female ratio. The fish were
around 2.5-4 cm, but were in very
poor condition. They were placed in a
45-litre, 60-cm tank set up with a few
rocks, driftwood and plenty of plants.
Peter’s “Boofheads”
PHOTO: Peter Robinson
An advertisement was placed in
`TCM’ in the hope that someone
interstate, with a spare male they
might care to part with, would read it.
I also had Ian Robinson in Sydney
looking for them, and a friend in
Queensland also hunting.
Alas, I was disappointed again – no
sign of a male could be found.
The fish appeared to be lost to the
hobby – in Melbourne at least.
Then around two years ago, I spotted three large females in a shop and
I could not resist. I forked out many
dollars to purchase one female. They
were beautiful specimens, but at the
price one was enough as I did not
know if I would be able to find a male.
VICTORIAN CICHLID SOCIETY INC
^
THE
Live blackworms and brineshrimp
were fed three times a day to try
to condition them. Disaster struck on
December 15 when one female died
– with a second on the 17th. This was
a big worry – were the fish in such
poor condition that they could not
be conditioned back to good health?
But the feeding regime then saw their
little hollow bellies starting to round
out and their health improved from
there on.
Spawnings commenced around
December 30, although with no success as the mouthfulls vanished.
More disappointment, but not expected as the fish were still not fully
mature.
On February 8 the fish were transferred to a 120 x 46 x 46 cm, 225-litre
CICHLID
MONTHLY
13
tank, as they had grown to around
5-7 cm. This large tank gave them
more room to grow and spawn without being crowded.
Up until this time all spawnings
were on large rocks, so I tried an
experiment – burying some small
round stones in the gravel to see if
they would repeat the interesting
behavior that I had observed in the
1970s. Sure enough, the stones
were located and the gravel
cleaned away – the females
seemed to prefer the stone at the
rear of the tank. I feel the second
rock was too exposed in the middle
of the tank for the fish to feel
secure. The only time they
spawned on the large rocks thereafter was when the small stone was
already in use.
On February 13 a spawning
occurred, but the eggs vanished
overnight. February 14, another
spawning occurred. These eggs
were picked up on the 17th and the
female moved off into the rear corner of the tank where she hid
behind a large rock and an Anubias
plant.
February 20 – another female
spawned on the small stone.
February 24 – the first female was
removed to a bare 46 x 23 x 23 cm
tank containing only a sponge filter
that had been running in an old tank
for two weeks. Two hours later she
spat around 100 fry which were
very small – around the size of
Apistogramma fry. Feedings of
Liquifry and microworms began as
the fry were too small to eat newly
14
10
died – 20 that were left were still Argentinian blue strain whereas the
behaving normally. Heart-broken, I earlier fish were the yellow
siphoned out the one-centimetre Paraguayan morph. Maybe the
bodies. I tested the pH to find it was Argentinian fish are more timid than
slightly acid. Thinking this may be their southern cousins. Their fry on
the cause, I placed some shellgrit in the other hand are fearless and you
to buffer the pH. The problem could have to be careful when water
not be nitrite as I was doing daily changing as they swim all around
10-25 per cent water changes and your hand.
adding Cycle every week.
I have lost one female to a heart
These 20 fry still looked good so I attack when the Home Help lady
also cut back the feeding regime to was vacuuming the room where the
three times a day. But by March 25 fry tanks are. Unfortunately, I did not
these fry were also dead despite 25 find her in time to try bringing her
per cent water changes being done back by applying CPR.
with fresh water treated with
Another female decided to leap
Tristart.
from the net while being returned to
Then I tested for nitrite and the the main tank. She swan-dived into
impossible was present. Nitrite off a bucket of conditioning salts, flipthe scale – 5 on the Aquarium ping around until covered in blue
Pharmaceuticals Master test kit. I salts, then she went rigid. Quickly
am now wondering if Cycle works extricating her, I washed off the conas it is supposed to.
ditioner in the main tank but she
Now I am doing water changes remained stiff as a board, not
from the breeding tank every day breathing. Frantically, I grasped her
and this seems to have instantly by the caudal peduncle and gently
removed the nitrite problem from moved her back and forth, forcing
the equation. It also helps with the water through her gills. After three
adults as they are getting small or four minutes she gasped and
water changes each day and a larg- began breathing so I kept up the
er 30 per cent weekly change as motion for an additional few minwell. This is necessary as utes. Then I placed her on top of
Gymnogeophagus balzanii, like some Java Fern where she rolled
Satanoperca leucosticta, are very onto her dorsal and lay there gaspprone to Hole-in-the-head or ero- ing but not otherwise moving.
sion of the neuromasts. So their
I thought that she would not surtank needs to be kept scrupulously vive the night and was very pleased
clean to keep them in top condition. the next morning to find her swimThis particular lot of Gymno- ming quite normally.
geophagus balzanii seem to be very
All-told these unique fish are a
timid compared to the fish that I had challenge but well worth taking the
in the past. But these fish are the
trouble
to keep.
t
PICTURES:
Mark
Coleman
hatched brineshrimp for the first
week.
A very unusual thing occurred on
February 26 – for the second time,
two females had spawned together
on the same site. I had happened in
the 45-litre tank as well. Both fish
were guarding and fanning the
eggs in between tiffs (presumably)
as to who should be looking after
them. Things were getting out of
hand as I was running out of rearing
tanks. I have never seen two
females spawn together in any
other cichlid species – these fish
are certainly unique in the cichlid
world. It was very humorous to witness the argy-bargy that it created.
