T H E O N - L I N E J O U R N A L O F T H E B R O O K L Y N A Q U A R I U M S O C I E T Y AVOL. 32Q NOVEMBERUATI - DECEMBER 2018 No. 2CA Holiday Happy to All! Season

Emperor Angelfish - Pomacanitus imperator 1 107 Y EARSOF E DUCATING A QUARISTS AQUATICA VOL. 32 NOVEMBER - DECEMBER 2 0 1 8 N O . 2 ONTENT C S Happy SeasonHoliday to All!

PAGE 2 THE AQUATICA STAFF PAGE 22 SPECIES PROFILE. The bumblebee goby, Brachygobius PAGE 3 CALENDAR OF EVENTS. xanthozona. BAS Events for the years 2018 - 2019 JOHN TODARO - BAS

PAGE 4 LIVE FOOD FOR TINY PAGE 23 SNAILS IN THE AQUARIUM. FISH. If you have ever wondered what What are these creatures and what is to feed all those tiny hungry fish, you have to read their role, good or bad, in nature, as well as in this article. your aquarium? JOE GRAFFAGNINO - BAS RICK RENFRO - MAS

PAGE 7 NOTABLE NATIVES - THE BLACK PAGE 26 GUPPY PLAGUE/AIDS. BANDED SUNFISH. Enneacanthus chaetodon., This is A commercial perspective on this highly contagious, a beautiful native fish that ranges from New Jersey to extremely fast acting virus that affects guppies Florida. and some other fish. ANTHONY P. KROEGER - BAS ANTHONY P. KROEGER - BAS

PAGE 9 HOW DOES STRESS AFFECT FISH? PAGE 29 UV STERILIZER TROUBLE SHOOTING Effects of stress on fish and how it affects them. GUIDE. This article tells you what to do if your STAFF WRITERS - www.liveaquaris UV does not seem to be working. MARINEANDREEF.COM NEWSLETTER PAGE 13 BIG! BOLD! BEAUTIFUL! Information on the Emperor Angelfish, Pomacanthus imperator. PAGE 32 PHEW! THIS SKUNK DOESN’T STINK! ANTHONY P. KROEGER - BAS The skunk cory, Corydoras arcuatus, is a very popular catfish and makes a very good community fish. PAGE 16 BREEDING THE BRUNEI BEAUTY: ANTHONY P. KROEGER - BAS MY PATH TO BETTA ENLIGHTENMENT. Adventures in breeding this hard to find betta. PAGE 34 BREEDING THE EMPEROR TETRAS. LEE VAN HYFTE - EIAA Breeding Inpaichthys kerri and Nematobrycon palmeri, two very popular and beautiful tetras. PAGE 19 THE COLUMBIAN TETRA CHALLENGE. LEE VAN HYFTE - EIAA Breeding the Columbian tetra, Hyphessobrycon columbianus. PAGE 36 SUPPORT OUR SPONSORS. THEY JOE GRAFFAGNINO - BAS SUPPORT US. WE MUST SUPPORT THEM.

PAGE 21 BUMBLEBEES IN YOUR AQUARIUM. PAGE 38 SPONSORS ADS. Keeping the bumblebee goby, Brachygobius xanthozona. PAGE 41 THE BENEFITS OF BEING A MEMBER ANTHONY P. KROEGER - BAS OF THE BROOKLYN AQUARIUM SOCIETY.

PAGE 42 MEMBERSHIP APPLICATION. AQUATICA STAFF 2

Editor: Catfish Editor Associate Designer: John Todaro Exchange Editor: Ian Fuller Copy Editor: Ginny Cahill Illustrations: Bill Amely Freshwater Shrimp Editor:Kay Martin JohnTodaro Marine Editor: Ryan Curtis Norman Doughty Plant Editor: Open Chris Giam Izzy Zwerin Julia Noonan Shelly Sacks Contributing writers: Ryan Curtis Anthony P. Kroeger Joe Graffagnino MarineandReef.com Lee Van Hyfte Rick Renfro Liveaquaris Staff Writers John Todaro All articles in are the opinion and experiences of the author or authors, and do not necessarily represent the opinions of the editors or staffAquatica of or the Brooklyn Aquarium Society Inc. Aquatica

Note: The Editor takes full responsibility for misspellings and punctuation errors. is published on line bi-monthly (except July/August) by BAS. may be reprinted by other non-profit or- ganizations,AQUATICA provided proper credit is given to the author and , andOriginal two copies articles are sent to the Exchange Editor.Transcrip- tions of lectures may not be reprinted without written permissionAQUATICA of both Editor and the Speaker. A notice of where original articles have been published should be sent to the AQUATICA will exchange publications withBAS all interested Exchange societies. Editor; P.O. If weBox do 290610, not receive Brooklyn, your NYpublications 11229-0111 for three consecutive months,AQUATICA we will assume you no longer wish to exchange and your club may be removed from our mailing list.

ALLCORRESPONDENCECONCERNINGTHISPUBLICATIONSHOULDBESENTTO • Editor: : John Todaro, 247 Middletown Road, South Londonderry VT, 05155 - Phone: 802 824-3743 Fax: Same. You can submit articles to the Editor by mail, fax, or E-mail to: [email protected] BROOKLYN AQUARIUM SOCIETY BOARD OF DIRECTORS Corresponding Secretary: web Master: OFFICERS President: ExchangeDan Smith Editor: Editor:Bernard Deren Leon Perry 1stSteve Vice President:Matassa Jose Sanchez Bill Amely John Todaro Paul Santiago Gennady (Gene) Kogan Membership Chairperson: 2nd Vice President: Wayne Sinckler David Manuel BOARD MEMBERS Sergeant-at-Arms: Bob Strazzulla Treasurer:Marie Licciardello Robert Kolsky Larry Whitfield RecordingLita Goldberg Secretary: Denver Lettmen Ronald Wiesenfield Open Kay Martin Nick Martinez

The is a non-profit organization 501(c) (3) for people interested in the aquarium hobby and the study of aquaticBrooklyn life. The Aquarium Society meets Society the Inc. 2nd Friday of each month except July and August at the Education Hall of the New York Aquarium at Coney Island, Surf Avenue at west 8th St., at 7:30 PM. Meetings are open to visitors. Refreshments are served. Membership is $25 per year family/$20 individual/$15 for students under 14. Send inquiries or membership checks payable to:

Brooklyn Aquarium Society, C/O Membership Chairperson, P.O. Box 290610, Brooklyn, NY 11229-0011. 3 B R O O K LY N A Q UA R I U M S OCIETY CALENDAR OF EVENTS ~ 2018 ~19 Happy Holiday Season to All!

- Followed by an auction of freshwater and marine fish, aqua-cultured NOVcorals,plants 9 Greg & Sage dry - goods.. Selective breeding Fish Bingo & Prizes • BAS awards presentations. DEC 14 Holiday Party ~Members, their families & friends•

Followed JAN 11Dr. Timothy Hovanec, Tim’s Aquatics - 2019Modern Day Approach to Aquarium Chemistry by an auction of marine fish, aqua-cultured corals, freshwater fish, plants & dry goods. ~ Followed by an auction of marine fish, FEB 8 Joseph Graffagnino -A Pond Grew in Brooklyn aqua-cultured corals, freshwater fish, plants & dry goods. ~ Followed by an auction of marine fish, aqua-cultured MARcorals, 8 freshwater Richard Ross fish, - Coralplants Spawning & dry goods and. Secore ~ ~ Followed by an auction of freshwater and marine fish,aqua-cultureAPR 12 Ralph Chidc orals,plants&of Pacific Aquarium dry goods. & Pets, Inc. Topic TBA Marine fish, aqua-culturedcorals,freshwaterfish, plants & dry goods. MAY 10 Giant Spring Auction ~ ~ Followed by an auction of freshwater and marine fish, aqua-culturedJUN 14 Speaker corals, from plants House & dry of goods. Fins - Topic TBA

NO MEETINGS JULY & AUGUST Followed by an auction of freshwater and marine fish, aqua-culturedcorals,plants & dry goods. SEPT 13 TBA Marine fish, aqua-culturedcorals,freshwaterfish, plants & dry goods.. OCT 11 Giant Fall Auction~ Followed by an auction of freshwater and marine fish, aqua-culturedcorals,plants & dry goods. NOV 8 TBA~ Fish Bingo & Prizes • BAS awards presentations. DEC 13 Holiday Party ~Members, their families & friends• 4 Joe Graffagnino - BAS

