G'Day Adrian - I had the socalled "blackhead syndrome" in some of the "Old
Canberra" strain of M. herbertaxelrodi (the ulcer-prone ones) - whenever
they were stressed, like on capture out of a tank, the front quarter of the
body, from the pectorals forwards, would go black. The fish usually
survived transfer, but they were not the best stock in the world - I don't
think that any of the old "Canberra strain" have survived.
Please note, all - A couple of Canberrans got quite upset the last time I
made the comment about the poor strain of herberts we had here many years
ago - not with my comment per se but the fact that a couple of listmembers
sought to tar all Canberra 'bows with the same brush - that they were all
weak and ulcerated, which was a load of crap. Canberrans have in fact bred
species that nobody else have before, and I was offended at the inference
that our fishes are generally degenerate in any way (not like their
owners... :) ).
Regards, Andrew
_________________________________________________________________
Frex the Castor Dragon aka Andrew Boyd - frex at macrae.com.au
"Then the time comes when it is clear nothing new or important will
be done: and one draws out the ledger and begins to itemise what
there is, of value, that can be offered to posterity. And here is
a good deed, and there an act of courage: during this year one worthy
story was told, during that decade involvement in an important social
movement. If there are babies, that is logged in. If there are books,
they are noted. Loving friends. Wives and husbands. Kindness to
small animals. A hill bearing your name. But the laurels you've counted
on, they've turned to dust."
Harlan Ellison, Introduction to "Prayers to Broken Stones"