I shifted the larger female on
March 3, as she had won the tussle
over the dual spawning and was
brooding the eggs. Her new abode
was a 46 x 31 x 31 cm tank – again
bare except for a dual sponge filter
which had run in an old tank for
three weeks.
Then disaster struck – 24 hours
later all these fry, numbering
around 120, died. The female was
fine but the bottom of the tank was
littered with tiny bodies.
On March 18 most
of the first
spawni n g
also
VICTORIAN CICHLID SOCIETY INC
Fish-Only
Auction 2000
Happy Snaps
^
THE
CICHLID
MONTHLY
11
15
balzani,
am also fairlyof
certain
that
BOOKand
is Iconstructed
sequenthey
not Aequidens
vittatus
either,
tiallywere
numbered
sheets
of paper
so
I am sendingeach
preserved
specimens
(recyclable),
is capable
of
over
to
America
for
positive
holding thousands of bits identificaof infortion which will be passed on to readers
By Peter Robinson
mation. The pages are locked
as soon as it is to hand.
together with a custom-fit divider
THIS rare and unusual mouthbrooding
Whena I binder
became
aware,
several
called
which
keeps
the
cichlid was first named by Perugia in
weeks ago, that there were Balzani to
sheets
in
their
correct
sequence.
1891 but seemed to have disappeared
be had in Melbourne, I just had to have
until as late as 1972, when it was redisOpaque
Paper Technology
some.
Unfortunately,
I was busy(OPT)
at the
covered in the Rio Parana in Paraguay.
time,
Graham Rowe kindly
went
to
allowsso manufacturers
to use
both
Paraguay is virtually untouched as
the
shop
them
for me - the
the
sides
ofand
thebought
sheet,
doubling
Introducing
the
new
far as the search for tropical fish is
whole
two that they
had. He
uncerinformation
density
andwascutting
Bio-Opticdue
Organized
concerned,
probably to its being
tain
about their sex and I must say it
costs.
at
the extremedevice,
south end
of the
was very difficult to tell male from
Knowledge
tradetropical belt. Little exploration of cooler
female as the huge forehead, as shown
named
BOOK
South American waters has so far been
in the TFH article was not present on
carried
BOOK out.
is a revolutionary break- my male. I scrutinised the two fish very
Since its
intowires,
America,
through
inre-introduction
technology: no
no closely and after some time I noticed
that one had a slight indentation above
Geophagus
beenbatteries,
bred and
electrical balzani
circuits,hasno
the eyes, and that this characteristic
specimens sent to Germany, from
nothing to be connected or was not present in the smaller fish. My
where these specimens that we have
switched on.
hopes rose anew. On reflection, howeveventually
came. Their arrival was well
er, I am not sure if this is a patent sex
It is as
soI easy
to use,
a child
timed
had just
read even
an article
on
difference in all specimens and my
this
in the
edition
of
can species
operate
it. October
Compact
and
belief that I in fact had a pair was prob‘Tropical
Hobbyist’
andanywhere,
was dying
portable,Fish
it can
be used
to
get
my
hands
on
some.
even sitting in an armchair by the ably only wishful thinking.
Geophagus balzani has a number of
Eventually
beautiful
cichlid
fire.
Yet, it isthis
powerful
enough
to
unique traits the most noticeable of
became
a fetish
with me and
was
hold as much
information
as aI CDwhich are the unusual paired stripes
more
acquire
it than
many of
ROM keen
disc. to
Here’s
how
it works:
which ornament their sides, rather
the other rare cichlids available at the
resembling paint running from beneath
time. At one stage I thought my wish
the dorsal. Their heads have a rather
had been granted when some fish
foreshortened, blunt appearance when
arrived bearing the name Aequidens
compared to other species of
vittatus. The fish were only young, and
Geophagus and the male develops a
so to increase my chances of obtaining
large hump on his head which looks
AQUARIUMS
& PET SUPPLIES
a pair, I purchased
three of them.
ratherGOLDFISH
out of place on a fish his size. A
IMPORTERS
TROPICALS
As they grew,
I noticedOF
that
they had AND
third feature is the line beneath the eye,
a Geophagus-shaped head, and joywhichTO
looks
rather like a tear and gives
ORDER
ously thought that they were myTANKS
dream MADE
the
fish
a
rather
comical, clown-like
fish. I even succeeded inFULL
coaxing
them OF PET ACCESSORIES
RANGE
appearance.
to breed but, as I removed the eggs
EXTENSIVE RANGE OF The
“BETTACARE”
PRODUCTS
overall coloration
is a silvery-gold
before they had hatched, I can not say
a delicate
pink overlay, and a
OPEN
DAYS – with
CLOSED
WEDNESDAY
for certain whether they
are a6mouthprominent black spot, mid-body, just
brooder. I say “were” because shortly
54-56
Glenferrie
1141
belowMalvern
the lateral -line.9509
Between
the
after spawning,
the female
died. I nowRoad,
black spot
andreceive
the head
is discount.
an overall
know that they
wereyour
notcurrent
Geophagus
Present
VCS Membership
Card and
a 10%
From December
`Aquarium 1974
World’,
`TCM’
August 1999
Experts are divided on the
prospects for further increases in
information density; for now,
BOOKS with more information simply use more pages. Each sheet is
scanned optically, registering information directly into your brain. A
flick of the finger takes you to the
next sheet.