I have been raising and breeding if the fry are older and larger tropical fish for over years. and can take bites from food 40 Many times I am asked about too large for them to take in what type of their mouths. foods are ideal There are for really tiny LIVE FOOD exceptions to fish. I hear that this such as some use FOR catfish that will crushed flakes, TINY FISH ram their body others cut up live or frozen over an egg to get it in their worms and others add b r i n e mouth and wait a day or so for shrimp, either adult or baby the egg to break down and brine live or frozen. Many enter their stomach. For the assume that even if the baby most part, if the baby fish can’t fish can’t ingest the food, they get the food in its mouth, it will will eat around it and obtain ignore it to the point where it nutrition that way. This may work will starve to death. 5

The best food for tropical fish is protozoa. Infusoria are created you should see the paramecium live food. This is especially true from decaying vegetable matter. swimming in the water. The for tiny fry fish such as wild Be careful with the use of infusoria paramecium will be clear and bettas, gouramis, certain catfish, because, if left in a small glass look like a tiny cloud of wavy tetras, barbs and others in the container for longer than a day lines. Take a pipette or small minuscule size. These fish fry or so, it will start to decay and siphon tube to squirt it into the look like ½ of a human eyelash. emit a foul smell. Replace it with tiny fry tank. The paramecium Tiny fish are very susceptible to a fresh supply immediately before will survive for several days in water depth, temperature, pH, feeding to your fry. The size of the aquarium. The size of a hardness, light, and too many infusoria is 25 um [micrometer] paramecium is 50 um – 300 um other variables to mention. Any – 300 um. By definition, a um = (0.0020 – 0.0130 inch). of these factors could cause the 1/1,000 of a mm [millimeter]. fry’s demise. They need a healthy are another Rotifers and safe environment to survive. – is a type of freshwater Paramecium As a hobbyist, you want the fry form of infusoria, an zooplankton. There to grow as quickly as possible. easy to raise live 3are 2,200 species of The larger it becomes, the better 2animal created by rotifers. Rotifers eat algae. The the chance it can handle stress using a banana skin, plain tap size of a rotifer is 50 um – 0.1 – and survive to an adult size water, and a starter culture to 0.5 mm long. where it can complete the cycle activate this solution. Always and reproduce more fry. use a glass container, not plastic. Banana worms I have created a list of A 2 or 3-liter container will last 3- measures 50 microns live foods from the tiniest to the 4 months. Remove the live para- in diameter and 2 largest to provide a choice for mecium from the container via 4millimeters in length. you to feed to your baby fish that a turkey baster into a smaller These worms can live for 24 will provide them the correct glass container (a 12-ounce hours. They are ½ the size of a food to allow them to grow and Corona beer bottle is perfect for micro worm prosper. Some of these may this because it is clear and has a . overlap in size but there are long neck). Add the paramecium are Walter worms differences in the shape of the solution to the bottle until it is very similar to animal that would make it easier halfway up the neck of the bottle. 5banana worms and for fish to swallow. I will provide Place a piece of filter floss are minimally larger than ba- what I think is the smallest to halfway down the neck of the nana worms. These worms can the largest live foods. bottle to the top of the paramecium live for 24 hours. solution. Add aquarium water is a single- to fill the rest of the neck of the are made Infusoria Vinegar eels celled organism bottle. The paramecium will the same way as consisting mainly of travel up the solution, travel 6paramecium, except 1ciliate protozoans. through filter floss to ascend instead of a banana, use an There are an estimated into the aquarium water. Hold apple cut into 6 pieces. The size 2,000 – 3,000 types of infusorians the bottle up to the light and of a vinegar eel is 2 millimeter 6

(1/16 of an inch). Vinegar eels The nutritional value of banana, molts is 8 – 20 mm in length. are the size of a banana or walter, Vinegar eels and Adult brine shrimp become 20 walter worm. The difference is Micro worms is 48% protein, 21 % times longer and 500 times vinegar eels are free swimming. fat, 7% glycogen, 1% organic acid. larger in biomass than a newly Vinegar eels stay alive for days. hatched nauplii. In salt water, is a saltwater they can live between 50 days Brine Shrimp the species. when first and 3 months. In freshwater, Micro Worms same size as vinegar hatched, their size is they live for 5 hours. eels. They fall to the 400 – 500 um long. 7bottom and can live for 8Brine shrimp reach 24 hours. adult size in 8 days and after 15

Now you have an idea for a variety of live foods that are easy to maintain and will be the correct size for your baby fish. Do not overfeed since too much food becomes a pollutant if it's not eaten. The good thing about any of these live foods is that even the pickiest of fish can’t resist live food. Enjoy your fry keeping! JOE 7 Anthony P. Kroeger - BAS

Notable Natives

BlackEnneacanthus Banded chaetodon Sunfish

This beautiful sunfish is native from the New Jersey pine barrens to Florida in what is essentially North American blackwater environments. If you go to collect them, be sure you have the permits to do so. Expect to find a few at a time, as they are only rarely abundant in nature. This fish’s color and behavior reminds me of an angelfish. A bright silver body is crossed vertically by 4 - 6 black bands. The dorsal has black leading spine. The ventrals have neon or- ange leading spines followed by a trailing broad black stripe. The other fins are clear; males have a metallic neon green speckling overlaying the body. he beautiful black banded sunfish This fish usually grows to between 2 and 3 is sometimes available in better inches. Although I have heard of 4 inch specimens, pet stores. It is ironic that the fish I have personally never seen them at this size. you see in shops is raised in Hong Kong Black bands usually live to about 3 years old. andT Indonesia. This American native is Black bands do have some specific not commercially raised here, but is very requirements to keep them in the home aquarium. popular in other countries and there is Treat them like and they should be fine. good reason for its popularity. Apistogrammas 8

This fish must have soft acidic water. I In the proper conditions, this is a fairly hardy keep mine at 6.6 to 6.8 pH and at 72˚F temperature. fish. But if those conditions are not maintained, it I use peat moss or dried oak leaves to add tannins easily will fall ill. This fish is very sensitive to any to the water. You can also use commercially medication containing Malachite Green. I formulated blackwater extracts for same thing. A recommend you do not use Malachite Green on good tea colored water is best for them. this fish except as a last resort and, even then, only I recommend a 20-gallon long tank for 3 or at 1/3rd the manufacturer’s recommended dose. 4 of them. Use sand with this fish. They do not Black bands have an interesting breeding seem to do well over gravel. Give them plenty of behavior and will spawn in your aquarium. Eggs hiding places and live plants just as you would are laid in a pit and guarded by the male. with Apistos. Heavy feeding of live food and a minimum Always cover this fish; although it 12 hour photo period (lights on) does not look like it, they are very good helps trigger spawning. jumpers. The male loses all his color T h i s f i s h behaves and turns a muddy gray like an angelfish. They when he defends the glide around their eggs. Males usually do aquarium in a sedate not guard fry well, if manner, but can move at all. I remove the quickly if disturbed. male once the eggs hatch. They are peaceful with The eggs are clear and fish that are tolerant of their water very small, so are the resulting conditions. fry. They are smaller than honey Use a small power filter and aeration with gourami fry. The fry are also light this fish; it does not need, want or appreciate high sensitive. Keep their lighting dim. rates of currents, nor does it tolerate large volume Such tiny fry need green water and rotifers water changes. as a first food. Only later, feed brine shrimp nauplii I change 10% of its water twice a week. (usually 1 to 2 weeks after hatching). That’s it; if you change too much of its water at The fry shoal but grow at varying rates. Be once, it will clamp its fins and twitch to show you sure to feed green water and rotifers until all the its great displeasure. fry can accept baby brine shrimp. Black bands will initially be picky feeders. As usual, check with your local DNR to be Expect this! Usually you must start them with sure you can legally keep this fish. Black band live foods such as live blackworms, live brine sunfish are demanding and challenging, but the shrimp and live daphnia or bloodworms. They effort is well worth it. Try some! quickly learn to eat frozen food. Black bands Happy fishkeeping. rarely eat flake food and forget about pellets, which they will refuse to eat. Tony 9 By Staff Writers - www.liveaquaria. Reprinted from the May 2018 Raleigh Aquarium Society Newsletter Vol. 37 Issue 5 Assorted aquatic-related articles obtained from various information sources. Material presented is public use or copyrighted by author/organization and is listed when available. HH o o w w DoesDoes StressStress AffectAffect FF i i s s h h ? ?

