Gary Lange
-----Original Message-----
From: bowluvr <bowluvr at email.msn.com>
To: rainbowfish at pcug.org.au <rainbowfish at pcug.org.au>
Date: Wednesday, March 14, 2001 9:01 AM
Subject: Re: [RML] Questions regarding Rhadinocentrus
>The thing that worries me the most about that low of a pH -- and probably
>the reason why most acid-loving fish seem to do poorly at those levels in
>aquaria -- is the inherent instability of it. The lower it gets, the easier
>and more often it fluctuates. Even feeding the fish could move it some at
>that level, and it is darn difficult to do water changes and keep it
stable,
>maybe short of pre-treating the water to make it match those parameters
>exactly. Way too much work.
>
>I'd rather just keep it a tiny bit higher. Like I said, the fish look good
>and are eating. They even take flake. The only fish I've kept that suffered
>no ill effects from that low of a pH drop have been Rams (Microgeophagus
>ramirezi) and Satanoperca spp.
>
>I suppose I could remove one of the chunks and see if it'll go a tiny bit
>lower though.
>
>I guess what I am really interested in is: will they spawn in the plants
and
>"allow" the fry to live in the tank with them, or do I have to switch to
>mops and pull the eggs out to raise them? They are in a large tank for the
>few of them that I have, and I was hoping the fry would just grow up w/ the
>parents so that I didn't have to distrub them too much. They seem to be
much
>more skittish than Melonotaenia/Glossolepis/etc.
>
>Julie <>,
>
>
>> Julie,
>> I just measured the pH in the tank behind my desk at work which is home
to
>3
>> Rhads and 3 P. mellis. The JBL test kit gave me 4.5 (chart in 0.5
>> increments) and the electronic gauge gave me 4.1. This is probably
because
>I
>> don't do enough water changes in the work tanks. All fish seem happy
>enough.
>> 3.8 is pretty acidic but I can imagine some Rhad habitats getting like
>that
>> naturally. The pH of our coastal acidic lakes is often low. Some of the
>> Queenslanders might have experience of low pHs in the Morton and Hervey
>Bay
>> areas.
>>
>> > -----Original Message-----
>> > From: bowluvr [SMTP:bowluvr at email.msn.com]
>> > Sent: Thursday, March 15, 2001 1:53 PM
>> > To: rainbowfish at pcug.org.au
>> > Subject: Re: [RML] Questions regarding Rhadinocentrus
>> >
>> > Thanks Matthew!
>> >
>> > I use the crushed coral to keep the pH from bottoming out... when it
>gets
>> > so
>> > low that Apistos are uncomfortable (3s), then I think the Rhads may not
>be
>> > happy either! Yes, it has gone as low as 3.8. The coral doesn't raise
it
>> > above neutral unless I add about 5-times as much. :-)
>> >
>> > Julie <><
>> >
>> >
>> > > Julie,
>> > > I can't help you with the sexing but as to their care...
>> > > Toss the crushed coral. Soft acidic water is the domain of Rhads. In
>my
>> > > experience they never occur in hard water or in water that is
alkaline
>> > even
>> > > when they are right next to the sea.
>> > > Temperature is less critical but avoid big daily changes.
>> > > Others on the list will tell you more about breeding, my only
>suggestion
>> > > being to toss them into a pond during the summer. Some of the colour
>> > forms
>> > > make great pond fish!
>> > > I hope you enjoy your Rhads.
>> >
>