BOOK never crashes or requires
rebooting. Though, like other
devices, it can become damaged if
coffee is spilled on it and it becomes
unusable if dropped too many times
on a hard surface.
The “browse” feature allows
you to move instantly to any
sheet, and move forward or
backward as you wish.
Many come with an “index”
feature, which pin-points the
Gymnogeophagus
balzanii
male.
exact
location of any
selected
information for instant retrieval.
pattern of bluish-green iridescent
An optional “bookmark” accessory
scales, this color also being noticeable
allows
you to
to the
in the finnage
andopen
on theBOOK
gill covers.
It is
exact
place beautiful
you left itfish,
in but
a previous
not a gaudily
a subtle
session,
if the BOOK
haswithout
been
pearl can even
be appreciated
quietly
“Geophagus”
New balzanii
Low-Tech
Solution
VICTORIAN CICHLID SOCIETY INC
BOOK’s appeal seems so
Wayne Liebel
certain that PHOTO:
thousands
of
content creators have
two females
uncoveredto
a rock
I had
committed
the that
platform
deliberately
buried
a corner flockof a
and
investors
are in
reportedly
six-foot tank in about an inch of sand.
ing to invest. Look for a flood of new
The rock was located and excavated
titles
t
within soon!
24 hours.
dazzling the eye of the beholder.
When Graham delivered the original
These fish must have a built-in asdic
pair to me, he commented that one of
sense, as they seem to be able to unthe fish had a damaged tail. This, hownervingly locate a stone buried in the
ever, is another distinguishing trait of
sand even to a depth of over one inch. I
Geophagus balzani. The tail has a
have also noticed that Balzani prefer to
strange upturned
appearance
Melways
Ref: Map 41and
B9 is
* Expert advice
carried cocked at an angle, rather like a
excavate a breeding site even though
Geelong Road
pup unusual to say the least.
there are
a number
of sell
stones
above
* We
buy and
tanks
and precocious
fish
But this cockiness is a facade which is
ground level which would be suitable for
* Specials
week
very easily seen
through.
The Francis
fish Stare
this purpose. This
has beenevery
observed
in
Service
Rd
very
shy
and
unobtrusive
and
exhibit
no
both
the
breeding
pair
and
the
two
other
* Wide range of Cichlids at reasonable
prices
aggressive tendencies toward
females that I have since obtained. In
Livingtheir
tankmates, no matter how Picture
large or
* Cichlids
Tropicals
Goldfish
both cases
the fish *have
removed *the
Aquarium
small.
is here
sand covering the rocks and, in one
OPEN 7 DAYS A WEEThe
K pair spawned in a 30” tank
case, unearthed a rock that I did not
even
knowGeelong
was there. Another
time the
shared
four young
Acarichthys
555A
Rd, Brooklyn
3025 --withPh/Fax:
9314
7711
Living Picture Aquarium
Milla
rs R
d
MALVERN
16
8
closed. Bookmarks fit universal
design standards; thus, a single
Bookmark can be used in BOOKS
by various manufacturers. Conversely, numerous BOOK markers
can be used in a single BOOK if the
user wants to store numerous views
at once. The number is limited only
by the number of pages in the
BOOK.
You can also make
personal notes next to
BOOK text entries with
optional
programming
tools, Portable Erasable Nib
Cryptic Intercommunication
Language
Styli
(PENCILS).
Portable, durable, and affordable,
BOOK is being hailed as a precursor of a new entertainment wave.
^
THE
CICHLID
MONTHLY
17
9
heckelii, which are currently being sold
as Geophagus thayeri. And, although
two of the A. heckelii were half the size
of the balzani, and the other two were
nearly as large, the balzani completely
ignored them even when they swam
near the spawning site. If these annoying, precocious young fish approached
the brooding female she would quietly
retire into a distant corner and turn her
back on their cheeky invasion of her
maternal duties; but never did she show
any aggressive or defensive traits. In
the end, however, I removed the male
balzani and the four heckelii, if only to
give her a little peace.
Even
we don’t after
have10many
The though
first fry appeared
days
stopovers
on this
journey,
and
I must say
that month’s
I have never
seen
fry
of a
mouthbrooder
at such
a
they
are
varied andappear
in distant
and
small
size.
They were
too have
small plenty
to eat
diverse
locations
so we
brineshrimp and had to be fed liquid fry
food and powdered food. Brine shrimp
were not accepted until the fry had
been free-swimming for five days; this
gives you some idea of just how small
Geophagus balzani fry are.
The temperature of the breeding tank
was 85-86°F and the pH 6.7. The
breeding tank was bare except for gravel and some fontinalis and a covering of
floating plants to reduce the light intensity. The male was approximately 1.5
inches the female being slightly larger,
about an inch and three-quarters. As
these fish are reputed to grow over six
thrilled they
with must
Don be
Zilliox’s
article
in
inches,
considered
relatively
I therefore Post’
hope that
`The immature.
Cichlid Evening
for
they
many
of interestbreeding
Marchhave
on one
fishyears
they find
t
ahead
them.
ing –of `Crenicichla
regani, The
name of their journal. I believe it is
the latter; changing from `AIC’ to
`Cichlidae Society’. They have sent
three journals December, Special
and February. It is a bimonthly obviously with occasional specials. This
259II Plenty
Road,
special is Special
1999 and
is
devoted to Jean Claude
Nourrissat.