tress is present in the lives of all living stress-related hormones or results in specific things and is the force that brings about physiological responses. Stressful events will physical change and adjustment. Small cause an increase in heart rate, blood pressure, amounts of stress can be harmless, or even blood sugar, and the release of cortisol. Stress can Sbeneficial, but high levels of stress or prolonged be physical, psychological, or environmental. periods of low stress can create severe health Stress can either be short and sudden, or long and problems. Many people are aware of stress in chronic. Mild short-term stress has few effects, their own lives and can name many of the causes but severe long-term stress leads to illness or death. as well as possible treatments. However, the stress The effect stress has that affects fish is different and much more widespread. on a fish's health The nature of keeping aquatic species in confined environments generates many stresses that are Short-term stress will cause an increase in unique to aquarium fish. To be successful in heart rate, blood pressure, and respiration. The keeping healthy aquarium fish, you need to know fish is reacting much as we do with the fight or what causes stress in fish as well as how to prevent flight mode. Fish can only maintain these altered it. Elevated stress levels are at the root of most states for a short period of time and then they health problems in fish. will adapt or the stress will become chronic. Stress is accompanied by the release of the hormone What is stress? cortisol, which is responsible for many of the Stress is any condition that causes physical negative health effects associated with stress. In or mental discomfort that results in the release of addition to having a negative effect on growth, 10 reproduction, and digestion, chronic stress will also of the stress and its type of treatment, it can lead lower the ability of the immune system to respond to illness or death. effectively and fully. This lowered immune response The causes of stress is what allows parasites, bacteria, and fungi to infect a stressed fish. Depending on the duration There are dozens of potential stresses to fish, but common causes are:

• Elevated ammonia • Improper salinity • Inadequate tank size • Elevated nitrate • Low oxygen levels • Overstocking of tank • Improper pH level • Harassment from other • Medications and water • Fluctuations in tempera- fish treatments ture • Lack of hiding places • Improper nutrition

Elevated levels of ammonia, nitrite, and level, they have to work harder to maintain their nitrate all create deterioration in fish health due to osmotic gradient, which generates chronic stress. stress. High levels can cause severe stress, Oxygen levels that are below recommended whereas slightly elevated levels can contribute to levels can cause fish to 'breathe' faster than chronic stress. pH levels that change abruptly optimum and this can result in chronic stress. cause acute stress and continually elevated or Obviously, very low oxygen levels can lead to lowered pH levels can cause chronic stress. Many severe short-term stress and death. fish adapt to long-term changes, but there are Harassment from other fish and lack of limits. pH changes of more than 1.5 points below hiding spaces go hand in hand. There should be or above recommended levels are going to have a two suitable hiding spaces for every fish in the negative effect over time and should never be tank, otherwise there are going to be fish that are considered acceptable. stressed and bullied. Remember that, unlike their Temperature fluctuations are a much environment in the wild, these fish are confined underappreciated stressor of fish. Most tropical and cannot get away from aggressors. Aggression freshwater and marine fish do not tolerate is a very real problem in many tanks that leads to temperature changes very well. Many tanks that many injuries, infections, and death. Overstocking are not set up properly will have over the of the tank is a common problem that contributes recommended maximum of one degree of to almost all of the stresses in the above list, from temperature fluctuation in a 24-hour period due water pollution to oxygen depletion to harassment. to room temperature, lights, and equipment. The Do not overstock your tanks. If you want daily fluctuations will create chronic stress as will to stress your fish, put too many in the tank and having a too low or too high temperature in the it will happen every time. tank for the species of fish present. wild fish live If you add something to the water to treat within very specific salinity levels (levels of salt a disease or water condition, be aware that it can in the water). Their bodies work hard to maintain be stressful to your fish. Try to avoid treating the the osmotic gradient between themselves and their water if at all possible and always use a quarantine environment. If their environmental salinity is or treatment tank. Copper is an excellent treatment not specific to their needs and is not held at a steady for ich or velvet, but it can be toxic and stressful 11

to fish. Of course, using it is much better than let- through the collector, exporter, importer, wholesaler, ting a fish die from velvet, but it should never be and retailer to your tank. Throughout this used in a tank with healthy fish. process they may be exposed to drastic changes

Improper nutrition is also a commonly in temperature, ammonia, pH, salinity, diet, overlooked stressor of fish. Many fish can live on medications etc. They often do not eat and arrive minimal nutrition with old or stale flake foods, but at your tank completely stressed. If they are not this poor nutrition is a chronic stress. A variety of handled very carefully and are not placed in an well-preserved dry foods as well as freeze-dried, optimum environment, their stress is going to fresh, and frozen foods specifically designed for continue and they will get sick and die. The reason individual species are necessary to prevent that this stress is listed last is not because it is the chronic nutritional stress. least important, but because it is the most significant. Disturbing the tank through banging on You need to understand all the stress factors the glass, constantly netting fish, or rearranging and how to eliminate them because these fish décor stresses fish and should be kept to the that arrive at your tank have been exposed to all necessary minimum. There is probably nothing of the listed stresses. The unfortunate truth is that that stresses fish more than bringing them from the majority of fish mortalities occur at or near the wild or an aquaculture pond through the the time of entering a new tank and only through wholesaler to your home. In just a few days, the an appreciation of stress and its effect on fish can fish will be captured, held, packaged, shipped, this problem be prevented. sorted, handled, packaged again, and so on 12

How to eliminate stress Spend extra time on the new fish and be as careful as you can. Taking a little time here can make all while it is impossible to eliminate all the difference in breaking the chronic stress cycle stress, we have the ability to limit or prevent and keeping these fish healthy and disease free. many of the causes. Acute stress is more obvious Stress is one of the most critical factors in fish and needs to be addressed very quickly. Chronic health. Only by understanding the effects that stress is often not visible. It can take weeks and stress has on fish, as well as being able to identify months to develop. Your fish may appear to be and prevent common stresses, can we eliminate doing fine, until one day one gets sick and dies, this problem. and then a few weeks later another one does and so on. If you have fish that are getting sick and As aquarists, we need to be responsible dying, there is probably a source of stress on for the health and welfare of all of our fish. them that needs to be identified and remedied. Provide the highest quality water, nutrition, and The other big source of stress is bringing suitable tank environment. Introduce new fish new fish into your aquarium. Buy only from the carefully and always use a quarantine or treatment most reputable sources that move the fish in the tank when necessary. If we work hard to reduce most careful and humane manner. Acclimate your the stress in our fish, we can virtually eliminate new fish properly, use a quarantine tank, and disease and health problems in our aquarium. make sure your new fish are fed appropriately. 13 Anthony P. Kroeger - BAS

Marine Angelfish - Part 1 BIG! BOLD! BEAUTIFUL!

THE EMPEROR ANGELFISH Pomacanthus imperator

That’s the Sri Lanka and over to the Philippines. first reaction Emperors grow to about 14” inches as Wow!most people adults. Both adults and juveniles are stunning, say when they see an emperor angelfish. This is a but have completely different color patterns. real showstopper in your aquarium. Juveniles are deep blue with white and light blue Given proper care, emperor angels make shooting target shaped concentric bands covering good aquarium inhabitants. But expect to pay the flanks of the fish. high prices for this angelfish. Adults have a turquoise blue or purple Native to a wide area of the Indo-Pacific, main body color on the flanks and neon yellow emperors occur from East Africa to the Red Sea to lines that extend upwards from the shoulder 14

through the dorsal and anal fins and to The mask and gill cover parts are lined the caudal peduncle. The tail is solid ca- in a wide turquoise blue stripe. The gill nary yellow. The snout is cream color. cover ends in a long blue spike. The nape is a honey gold/green color. A The pectoral fin rays are black. larger vertical black patch extends from Anal fin is black with a blue longitudinal the gill cover edge forward and down to stripe and edged in blue. The dorsal is the belly and anal fin, both of which are yellow posteriorly, blue; at the base with also black. A wide black mask extends canary yellow striping and topped with over the fish’s eyes (which are also black) a snow white edge. Emperor angels are and down in a thin stripe to connect stunning! with the black on the throat and belly.