Preston
All three are stunningly produced
Melbourne
Vic 3072
with ten, 14 and 14 pages respecPh/fax:
tively of some of the best color photographs I have seen in a society
magazine. I am tempted to subscribe just for the photos. I can’t
understand the text but I know that I
will get a review of the articles from
Rowemin’
‘Round
Melbourne Reptile Warehouse
(03) 9480 2622
NEED
SOME
FRESH
AIR?
D o e s a n y o n e h a v e a n y p uabout
rebred
D a f f o d i l P“The
r i n c e sPump
s
that they would like to sell or swap with me?
Or, does anyone know where I can buy some?
100”
at
If so, please conta
c t $420
me ...
ono
you
can’t
go
S e b a s t i a n Z w a l f 9 8 8 5 8 6wrong
51
A COMPREHENSIVE RANGE FOR THE DISCERNING HOBBYIST
All Aquarium & Pet Supplies P/L
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
African and American Cichlids
Selected Tropical and
Imported Goldfish
Range of Discus
Marine Fish
Aquatic Plants
Tanks * Stands * Rocks
All Accessories
* Frozen and Live Foods
RAYONNE AQUARIUM
H
I
F
I
N
A
Q
U
A
R
I
U
M
257 BLACKBURN RD, SYNDAL 9803 3109
Victoria’s First and Original Cichlid Centre
VICTORIAN CICHLID SOCIETY INC
Graham
Call Manny Vella
on
5629 1012
M e m b e r ’ s A d vand
e r ttalk
i s eto
me
nt
him
of time to devour our MRIFL while Gentle Pike’. He chronicles the
actually still on the magic carpet.
efforts to condition the wild-caught
fishh
and
the eventual
M
ay
00
TaSouth
ble S
ow
Resthrill
ultofsa:sucOur
first 2
stop
is 0
at The
cessful spawning.
Australian
AS
Inc
in
response
to
the
Keith Patford Show (American)
invitation
in the May issue of
`TheFins Shape
OurScales
final stop
is Jersey
Species
Cond
Age Total
Entrant Shore AS
South
Australian
Aquarist’. Here- we - in response
1 Symphysodon
sp (Turquoise)
- the
92 invitation
Sebastian Zwalf
to
in the
find
the indefatigable
Barry Gooley
2 Apistogramma
borelli
- May
- issue
- `Shoreline’.
89 Glenn LaceyLarry
of
3 Cleithracara
- Jinks
- shares
-his 87
Granville Lawrence
extolling
themaronii
virtues of the dwarf
successful
expericichlid
Julidochromis
ornatus
.
If
you
ences
with
`Pseudotropheus
crabro
Kevin Archibald Show (African) No Entries.
l
wish to have success with this – The Bumblebee Cichlid’ with the
beautiful Tanganyikan dwarf then members and with us. They were
this is a must-read article.
taken with the sentiments Ian
Our next stop is Sunshine Coast Robinson expressed in `How to be
(Cichlidarium)
AS in response to the invitation
in a Successful Fish Breeder … and
Make a Fortune’
that (off
wasPolice
printed
in
April issue of `Sunfish’.
Simon
Ives
8 Dunoon Court, Mulgrave,
Victoria 3170
Rd)
tells us `A Quick Bit on Angel Fish’. `TCM’ recently.
We specialise in
He mentions the variety, the beauty
I’m going to digress from my norCICHLIDS,
KILLIFISH, MARINES
and the breeding strategy
of this NATIVES,
mal format here and comment on a
and new
all other
rare
favorite.
(to me) species.
journal that has been
EVERYTHING
FOR
AQUARIUM
potential
exchange. Due
We travel further north to sent as a THE
to
my
ignorance
Italian, I am
Hamilton & District AS in response
Phone: (03) 9546 of
1025
whether
the
Associazone
to the invitation in AprilMon-Sat
issue 9am-7pm;
of unsure
Sun 11am-5pm. Closed
Wed.
`H&DAS Bulletin’ … this is their Italiana Ciclidofili publishes two
Golden Anniversary! They were newsletters or has just changed the
18
6
one of our members who can read
Italian and I can give a clearer indication of its quality then.
Our
MRIFL
this
trip
is
`DISCUSsions’ April, Australian
Discus
Association;
`Cichlid
Circular’ May, NSWCS; `The Sifter’
April, The Yorkshire Cichlid Group;
`Revue
Française
des
Cichlidophiles’ May, Association
France Cichlid. We have one noncichlid invite `H&DAS Bulletin’
March, H&DAS.
Well that’s it until next trip ...
MELBOURNE’S LARGEST RANGE OF
TROPICAL AND COLD WATER FISH
712 Plenty Road, Reservoir 3073
^
THE
CICHLID
Phone: 9478 6614
MONTHLY
19
7
Previously ... at a VCS Meeting
Everyone
Envy Corner
present
($US):
also received a packet of OSI Nibblers, courtesy of OSI
Imports.
Aulonocara ethylwynnae . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1” . . . . . . . . . .3.00
Aulonocara
. . . . . . . . Peter
. . . . . .Robinson.
. . . . . . . .1”Second,
. . . . . . . .Box
. .2.50
Draw
Prize:hueseri
First, “Midnite”
Set of Platters,
of
Neolamprologus
falcicula
“walteri”
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.1”
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.4.00
Chocolates, Peter Robinson redonated and won by Anthony Zambory.
Cichlasoma
(Thorichthys)
aureum
“blue” . . . . . . . . . . . . .1” . . . . . . . . . .2.50
Third,
Wetlands
frozen food,
John
McCormick redonated and won by
Cichlasoma (Theraps) synspilus F2 Belize . . . . . . . . . . . .2” . . . . . . . . . .2.50
Maurice
Breward.
Pseudotropheus demasoni . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1.5” . . . . . . . .2.00
If Cyphotilapia
you are interested
helping .the
able
talk
frontosain
“Burundi”
. . .club
. . . .and
. . . .don’t
. . . . .feel
. . .1”
. . .to
. . give
. . . . a.4.00
or write
an article
then perhaps
mini
Aulonocara
sp. maleri
“Germanyou’d
Red” .like
. . .to
. . donate
. . . . . . .something
. . .1.5” . . for
. . . the
. . .4.00
Cyphotilapia frontosa “Mpimbwe blue” F1 . . . . . . . . . . . .1.5” . . . . . . . .6.00
auction.
Altolamprologus
calvus “Zaire
. . . .fish
. . . for
. . .sale,
. . . .1”
. . . can
. . . .list
. . .5.00
Members
were reminded
thatblack”
if theyF1have
they
them
Otopharynx sp “Blue Otter Island” . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .2” . . . . . . . . . .8.00
on the
whiteboard at meetings and in the magazine.
Acarichthys heckelii . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .2” . . . . . . . . . .7.50
The
meeting sp
adjourned
supper atF110.02
t
Aulonocara
“Maulanafor
bi-color500”
. . . .pm.
. . . . . . . . .1.25” . . . . . . .5.00
The May 12, 2000 meeting opened at 8.07 pm with the President in the
chair. He welcomed everyone present. Apologies were received from Daryl
Hutchins, Marty Bell, Lee Ashton, Peter Mander, Danny Genovese and
Heinz Staude. Several members indicated that they had not received their
magazine, due to the late posting. The minutes of the April meeting were
accepted as read on a motion moved by Carl Bentin and seconded by
Scott Haymes. There was no business arising.
New members Peter and Vicki Clarkson and Suzette Khaw were welcomed to the club by the President and presented with their badges and
Handbook etc. Matthew Chaplin, Andrew Payet and Bill Phillips were not
Ipresent.
suppose that it is a sign of the sick. However, to avoid a repetition
times
I startCorrespondence
off by mentioning awas Itabled:
am giving you good warning of
The that
following
new Association that
has Internet
events.
NEC Showcase
2000
Whitehorse
Council these
Grant
Application
form
access before their
first
meeting
is
on
September
30
to
October
1 in
Whitehorse Council GST Seminar notice
was held. The Canadian
Rift
Lake
Westport,
Connecticut.
Contact
or
Manark Printing Bill
Cichlid
AssociationWhitehorse
can be contactThe other event is New
Outgoing:
Council email
Grant application.
ed at . You can also call 00 11 1 Jersey Tropical Fish Extravaganza
The President reported on an Open Night with good numbers, good con519 837 8608 or email for more in Iselin New Jersey on October 20versation, good fish and good nibblies at Rayonne Aquarium. Thanks to all.
information. I don’t have a snail mail 22. Contact Christine on 00 11 1
Glenn Lacey then presented a very 732
interesting
mini talk on his experiaddress.
290 7942.
ences
on
starting
with
dwarf
cichlids.
If you have a few days spare then
I don’t have to remind you that the
After
the normal
short break
was called. 2000
We then
watched
you
should
be inreminders,
Yorkshire.a Not
ACA Convention
is almost
on
a video
Aquarama
`99, courtesy
John
thenbooked
reportonly
willofyou
see all those
marvel-of Greg
us. I Ure.
know
thatReeves
you have
ed that
aboutcricketers
15 Ectodus
if anyone
lous
Aussie
in decampsii
the local were
youravailable
ticket, but
if you was
wishinterestto find
ed. Graham but
Rowe
askedthe
if anyoutmember
fish fornew
salespeakfor a
competition,
youthen
can catch
who thehad
additional
telephone
inquirer.
It
was
stated
that
the
Social
Secretary’s
position
was
Club Night with Roman Sznober on ers are or just wish to book your
still 9th
vacant
andSummer
anyoneAuction
interested
a committee
member
the
and the
on could
friendsee
in then
call 00 11
1 888 to
8
express
their(Sounds
interest. a bit like ACA 678 or email It is from July 20the
11th.
Melbourne
Didrecounted
you enjoy
sum23 but registration
deadline
June
Members ...
then
some
mini disasters
that perhaps
were is
associmer.
It was
lastalignment
Thursday.)
Contact
19.John
They
have called
The New
ated with
“the
of the
planets”.
McCormick
thenit mentioned
Phil
on 00 11 44venture
1302 880512
forbe Millenium
Rockin’toCichlids
so it
an aquaculture
that may
interestingofenough
visit. Lynda
more
details.
attracts alltothose
newMagnussen
groovy cichlid
Haymes
then presented First Bred certificates
Aussie
for
(and
theirMozambique”
owners). Theand
list
We just missed
Jersey Shore
AS species
Aulonocara
sp “Sunshine”,
Aulonocara
sp “Blue
Neon
of then
speakers
includes
Loiselle,
Meet
the Experts
Panel
night on Zwalf
Aulonocara
gertrudae
. Sebastian
announced
the Wardleys
May
Who
were the experts? Konings, Leibel, Wessel, Danko,
Table18.
Show
results.