So how do you keep this beautiful fish? superb water quality. No nitrites or Emperors are large fish and need ammonia is tolerated. Keep nitrates room. A 55-gallon tank would be minimum very low too. Salinity 1.020 to 1.024. for a juvenile, a 180-gallon tank for an adult. Temperature from 74˚ to 82˚F is fine. A large capacity power or canister I change 25% of their water weekly. filter is mandatory. Emperors require Cover their tank. 15

Juveniles emperor angelfish

Emperors are peaceful fish. I have never veggie) more than one time per week. had emperors cause problems for other fish. But do I also feed this fish both onion and garlic not put two emperors of the same size together greens, which most emperors seem to like and unless you watch them extremely closely for bell peppers sprinkled with cinnamon. This signs of aggression. In nature, this fish lives in improves their color. Not all will eat the latter, pairs. But in the aquarium it is hard to find a but many will eat it with gusto. Failure to vary compatible pair. You can keep a juvenile and an this angel’s diet will result in head and lateral adult together...usually. Normally I just keep line erosion. Skin deterioration from pitting over adults alone. Emperors are not reef tank safe. the eyes and forehead and down the lateral line Emperors must have a wide variety of will occur. This pitting can spread very quickly. foods to survive. Feed varied high quality flakes, Altering the fish’s diet to include a drastically pellets and frozen foods. Marine angel sponge greater variety of food and massive partial water diets are beneficial. This angel also needs fresh changes will usually heal the pitting, although greens daily. Lettuce alone is neither good or suf- this process is very slow. ficient for them. I feed mine a wide variety of Fed well and given clean water and room greens including kale, romaine lettice, green emperor angels are fairly hardy fish. beans, spinach, mashed peas, swiss chard and For a real show piece, an emperor angel is beet greens, spirulina flakes and tablets, the hard to beat! freeze dried marine algae products; caleurpa. I Happy marine fish keeping. change this fish’s food every day and never feed them the same food (whether flake, pellet or Tony 16 Lee Van Hyfte - EIAS Reprinted from Fin Flap, August 2017 the publication of the Eastern Iowa Aquarium Society Breeding the Brunei Beauty: My path to Betta enlightenment Betta macrostoma

Growing up in the aquarium dream of even owning this found it rather difficult to find hobby, I had seen many species, let alone breeding it. I them from a reliable source. I photos of Betta macrostoma in books. That was as close watched prices for many years was finally able to make the as it was to come. Many and just could not stomach the plunge and invested $210 to thought them extinct and yet $500/pr price tags that were obtain a young adult trio from a others just knew the fact involved. Over the years, breeder on Aquabid. I gauged that they were a protected the prices began to come down the quality of the breeder by his species, protected and restricted by the Sultan as captive breeding and a continu- other fish he was offering as of Brunei, forbidding ous flow of imports began to captive bred. collection with risk of fulfill the demand. So, on a cold day in imprisonment. In 2015, I set my mind to November when the trio arrived, Over the past 10-12 finally obtaining one of my dream I was quite worried as they were years, there have been imported fish, the Brunei Beauty. I began sluggish and cold. I let them rest wild fish coming in from Borneo, seeking sources for quality fish; I before evening, seeking to which finally fulfilled my kept on missing the mark and attempt my drip acclimation 17 procedure. I had already this until I finally gave in and mouth brooding for 28-31 days. prepped the aquarium weeks offered a high quality flake food I feel the loss of spawn is due to before arrival in order to give as I was simply running out of metabolism and weight loss of them a comfortable home. options and they seemed to be the males. Another key ingredient The 15-gallon tank starving. It was to my great is 10% daily water changes. You contained Java Fern, Java Moss, confusion that they took flake might ask why, but it is simple - 2 chunks of Malaysian drift- with strong intensity. I knew I as they come from small wood and 3 small flowerpots. I could not breed them on flake rainforest streams. Local rains ran 2 small sponge filters, a foods but at least I could begin are abundant and flush the entire heater in the aquarium and had moving forward. ecosystem almost daily. The a very tight fitting lid, as Betta I had finally managed to water must be very soft and species are very gifted jumpers. get them strong and switched quite acid; using straight RO water was very soft 95% RO over to a more favorable diet for water daily dropped the total water with 5% tap of 550ppm. I breeding. I was still unable to dissolved solids to 25ppm. The had also added tetra black water trigger the spawn I was so water was the color of tea, extract and some almond and desperate for. After a conversation assuming the pH was very low, red oak leaves to obtain the with my good friend ward but I did not have an accurate black water that they needed to wester, I was educated on the reading to assess the pH. produce. proper breeding procedure. As these efforts progressed, I began to very slowly Essentially, I had found out that I found increasing aggression drip acclimate the fish over a everything on the Internet was particularly in the females, period of 2 days. I also did disinformation. There are though the male would join in conductivity matching, as my boundless amounts of useless on occasion. One female became parameters were too far off information, unless you are trying dominant and began to show from the shipping water to do a to prevent the competition from interest in the male. Observations of simple drip. I used RO right ever succeeding. spawning behavior began with powder to obtain the equal The breeding parameters a courtship dance and vibrant reading, as I did not want the and procedure are as follows colors in the male and the female high pH of my tap to grossly and many I have found are key took on 2 horizontal stripes. influence the fish. elements of production as the I have observed a few Once acclimated, I added fathers are notoriously bad things worth remarks: the female them to the aquarium and began about eating the spawns. The would often breed and collect my struggle. The first hurdle I absolute key to success is up any eggs that she could then had to jump was getting them temperature, 74˚F to be precise. offer them to the male. If he to eat. There was a lot of cover Odd, considering their range hesitated, she would suck them in the aquarium and did not and as it turns out, it is a matter back into her mouth, a commonly want lost food contaminating of altitude and deep shade of found behavior in mouth breeding the water. The fish remained the Borneo rain forests. I feel bettas I have worked with. In shy and quite resistant to my this lower temperature is critical addition, at the end of the normal fodder of Hikari brine due to the period of starvation spawning activity, the female as shrimp and bloodworms. I battled that the male must incur while well as the male would have a 18 mouth full of eggs. I am assuming passed and, after 2 weeks, the of hierarchy, they did quite well at this point that the male exceeded fry had developed orange color together. I feel this was an effect of capacity of the full spawn, he and black stripes. I continued with population density distributing would take to cover at this time this natural method for 3 consec- the aggression amongst a and she would carry the eggs utive spawns. I found 30-40 fry greater number. They are quite for about 24-48 hours before eating of varying ages, though the slow to sex out and it took 6 them. spawns seemed to be having lower months of age to sex them with well, I had struck gold survival rates. any consistency. The key indicator success at last, short lived as the As I was still learning, I is the dorsal spot that is only male hid for about 6 days before figured out not only were the present on a male. An interesting eating the spawn. Argh, I was older fry cannibalizing on their observation that was remarked so close, but to no avail. About 2 much smaller siblings, so was upon by was the Mike Hellweg weeks had passed and it was up the subordinate female. My time of first spawns. wild to round two. This second guess is that even the dominant caught fish often take 2 years to spawn was successful though I female did this as well. I removed breed, F1s 18 months, F2s 12 did not know it. The male had all the juvenile fry and the months, and I am finding the F3 disappeared into deep cover for subordinate female to a grow-out to breed as young as 8 months. I about 3 weeks. I admittedly was tank, and she sadly did pick will make the assumption here panicking. He came forward finally, off a couple of the smaller juveniles. that the ones that would try to horribly pale in color and with a I moved the adult pair breed then further passed the mouth full. He carried them for into their own 33-gallon long genes down the line with each an additional 10 days until he aquarium to give the male more generation adapting to the released the spawn. I did not peace and quiet and to make it aquarium. see any fry, however, and easier to provide a barrier to the This has been a great thought I was at strike two. I dominant female after breeding. adventure for me, going from a had been providing glass worms as I found that she would be ready dream fish to a reality. They are the season allowed and seeking to breed after 2 weeks and the phenomenal parents and I find to pump up the male for round 3. male after 31 days. I did not wish them much less work than their Iwas just making some observations for him to starve and rebreed as bubble-nesting cousins, as Macs, one evening with a flashlight in he had done before. The female as we call them, are prone to the dark tank. I thought to myself would also harass the male natural methods of production. those glass worms looked rather about 2 weeks into the brooding All in all, take a stab at your odd; much to my delight and in order to breed yet again. On a dream fishes and have fun with surprise, I had fry! They were few occasions, he swallowed the them. If you give them love they hiding near bottom at the edges brood and rebred the female to will show you a great reward. of the Java moss. start all over again. God Bless and I began feeding baby The juveniles grow fast KEEP IT FISHY, brine shrimp in the adult tank for the first 3-4 months, then because I was fearful to remove greatly taper off growth. I found the fry as the father was already them easy to feed and though Lee holding a 3rd spawn. Time there were a few skirmishes 19 Joe Graffagnino - BAS First pubished in Aquatica January/February 2009 Vol. 22 No. 3 Articles from the files worth reading again THE COLUMBIAN TETRA CHALLENGE Breeding Hyphessobrycon columbianus