Paul
Loiselle,
LaCorte
and Zadnik,
Rybicki,
Seto, Lawrence,
Cardwell,
Door
prizes,Rosario
courtesy
of OSI Imports,
were won
by: Granville
Wayne
Leibel.
Makes
our
expert
Lundblad,
Artigas-Azas
and
Rapps.
John McCormick, Peter Robinson, Robbie Toth, John Reeves and Anthony
panel
of
You,
Me
and
Him
look
a
bit
No
comment.
Zambory.
JAWLOCKINGS
20
4
VICTORIAN CICHLID SOCIETY INC
Cyprichromis leptosoma “blue flash” . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1.5” . . . . . . . .6.95
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1.5” . . . . . . . .5.00
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1.5” . . . . . . .20.00
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ..75” . . . . . . .5.00
SUPPORT
OUR ADVERTISERS
SUPPORT
OUR ADVEROtopharynx
lithobates
“yellow
blaze”
TISERS SUPPORT OUR ADVERTISERS SUPPORT OUR
ADVERTISERS
SUPPORT OUR
ADVERTISERS
SUP- . . .
Opthalmotilapia
boops
“Tembwe”
PORT OUR ADVERTISERS SUPPORT OUR ADVERTISERS SUPPORT
OUR ADVERTISERS
SUPPORT
Nandopsis
istlanum F1
. . . . OUR
......
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Support our Advertisers
AQUA-LIFE
NATURAL
Graham
WATER CONDITI0NER
FOR PONDS & AQUARIUMS
That should be enough to whet the appetite. (They would probably be
cheaper at one of the Auctions I mentioned.)
Until next month ...
The Elaine Turner Memorial
Art & Photographic
For all your
signwriting requirements
Competition
will be judged at the
November General Meeting
COMPUTER-CUT
... but you can submit your entry
An Austr(to
alianthe
proSecretary)
duct,
SIGNS
any
time
before
tested by the Queensland Unthen.
iversity
CAR, TRUCK, BOAT
of Technology.
and FACTORY SIGNS
Also, there is no limit to how many entries
Factory 1, 11 Swift Way,
Availableyou
fromcan
:
have.
Dandenong South
BLACKBURN, MAROONDAH and
MENTONE AQUARIUMS
9706 5916
^
THE
CICHLID
and other good aquarium shops
MONTHLY
21
5
| From
| T |MayE1998.
|N|T|S|
Circular',
C |`Cichlid
O|N
of
the water
At a
thefilm
timeon
of writing
(May surface,
24,
which
inhibit
23:23) I would
am aware
of onlygaseous
three
exchange
water
and
entries for between
the Homethe
Show.
A little
the air.
disappointing numerically, but I
Water
moving
around and
the that
tank
think
they
are all novices
effectively increases the surface
is very good – if only there were a
area of the tank by constantly
few more tothe
make
things
little in
changing
layer
of awater
more
interesting.
Oh
well,
at
least
contact with the atmosphere.
everyone
wins
something.
This, of course, dramatically
increases
rate could
at which
oxyI wonder if the
anyone
tell me
gen
can
be
dissolved
into
the
why there is not a lot more particiwater
and
carbon
dioxide
pation in things like the Art
released into the air. WellCompetition and Table/Home
oxygenated water is essential for
shows
– especially
latter. Iplus,
the
health
of thethe
fishes,
know
there
are more
a lot offishes
members
we
can
keep
in a
who have
at least
one
display
given
space
if the
water
is well
tank, so why do they not enter?
oxygenated.
How about anonymously
faxing/emailing me (see top of the
next column) with your reasons for
not participating. I’ll get something
done about it.
Water Mo
1 vement
i n t h e A q3 u a r i u m
Cichlid Scene . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
“Geophagus” balzanii . . . . . . . . . 12
Editorial . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
May Table Show Results . . . . . . . 18
By
Richard
BrownMeeting
Minutes
of Previous
. . . 4-5
Jawlockings . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20-21
The
movement
the water movement generated in
Rowemin’
‘Round . .of. . .water
. . . . . in
. . 6-7
aquarium is probably a subject to this
will in
depend
upon the
Water way
Movement
the
which
most of
us give. .little
and number of fishes in the
New Low-Tech
Solution
. . . .direct
. 8-9 size
Aquarium
. . . . . . . . . if. . we
. . 22-23
thought. However, it is one of the tank.
For example,
only
vital
functions
in
the
aquarium
have
half-a-dozen
Neon
Tetras
in
Fish-Only Auction Happy
and is directly responsible for a the
tank,
the
amount
of. . water
Wardley
Table
Show
Calendar
.
.
23
Snaps . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-11 movement will be negligible.
number of important processes.
If we now
airstone, or
Water movement
– the add
MagicanPlant
Gymnogeophagus
balzanii can be Vegemite
some
other
device
that
achieved
in
several
ways.
Food . . . . . . . . . . . . . .generates
. . . . . 12
– a Treasure Revisited . . . . . . 12 a stream
of bubbles, such as a
Consider an aquarium filled
with water with perhaps, a gravel box filter, a much greater amount
water movement is generated
substrate
and Cichlid
some
rocks
and by of
The Victorian
Society
was formed
cichlidophiles in March
the
mechanically
by1972
thethus
airbecoming
bubbles
plants.
suchaquarist
an environment,
first In
specialist
group in the State of Victoria. Its main aims are:
rising
in
the
water.
very 1.
little
waterthemovement
takes
To promote
keeping of cichlids;
If we wish to create an even
place.
2. To gain and disseminate knowledge of cichlids,
their habits
and attributes
throughmovethe use
greater
amount
of water
If we ofadd
a heater
to our
aquarslides,
films, books,
lectures,
practical demonstrations,
localaquarium,
and overseas magazines,
ment
in
our
we
ium, water
is discussions
generat-with fellow members or experts in the field; can
articlesmovement
by members and
use a power filter, which will
ed by
currents,
3. Toconvection
assist, in any way
possible, theas
establishment
and/or
maintenance
approved public
forcibly
pump
waterof around
the
the warm
aquaria; water around the
tank,
thereby
generating
very
heater rises (warm water is
water
4. To be involved in the education of the strong
general public
withmovement.
regard to the benefits of
lighter
than cold water) and is
fishkeeping (particularly cichlids), and the
potentially
harmful
effects
of animal
So, now that we
have
disreplaced
by colder water. With
mismanagement;
just the heater in the tank, how- cussed how to move water
To promote
fellowship
between
members; around the aquarium, let us look
ever,5.we
will end
up with
a layerof the functions water
6.
To
further
the
conservation
of
species
theirsome
natural habitats;
ing effect, with the warm water and at
movement
performs.
sitting
at
the
top
of
the
tank
and
7. To further the identification, distribution, breeding, maintenance
and enjoyment of species
the cold
at Family
the bottom.
Firstly, water movement will
in the
Cichlidae.
If we now add some fishes to overcome the problem of thermal
bycorrespondence
mixing the to:
warm and
Disclaimer:
expressed
herein are
the tank, Opinions
a certain
amount
of layering All
layers,
so we end up
those
of movement
the authors, and
arebe
not generatnecessarily cold water
water
will
THE
SECRETARY
an evenly
heated
tank. INC
those
of the Editor of TCMbyor the
committee
VICTORIAN
CICHLID
SOCIETY
ed mechanically
their
fins with
ofpushing
the Victorian
Cichlid
Society
Inc.
You
are
c/23
Mangana
Drive,
Mulgrave,
against the water as
The movement of waterVictoria,
in the
encouraged
to
write
to,
or
e-mail
the
Editor
on
Australia 3170
they swim around. The amount of tank also prevents
the formation
22
2
the aquarium, as produced by a
powerRobinson
filter, provides
the fishes
Peter
– yes Graham’s
with
a
current
in
which
to swim,
comment in “Rowemin’ ‘Round”
and
many
fishes
find
this
both
last month was tongue-in-cheek.
enjoyable
and
beneficial.
One or two took it seriously, of
course.
But can
anyone
reallywater
As you
seewho
then,
knows
Peter would
realiseaquarium
that no
movement
in the
matter
howtailored
peeved hetowas
about
can be
suit
the
anything
he would neverwe
take
it to
type of environment
wish
out
on the club in any way whatsoestablish.
t
ever. That includes depriving the
magazine of his experiences and
wisdom.
You will notice that this edition
features another contribution from
February
March
April
May
June
July
August
September
October
November
December
Kevin Archibald Show
Keith Patford Show
Angels, Uarus and Discus
American of Your Choice
Lake Tanganyikans
African of Your Choice
Uarus and Discus
Lake Malawians
JAngels,
ustAmericans
South
Lake Tanganyikans
brin
g
Central
Americans
African Riverines and Lake Victorians
wha
a m
SouthsAmericans
Lake
Malawians
t
e
any
Dwarf Americans
Africans
as y verDwarf
y
u lik
Central Americans
ou c LakeoTanganyikans
aPairs
Pairs (American)
(African)
n m e ... and
ana
South Americans
Lake Malawians
e.Lake Victorians
Central Americans
African Riverine g
and
NOTE: Asian Cichlids may be entered in any show, but must meet the special requirements
in June (dwarfs) and August (pairs).
Fax 9560-7472. E-mail hgrowe@blaze.net.au
VVI ICCTTOO R
R II A N C
C I ICCHHLLI D
I D SS
OO
CC
I EI TE YT YI N ICN C
Fax:
9872-3225
A strong
movement of water in
~ War dl ey ~ daryl..
Table Show Calendar 2000
Aims of the Society
any subject raised herein.
editorial
Moving water carries oxygen to
the nitrifying bacteria in the tank,
which are responsible for the
breakdown of harmful waste
dhutchins@
products, and also carries nutritheage.fairfax.com.au
ents to the plants.
Horseface
^
PICTURE: Mark Coleman
T H E T CH I EC H
C LI C
I DH LMI D
O NMT O
HN
LT
YH L Y
23
3
Vegemite –
cWe
i chave
h l iadfewsfriends
c e nthat
e
^
^
^
From `The South Australian Aquarist’, October 1999
The Magic Plant Food
you might like to meet ...
By Don Crettenden
24
VICTORIAN
water. I found it
does not harm
the fish in any
way, if anything it
would give them
vitamins too.
The vitamins in
the
Vegemite
seem to work
miracles, (don’t
laugh until you try
it “because it
does work”).
Also only make
enough to use
that day. If you
do not use it all
then pour the
excess on your
pot plants, and
they will thrive as
well.
Vegemite
is
a
product
of
Australia. It is a concentrated yeast
extract, and is made by Kraft Foods
Limited (now an American-owned
company – Ed).
Ingredients: yeast extract, salt, mineral salt (508, 509), malt extract, natural color (150), vegetable extract,
thiamine, riboflavin, niacin.