y friend, and fellow fish nut, Bob DeBonis, acquired a group of eight Columbian tetras. This is a very beautiful large tetra that has a blue and silver body with red dorsal and tail fins. This species of tetra is somewhat rare in the hobby and, from what Bob has told me, not that Measy to breed. He asked if I would want to try to get them to spawn. I could not resist a challenge so I said “sure, why not?”I have been fortunate in breeding fish species, but this has been with cichlids and catfish. I have little experience with tetras or on the bare bottom to support a plastic mesh Characins of any kind. I thought this may not be screen that would be approximately 3 inches off an easy task, but I was determined to try. I set them the bottom. Above the screen would be some Java up in a 10-gallon high [H x L x w] tank with moss and artificial yarn mops that I use for killie driftwood, almond leaves and jammed the tank fish spawns. I figure that the tetras would scatter with java moss. I figured that this would be a their eggs over the moss and yarn and that some good holding tank while I set up a breeding tank. eggs, if not most, would fall thru the screen onto I had planned on using a 10-gallon long [H x L x w] the bare glass bottom. Once through the screen, the aquarium that would have small clay flower pots spawning group would not be able to eat the eggs. 20

A little history on this I removed the breeding group species: they come from Columbia, They are a and placed them into a 35-gallon South America (hence their schooling fish aquarium with the same type name). They grow to a length of of water and environment 2 – 3 inches, and their water that enjoys its conditions, except for the Java conditions are hardness own company. moss and mops. I want to raise of 6 – 15 dH, a pH of 6 – 7 and They will eat just the brood that exists and not a temperature range of 75˚ – 81˚F have multiple broods occurring (24˚ – 27˚ degrees Celsius). about anything – in several tanks. I left the fry in They are a schooling fish that flakes, frozen the original tank and feed them enjoys its own company. They food, freeze frozen baby brine shrimp and will eat just about anything – frozen rotifers. I also feed them flakes, frozen food, freeze dried dried or crushed plant flakes and live or live food (especially black live food vinegar eels. The fry grow fast. worms). They scatter their eggs (especially I believe that the parents will over the bottom and in the plants. eat the eggs recently laid but These beautiful fish black worms). not eat the hatched fry. This were full grown at 2 3/4- 3 may not be true with the larger inches long and tall by tetra siblings, as they may try to standards. The breeding envi- munch on their younger brothers ronment was 6.2 pH, with a and sisters. I will remove the water temperature of 80˚F. I larger fry and place them started performing my weekly into a small tank. This allows water changes and noticed the small ones to rapidly something darting across the gain size while keeping the bottom of the tank. The breeding larger ones in a holding tank. group stays at the top and when the fry are similar middle of the tank. Looking sizes, I place them with the closer at the bottom of the tank original group. I noticed several tetra fry of Columbian tetras are different sizes. This means a very beautiful and interesting that the tetras have been laying eggs for some fish to raise and breed. They will eat just about time in this tank. I think that the most interesting anything and get along with other fish their size. point on breeding fish is what makes them They may bully and fin nip smaller fish. These fish comfortable enough to breed in an artificial environment. would be a welcome addition to any community Good, high quality foods, regular and consistent water aquarium. To enhance their colors, keep them in changes, along with an established aquarium well-planted aquariums and feed foods that are environment that suits the particular needs of the high in beta-carotene, a natural color enhancer. species of fish you’re working with, will bring a Get some Colombian tetras and enjoy them! successful spawning of the fish species (most times). Joe 21 Anthony P. Kroeger - BAS

Bumblebees in Your Aquarium BUZZ! BUZZ! BUZZ! The Bumblebee Goby Brachygobius xanthozona ne word describes fin is black. Bumblebees the bumblebee have a typical pelvic goby: Cute! sucker disc. I remember Bumblebees are fun to theO first time I saw one stuck keep! A 10-gallon tank is on the glass of an aquarium fine for 6 to 8 of them. A at F.w woolworth ( bottom fish, they hop Yeah around but will stick on I’ve been in the hobby a long ). I just had to have it! I the glass and plants too, time was 9 years old at the time sometimes even head and had no idea how to down! Bumblebees’ antics Although bred in the care for it. So I went to the li- are fun to watch! Give them a aquarium, almost all specimens brary and read up on it. Today sponge or small power filter, offered for sale are wild caught you can find bumblebee sand, roots, plants and mystery imports. Every aquarium store information online. snail shells to live in. carries bumblebees at relatively Bumblebees are awesome Give them hard alkaline cheap prices. little fish! Native to the brackish water. pH 7.4+. Keep the temperature Color is simple; black waters of most of Southeast at 78 to 84˚F and add 1 tsp of and yellow bumblebee stripes, Asia, they are usually exported Kosher salt per 2 to 3-gallons of very pretty in its simplicity. to the aquarium trade from water. Change 30% of their Some male specimens are orange Bangkok. Bumblebees are small water weekly. They are best kept and black striped rather than yellow. fish, never exceeding alone or with other peaceful 3 Anal, dorsal and interior caudal about 1 ⁄4” inches. brackish fish, such as glassfish, 22 mollies and celebes rainbow followed by baby brine shrimp. them. Bumblebees are very fish. Cover their tank; bumble- Bumblebees are kind of susceptible to ick, a disease which bees can jump if they want to. grouchy amongst themselves. usually kills them. Bumblebees are Bumblebees’ worst fault They chase each other out of sensitive to all ick dye medications, is that they’re picky eaters, at except methylene blue. If least at first. Feed them tubifex, your bumblebees catch ick, live blackworms, mosquito lar- raise their water tempera- vae, brine shrimp. Eventually ture to 90 F and add a half ˚ most will learn to eat micro-pellets. dose of methylene blue. Forget flakes! Most bumblebees Never use copper on bum- will starve to death first! blebees it will kill them. Bumblebees spawn in Bumblebees are awesome, mystery snail shells (empty, fun fish; plain and simple. of course!) or under small stones. their small territories, but no Try some today! The male is more colorful and damage is really ever done. Happy fishkeeping. guards and fans the eggs. Fry Be sure to keep your are very tiny and need rotifers bumblebees warm. Never chill Tony John Todaro - BAS SPECIES PROFILE

Eggs are laid in small nooks and Scientific Name:Bumblebee Brachygobius Goby. xanthozona. cranniesBreeding: add ceramic tubes or coconut Common Name:Thailand and Vietnam in shallow shells or empty snail shells.when ready to Distribution:brackish estuaries, rivers and streams. breed, females will become noticeably 6.5 - 7. swollen with eggs and males will start to pH Range: 79˚ - 82˚F. show more intense coloration. Adding fresh Temperature Range:18 - 215 ppm. water can help start the breeding. Males Water3 Hardness: 1⁄4 inches. guard the eggs, or you can move the male Size: Very peaceful. Not the best fish for a to a separate container communityTemperament: tank; they are easily outcompeted for food. Fry are extremely small; make sure Males are more slender than females youNotes: have an infusoria culture ready to go Sexing:and brighter coloration. for them to consume at first. Carnivores. Live foods likeDiet: brine shrimp, blackworms Aquariadice.comReference: or grindal worms. 23 Rick Renfro - MAS Reprinted from the Darter November/December 2017 Vol. 43 No. 6 The official publication of the Missouri Aqurium Society

Snails in the Aquarium

very one seems to have an on the lights, sitting down to Eopinion about snails in look at your fish and seeing ponds and aquariums: hundreds of snails all over the “They take over your aquarium. In my tanks I probably tank, once they are in your tank have around a thousand ram’s you will never get them out!” horn snails, and maybe the “They add too much same number of Malaysian biomass and too unhealthy, etc…” Trumpet snails, though they I have two of the “hated” hide in the substrate so it is three types of snails, the hard to tell. Malaysian trumpet snail, the I do feed what some may ram’s horn snail, and the pond feel is too much, which supports or bladder snail. I raise and sell a large population of snails. I red ram’s horn snails, but never colony breed guppies, keep nine knew much about them. species of , and have corydoras The main reason people two types of The Ancistrus. don’t want snails in their tank guppies are always dropping fry, seems to be because it is nearly everyone who has had one of so I am feeding a lot of different impossible to completely con- these species in their tanks has sized livebearers along with the trol them, and most likely had the experience of turning catfish, and a large population 24 of snails. Snails can and do eat a As a critical part of the magnesium dissolved in the lot if food is available. clean-up crew, snails are a major aquarium water. As more of what are these creatures aide to the cleanliness and these chemicals are dissolved in and what is their role, good or stability of my tanks. My large the water, the higher the alkalinity bad, in nature as well as the tank is heavily planted, though of the water, making it hard. aquarium? what are the benefits I rarely find a decaying leaf or Conversely, the lack of dissolved of having these animals in your stem in this tank. I never see a minerals causes water to become aquarium or pond? Is there any dead fish, though this is a heavily more acidic, more soft. when way to control them? Are they loaded guppy tank and sometimes attempting to raise or lower the useful as part of a clean-up crew? pH of the water in a tank, some Ramshorn snails are in “Never doubt people use chemicals that the family of temporarily change the levels. Planorbidae (ramshorn snails) in the class the courage This method is quick and causes (snails & slugs) an of the French. wide variation in the pH of the Gastropoda grouped with the water, which is not healthy for “pulmonate” They were snails, because they breathe air the one who fish or invertebrates. The use of by means of an organ that is like additives like crushed coral, a lung, so they do not breathe discovered crushed oyster shell, cuttle bone, water with gills. that snails and Argonite tend to maintain a There are various species are edible. more consistent alkaline pH, and of ramshorn, but the snails that ” this consistent buffering benefits are most popular in the aquarium Larson snails that are growing their hobby are the American Doug shells. Softening is much more ramshorn snail, also called the difficult and the methods to do red ram’s horn snail, that is said this are volatile and require to originate in Florida. A fish go missing. The snails are intense monitoring, but that is ramshorn found in local streamsis efficient and make short work another article. black and could come into aquariums of decaying organic matter in There are actually three as little bitty eggs on new the tank. In the wild, these oxygen transport systems typical aquarium plants. animals serve the same role by in snails. The first two oxygen These species of snails consuming the waste that settles transport systems are a red are mostly herbivorous, eating to the bottom of the stream or hemoglobin bound to blood decaying plant matter though lake, and also serve as a nutritious cells and a clear myoglobin also they are opportunistic feeders food source for larger invertebrates in the hemolymph, a liquid in should they come upon a dead and fish. the invertebrate that contacts all creature. I have never seen one Snails absorb calcium the cells of the animal. Most eat a live healthy plant, though carbonate in the water while living, snails rely primarily on the third they do eat live algae. Mostly and release it when their shells transport system, hemocyanins, they are either sifting through decay. water hardness is an as a transporter for oxygen. the substrate, or scraping the expansive subject, but it is basically Hemocyanin is not bound to glass for algae. the amount of calcium and blood cells but suspended in the 25 hemolymph, These hemocyanins cause widespread malfunction water bottle containing a wafer bind one molecule of oxygen of the animals’ systems. and a rock in the tank and let between two copper molecules that sit overnight. to facilitate its movement. The Before I finished this blue/black color in most ramshorn article, I found on MASI’s is from these oxygenated Buy/Sell facebook site a hemocyanins, that otherwise are discussion about ridding a tank colorless when lacking oxygen of snails. A product “No-Planaria” when they have reverted to a state was recommended that is a nut of only two copper molecules. palm extract and is supposedly The red ramshorn is red safe for fish and snails but will because their blood contains kill snails and planaria in 72 primarily the hemoglobin similar hours. Such chemicals are another to human hemoglobin that is option, there are many products rich in iron instead of copper. that advertise that they will kill They also have the hemocyanins I added Osmocote capsules snails but are safe for fish. but it is less predominant in the containing a small amount of Some people throw excess red types. copper to fertilize my plants in my snails into the trash, some feed Here are a couple of large planted tank and almost them to snail eating fish, I sell tested methods to control the wiped out the Malaysian trumpet mine on and the MASI AquaBid snail population in an aquarium. snails, most of the common auctions. So far I have shipped One effective control in a planted ram’s horn (black) snails, and snails to Missouri, wisconsin, tank is the use of fertilizers that all of my mystery snails. The washington, Michigan, west contain copper, which is poison red ram’s horns essentially were Virginia, Maryland, Min- to the invertebrates that rely on unaffected. Aside from completely nesota, and Tennessee, and hemocyanin to transport oxygen. cleaning out your tank, using all along with the MASI auctions, The reason copper is so toxic to new substrate, new filters, and snails have paid for my pre- invertebrates is that their systems only tissue cultured plants, you mium fish food from Brine are designed to easily uptake probably won’t completely rid , one of our club Shrimp Direct copper. Copper is scarce in the your tank of all snails for sponsors and suppliers of amaz- wild and their systems have good, though I don’t know why ing food that gets results. developed to be extremely efficient you would want to. To harvest Remember, almost at taking in copper, but have no my red ramshorns, I bait them everything that your tanks system to guard against taking with algae wafers. They mob produce has value to someone in too much. They also lack the the wafers and I easily pick in this hobby. ability to expel an overabundance them up with a net or with my of the metal. The presence of high hand. The snails are neutrally levels of copper in any animal is buoyant and easily float out of toxic and to these snails, high your hand so I mostly use a levels quickly damage cells and small net. Sometimes I put a cut 26 Anthony P. Kroeger - BAS GUPPY PLAGUE/AIDS A Commercial Perspective: Part 1

r namental aquarium fish import/export breeding and distribution have been my career for decades now. During this time I believe I’veO encountered most if not all ornamental fish diseases. Fancy guppies are one of the most popular fish I deal with in high volume on a weekly basis. Fancy guppies also present me with one of the most puzzling “diseases” problems on a regular basis, that being what is euphemistically known in the trade as guppy “plague” or AIDS.” This discussion/article will look at what my observations have been regarding this problem, In Part 2, I will discuss my experiments and treatment protocols for it. I am not an aquatic veterinarian, virologist or anything of the sort. My opinions are based upon my personal experiences as an importer/breeder in dealing with this problem. The two major questions to be answered in part 1 are: #1 What causes this a highly contagious, extremely exclusive to guppies. I have problem? fast acting virus that either experienced similar problems totally or mainly collapses an with Angelfish (known in the #2 How can I tell if infected fish’s immune system trade as “angelplague/pox”) my guppies have for a period of 72 to 96 hours, and oddly enough a relatively plague/AIDS? post infection. similar phenomenon with Ever present secondary longfin serpae tetras only. More bacterial infections take advantage conjecture on this a bit later. #1 of this immune system collapse How do I draw these To my knowledge, no and rapidly kill most or all infected conclusions? Let me explain. On fish during this brief time a normal week, I import thou- one has conclusively identified frame, resulting in close to 100% sands of guppies of multiple the causative agent of this problem. mortality rates at times. strains, usually my guppies I personally believe it is viral in I believe this virus is not come from Singapore and nature. I believe the agent to be 27