SPACE
FOR
RENT
EASTERN DISTRICTS AQUARIUM SOCIETY
THIS
About six months
ago I went to see
a friend in the
hydroponics
industry, to ask
him what they
used to supplement the nutrients, for plants.
He told me they
used a product
called
Superthrive as a vitamin supplement.
As an experiment
I bought the
smallest bottle,
which was 15 mls
and it cost $695.
I took it home
and
when
I
opened the lid,
the
Vegemite
smell hit me. So
as an experiment I used the Superthrive in one tank and in another tank
I used Vegemite. Over the next couple of weeks I started to notice a difference in the plants’ condition. They
were a lot greener and healthier.
The plants and fish in the tank that
the Vegemite was used in were looking better than the other tank. So ever
since I tried it, that is what I am using
twice a week, at a rate of one teaspoon of Vegemite dissolved in 500
mls of warm water, allowed to cool,
then use 1 ml to 4.5 litres of aquarium
(Presumably, Aussiemite would
work just the same. When you have
made your comparison, write it up
and submit the results for publication
here – Ed.)
t
CICHLID
SOCIETY
INC
THE NEXT MEETING will be held on the second Friday of the month at 8 pm sharp
(Trading Table opens earlier) in the Courtyard Room at the Nunawading Civic Centre,
Whitehorse Road, Mitcham. Visitors are encouraged to come along.
MINI TALK: `
MAIN TALK:
DOORMeets
PRIZES:on the 4th Friday of month at the Nunawading
Civic Centre, Whitehorse Rd, Nunawading.
DRAW PRIZES:
1. Call 9802 3968 or write to PO Box 502, Ringwood 3134.
2. Wetlands frozen food.
3.
TABLE SHOWS
Do your own thing. (See page 24.)
AUSTRALIAN & NEW GUINEA FISHES ASSOC
Meets bi-monthly at Melbourne Zoo, starting January.
Contact Glenn Briggs on 9725 3665 (AH)
Check our
for .more
www
b l ainformation.
ze.net.au/~darylh
Web page:
COMMITTEE MEMBERS:
AQUARIUM SOCIETY OF VICTORIA
PRESIDENT
John McCormick
5944-3502 LIBRARIAN
Anthony Caiolfa 9886-5775
VICE-PRES
Peter Robinson
9807-8196 TRADING TBL Glenn Lacey
9512-6706
on the last
Thursday of the month
SECRETARY Meets
Graham Rowe
9560-7472
TREASURER Keith Patford
9716-2425
-AT-Hill.
LARGE:
at 29 Grant
Street,COMMITTEE
Clifton
EDITOR
Daryl
Hutchins
9872-3225
Lee
Ashton
9561-5131
Call 9478 6028 or write to PO Box 140, Clifton
Hill 3068
Facsimile
9872-3225
Granville Lawrence9564-7247
SOCIAL SEC Position vacant
Lynda Haymes 9704-2046
SHOW SEC
Sebastian Zwalf
9885-8651
Jason Taylor
9569-3772
Sub-Committee
Chairpersons:
Species Maintenance:
Graham Rowe.
Mailing: Peter
NATIONAL
AUSTRALIAN
KILLIFISH
ASSOC
Robinson. Constitution:
Hutchins. BAA:
Haymes. Handbook:
MeetsDaryl
BI-monthly
in Lynda
members’
homes.Daryl Hutchins.
LIFE MEMBERS: Graham
Rowe, David
Heinz Staude,
Kevin
Archibald,
Keith Patford,
Contact:
Skop
9563
7231.
Danny Genovese and Daryl Hutchins.
HONORARY MEMBER: Max Davenport. FELLOW OF THE SOCIETY: Graham Rowe.
Victorian Cichlid Society
MEMBERSHIP
APPLICATIONS
© Copyright, Victorian
Cichlid Society Inc 2000.
Anyone wishing to reprint material from `The Cichlid Monthly’ for non-commercial
or other
enquiries may be directed to:
purposes, may do so (unless the item is copyright by the author) provided due credit
Graham
is The
given toSecretary,
the author and `TCM’
and one copyRowe
of the relevant publication is
forwarded to the author, care of the Secretary. Enquiries re the use of material in
23 Mangana
Drive,
Mulgrave
Vic
3170
other publications may be directed to dhutchins@theage.fairfax.com.au.
Ph/fax 9560 7472 -- e-mail hgrowe@blaze.net.au
^
THE
CICHLID
MONTHLY
1
cichlid
the
monthly
Vo l u m e 2 9 , # 5
Ju n e 2 0 0 0
PREMIUM FLAKE FOOD
Wardley Total Tropical is the ultimate
freshwater flake food, created to
provide an extraordinary diet that
considers not only your fishes health
of today, but their nutritional needs
for tomorrow. Better metabolic
responses, faster attraction to the
food, brilliant color and improved overall health and vitality are only a few of
the benefits of feeding Total Tropical
as your everyday staple food. Total
Tropical begins where all other staple
foods leave off.
QUALITY PRODUCTS FOR THE AUSTRALIAN FISHKEEPER
AUSTRALIA’S PREMIER BRAND
INSIDE:
Gymnogeophagus
balzanii
Victorian
Cichlid
Society
Incorporated
Certificate of Incorporation
# A12794D
Auction pics
L o w - Te c h S o l u t i o n s
Water Movement
Vegemite – Plant Food
$1
R E G I S T E R
A U S T R A
P O S T
P P 3 4 2 7 8 0
E D
B Y
L I A
—
/ 0 0 2 4