Malaysia, and occasionally the cover with masking from Thailand and Indonesia. tape to avoid any water “Plague/AIDS” in my splash transfer. experience is most prevalent in I am unsure if this Singapore imports, but all problemcan be transfered countries’ fish have come down aerially. I believe this to with it at times. be a virus as I have yet There is no doubt in my to find any medication mind that this problem is highly that works on it. Nothing suffer worse fatalities from contagious. A single infected fish works in my experience. Only secondary badterial pressures. In will contaminate all susceptible viruses do not respond to my experience, blue delta fish housed with it within 12 hours medications, hence my conviction guppies of any type always with mortalities occurring within on this point. suffer the greatest mortalities, 24 hours. Mortalities peak at 49 - 60 I do not believe it is the followed by green deltas of any hours post infection; fish alive virus itself that is fatal to the kind. The longfin connection after 96 hours usually survive. fish, but rather the aggressive, applies to angels and longfin “Plague/AIDS” can certainly be opportunistic secondary bacterial serpaes as well. Shortfin angels transfered by direct fish to fish infections which follow the actual are susceptible, but losses are contact. But it is also transmittable plague/AIDS infection. always less than veils. Longfin through infected tank water. As I firmly believe this virus serpaes have problems, but in temporarily, totally or my experience regular serpaes mainly collapses the are immune. fish’s immune system; Some Malaysian guppy death follows when strains seem to be totally immune the fish cannot fight to this problem. “Yellow tequila” off bacteria in its guppies from Malaysia are totally environment during immune. I have never seen this the temporary immune problem in them or lost one to system collapse. this problem in over a decade of Some strains of importing them. an experiment, I took a teacup guppies (and other fish) are All yellow or white of water from an infected tank much more susceptible to this guppy strains show at least and poured it into an uninfected virus, in my experience. Delta some resistance. Gold cobra, tank. within 24 hours all guppies guppies of any strain are much red/blond, 1/2 black/white, in the previously uninfected tank more susceptible than, say, 1/2 black yellow all show were ill and initial mortalities double/single sword strain or moderate resistance. were occurring. Any nets, lesser finnaged fish. I have had As an experiment, I equipment, etc., used in an problems with such fish after crossed Malaysian “yellow infected tank can easily transfer intentional exposure, but the tequila” with 1/2 black/yellow this problem. when I observe effects were much more minimal. deltas. The resulting fry were this problem, I immediately seal Long finned fish definitely 28 immune and showed no fish refuse to eat. effects even when Initial mortalities occur intentionally exposed. after 24 hours. Any fish in which I believe introducing the black discoloration reaches genes from “tequila the caudal peduncle is doomed. yellow” guppies into Destroy it! There is no recovery suitable strains would if the caudal peduncle is infected. provide some immunity Fish develop a tail down posture to this problem. Black once degeneration starts. of bacterial infection) will be strains also show some Once fin rays are exposed, noticeable on either the upper resistance, especially 3/4 the fish no longer “clump” together. or lower caudal fin edge or the black, as long as no blue or Movement is erratic, usually dorsal saddle, that is the base of green genetics are involved. stationary, sometimes on the the dorsal fin, not the dorsal fin Standard 3/4 black show substrate. I am unsure what itself. This black discoloration almost as much immunity bacteria causes this fin destruction, expands exponentially inward as “tequila yellow” but not but I do know that normal toward the caudal fin base in a quite. In my experience, bacteria which causes fin rot in relatively in-line swath. In other “tequila yellow” is completely other hi-fin fish (Ex. lyretail words, it does not expand outward immune. hi-fin swordtails) always has a covering a wider area of finage white leading margin. That is not in width. Rather it makes a bee- the case in guppy plague/AIDS. #2 line towards the caudal peduncle. There the leading edge is always At this stage the fish still eats. black; a white margin will How can I tell if my within 18 hours, the sometimes trail the black leading guppies have plague/AIDS? black areas become transparent. Infected guppies initially edge but never lead the black Rapid complete fin exhibit what I call “shimmying edge. Perhaps the standard fin degeneration now occurs. Finnage anchovy” behavior. They rot bacteria follows the black between rays disintegrates, leaving shimmy all ”clumped” together edge? That appears to me to be exposed fin rays. If infected at in a bunch in an upper corner the case on occasion. the dorsal saddle, degeneration (near the surface) of the aquarium. Any black discoloration works its way out from the dorsal Fins are clamped, but no signs on the caudal or dorsal saddle base. Once fin rays are exposed, of disease are evident. No indicates an impending outbreak itching/scratching, but of guppy plague/AIDS usually. movements are darting or In the next issue of Aquatica exaggerated in nature. The fish (January/February), we will look will eat at this ”clamping at some of my experimental stage.” All infected fish will treatments,some successful, “clump” together initially. some not. within 6 to 12 hours of initialization of this behavior, ony black discoloration (indicative T 29 MarineAndReef.com Newsletter #174 May 17th, 2018 Reprinted from Marine and Reef online Newsletter

UV Sterilizer Trouble shooting Guide The typical first step when a UV does not appear to be working is to replace the bulb. This is not a bad first step, especially if it’s been a year or more since the bulb was last replaced. However, it is not always the most logical first step and quite often it doesn’t solve the problem.

for several years. If your lamp does not turn on, and ere is a recommended diagnostic it is old, it is a wise first step to try a replacement troubleshooting guide for when you suspect lamp as you will need a new lamp anyway (see your UV is not working properly. UV Sterilizer Replacement Lamp section). However, when you install the new lamp, if that H lamp does not light up, then there is a good 1) Does the UV Turn On? If the lamp does not turn on, then the problem is chance the problem is not the lamp. Very rarely either a bad lamp, bad wiring or a bad ballast. are new lamps defective. Sometimes customers : when determining if a lamp is working, tell us that they believe a new lamp must be bad NOTE never look at the UV lamp directly while it is on because it’s black inside and the lamp rattles. This as it will burn your pupils. Use the clear portion of is normal. The most popular UV manufacturers your sterilizer to tell whether the light is on or not. test every lamp before they leave the factory (and this results in the black smudges inside the lamp). The rattling is not an indication of a bad First Possibility: The Lamp is Bad. UV lamps need to be replaced yearly as by the end lamp as UV lamps have mercury balls inside that of the year they might have lost enough intensity help to produce the UV light. to no longer be effective, but they should light up 30

: If there is water flow, and it appears the UV is still Pro Tip when you replace a UV lamp, and the old lamp not doing the job, then it may be an issue of too still works, it’s a good idea to keep the old lamp much or too little water flow. without the correct until the next change. This way, if the new lamp amount of water flow going through the sterilizer, doesn’t work, but the old lamp works, you know then the sterilizer will not work properly. UV the problem is something other than the lamp. sterilizers require a very specific flow rate for optimal performance. If the lamp is good, then the problem is either Check the sterilizer’s recommended flow the wiring or the ballast rate in the manual and then check your pump. Too much flow though the sterilizer is more common Wiring. Bad wiring is usually obvious from visual inspection. than too little. Try to make sure the pump's GPH If you notice loose, discolored or broken wires or is close to the required GPH for your sterilizer. connectors, you should replace them. But keep in mind that the nominal flow and actual flow will never be the same due to head pressure, If you want a more exact measurement you can Ballast. The ballast or transformer for a UV sterilizer place the outlet hose from your sterilizer in a 1 usually lasts around 5 years. If you try a new gallon bucket and measure how long it takes to lamp and the wiring looks intact but your lamp fill it, then calculate the flow rate. Or you can use still won’t light up, then you most likely need a the Neptune Systems FMK Flow Monitoring Kit new ballast. Ballasts ensure that UV lamps receive to get an exact digital readout of the flow rate the correct amount of power and are necessary along with alerts when the flow rate changes. for a UV to function. we carry ballasts for most of the UVs we sell in the UV Sterilizer Replacement 3) Everything Appears To Be Working... Parts section. But It’s Not Working. If there is any water inside of the quartz In some cases the bulb lights up, the bulb is new, sleeve due to a broken quartz sleeve or bad gasket, and there is adequate water flow, but you are still then that is probably the problem. The water may not getting the desired result. It could be because have destroyed the lamp and the ballast. After you expect your UV sterilizer to do something it replacing the quartz sleeve and gasket as needed is not designed to do. Keep this in mind: (visit UV Sterilizer Replacement Parts for replacements), UV sterilizers only sterilize whatever passes and making sure everything is dry, you will need through the UV sterilizer. with algae, this is limited to replace the ballast or the bulb or both. to free floating algae. A sterilizer will not destroy algae growing on your rocks or substrate or clinging to the walls of your aquarium unless it is 2) Is There Adequate Water Flow? If water is going through the UV Sterilizer, and dislodged and passed through the sterilizer. To the bulb is newish and lighting up, but you are get algae into your sterilizer it helps to clean the not killing the free floating algae, then there is glass with an algae magnet. It’s the same with fish likely a problem with your pump or plumbing. diseases. To kill a parasite, it must pass through First, make sure the pump is not broken and your the sterilizer. UV sterilizers will not cure a sick fish. plumbing is not clogged. A UV will only help prevent the transmission of disease from a sick fish to the other fish in an aquarium. 31

Any time you change the amount of flow to Avoiding Future Problems. 5) It’s always best to prevent future problems rather your UV by changing the pump or plumbing you than waiting for them to occur. need to make sure you are still getting the recom- mended flow rate to your UV. Here Are Some Best Practices: Replace gaskets/o-rings. UV failure often occurs 1) Final Words: when the UV sterilizer leaks and water gets to the UV sterilizers are pretty simple devices and they bulb or the power supply electrical connection. we are the most effective way to destroy free floating have sections on our web site for UV Sterilizer algae and parasites. we are not trying to convince Replacement Parts, and we have replacement you otherwise. Just always keep in mind these gaskets/o-rings for the higher end units. Emperor three things and you will have more practical Aquatics has sets of gaskets/o-rings that include knowledge about UV sterilizers than 99% of o-rings for the inlet/outlet, while for Aqua aquarists: Ultraviolet and Lifegard Aquatics sell the quartz when you install a new bulb and it doesn't 1) sleeve gaskets. Quartz sleeve gaskets are the most light up, the problem is rarely the new bulb. This critical and should be replaced yearly. is especially true if the old bulb isn't lighting up. If you replace your quartz sleeve gasket every 2) As mentioned before, keep an old, working year, leakage will be very unlikely. 2) bulb around. That way, if your UV fails to light Pay close attention to the flow rate. Imagine 3) up, you will have a working bulb you can use to that the inside of your UV sterilizer is an oven. test the power supply. The wattage is the temperature and the flow rate is the equivalent of cooking time. when a UV Replace bulbs according to the manufacturer’s requires 300 GPH, it is the equivalent to a baking 3) recommendations. This is typically at least once a recipe telling you the cooking time. we all know year. However, if you are using your UV less what happens when you bake something for too than 100% of the time (with ponds, UVs are often little or too long--we don't get the desired result. not run in the winter), then your bulbs will last It's the same with a UV. longer.

At some point, it becomes hard to clean the Marineandreef.com 4) quartz sleeve. If light does not pass through the 1536 W. Todd, Suite A102 quartz sleeve, they are less efficient. we carry Tempe, AZ 85283 quartz sleeves for the UVs we sell in the UV Sterilizer Replacement Parts section. Toll Free: 877.878.9349 8-11:30 AM & 12:30-4 PM Mountain Time Monday through Friday. 32 Anthony P. Kroeger - BAS PHEW!

This Skunk Doesn’t Stink! The Skunk Cory - Corydoras Sp. CO2O Corydoras catfish are very popular in the aquarium hobby, and skunk corys are one of the most popular corys. Skunks are popular for good reasons; they are hardy, easy to keep, readily available, peaceful, cheap, colorful (for a cory), and fun to breed. What more can you ask of a good community fish?

1 kunk corys grow to about 2 ⁄2” inches caught and exported from Colombia. This cory and have a pink body, white belly and a also is found in Ecuador and Peru. broad black stripe from the mouth to the Keeping the Skunk cory is simplicity itself, Stail. This stripe curves over the upper even a 10-gallon tank will easily house a few body. Some specimens have a thin gold stripe specimens. Skunks love cory company, any cory extending from the snout to the tail over the nape company, so you can easily mix them with other on top of the black stripe. A very pretty cory, indeed. corys. All corys do best in small shoals of 4 to 6 Most specimens offered for sale are wild fish, so keep skunks with other skunks or other 33

cory “friends.” Completely peaceful, skunk corys their eyes at you and rooting happily in the are very hardy and are recommended for any substrate all day. All corys are fascinating to watch. community tank where they will not be eaten by Males are smaller, more colorful and much larger fish. No glass or sharp substrate in much less broad than females when viewed from their tank; it will damage their whiskers. above. Skunks breed in typical cory fashion. The You can use sand, rocks, roots, and plants spawning pair forms a T. The female taking the with a sponge filter or better yet a small power males sperm into her mouth and then proceeds to filter to make your skunks comfortable. a spawning site elsewhere, cleaning it and attach- Any tap water you can drink is fine to ing her sticky eggs and using the male’s sperm keep this cory in. Keep water temperature between 74 to fertilize them. Fry are easy to raise and eat and 78˚F. I change 50% of the water weekly. All baby brine shrimp initially. corys love massive water changes and are much A hardy, long lived fish - recommended more active after the changes. for beginners since they rarely fall ill. Skunk Skunks eat all foods offered, but love corys are awesome! Definitely not stinkers! Try worms (ex., bloodworms, black worms) best. some in your tank. Skunks have very interesting behaviors: Happy fishkeeping. ny rushing to the surface for a breath of air, rolling To 34 Lee Van Hyfte - EIAA Reprinted from Fin Flap, September 2017. The publication of Eastern Iowa Aquarium Association, Cedar Rapids, IA Breeding The Emperor Tetras Inpaichthys Kerri & Nematobrycon palmeri

I’ve been breeding the Emperor Tetra on and off for a number of years but I chose to try yet again and, put a little more effort and increase the numbers produced. Emperors would act as I always take the Inpaichthys kerri dither fish until mature. time to find choice stock Blue/Purple Emperor tetra so that I can try to control Unfortunately, I found the quality of offspring Emperors to be a poor produced. I take great pride dithers due to their predatory in a quality animal and it nature so the Apistos were took a fair bit of time to removed. This left the find healthy young animals group of 4 tetras alone in with which to breed. I the 10-gallon tank. have found over the years ● The water was kept at that, in breeding tetras, it 78-80˚F, with water is key to find young fish, parameters as follows: and optimally barely sex- ● pH was not assessed but able. Tetras as a whole are assumed to be low due to prone to infertility with use of RO water with almond age caused by being leaf and alder cones added reared in hard water and for tannins. TDS reading calcification of the ovaries Nematobrycon palmeri - Emperor tetra was 75 ppm accomplished in females. with RO water and the use pair out of 50 fish and brought of RO right, I added 1/4 tsp per I managed to find some them home. I began to grow out 10-gallons as is typical for my young wild caught brood stock that came from the the fish in a 10-gallon tank with Apisto breeding conditions. Wet Spot in . These fish met a few species in the Portland Oregon Apistogramma I had utilized a sand all of my mandatory criteria: aquarium. This would incidentally bottom for the Apistos and healthy, young, and colorful become a breeding tank much for kept conditions identical even at a young age. I selected 2 to my surprise. The growing both the Blue Emperor or King 35

Tetra and the Common Emperor. adults. I utilized a more natural but appeared to be more top I utilized Malaysian driftwood method for both species allow- oriented and in a perfect horizontal (my favorite for its high Tannin ing small numbers of fry to de- position, which is observed in release). Plants in the aquarium velop on their own in with the the Blue Emperor adults. were Java Moss and Java fern. parents. This is the point at which Feeding the adults was Both of these plants are ideal and Java moss and spawning mops Frequent feedings quite simple. will thrive on ambient light from become a critical ingredient to as- were provided of Baby Brine Shrimp, the room. Let me stress ambient sure production. Frozen Blood worms, and Frozen light, as many Tetra species’ eggs Brine Shrimp. I found particularly Fry develop utilizing and fry are sensitive to light and in the Blue Emperor that Baby microorganisms in the Java too high light could prove fatal and older spawning mops. Brine Shrimp (BBS) were a key moss to the offspring. That indeed is their first food element in production in the supply. It also serves as an excellent natural mode. If and when I The foundations of Quality zone for fry to escape from would back off on BBS supply, breeding were laid out. water and quality conditions predatory parents. Fry accept production numbers would were previously established. I freshly hatched baby brine shrimp steeply decline. I do not feel find that with both species if quite well and that provides an that BBS is a particular trigger maintained in a soft water planted adequate first food as well. I inasmuch as the parents were tank, offspring will appear with never observed spawning or egg simply too full to bother eating little intervention though the development due to utilizing a the fry, as well as supplying the production numbers will be natural method for production. young fish with a stronger food greatly diminished without I did notice episodes of aggression, supply. I would like to comment these parameters. Parents as well as particularly in the common that utilizing Grindal worms in other offspring will predate on Emperor often showing signs of particular is very effective to freshly hatched fry. I change injury, particularly to the females as induce ovarian development 50% of the water with aged RO well as substantial spawning in all species of Tetras that I and RO that has been treated ritual dances. In both species, have attempted. with soaked almond and alder the males will often flare their In summation, these are cone. I utilize a 50/50 mix. fins and dance for dominance wonderful spirited fish that are and it is quite a beautiful sight From what I have read, all too often overlooked and to behold. I began to notice fry the Blue Emperor is keyed into forgotten in the aquarium to induce spawn- of the common Emperor near the . higher temps hobby ing and have noted greater pro- bottom of the aquarium at 3/16” I would really like to duction at 82˚F. The common long. They would assume the encourage people to give them emperor seems stressed over standard head stander pose in a shot. Their behaviors and colors 82˚F so this number was avoided. the aquarium with an angle of will not go unnoticed and you Both species are essentially continu- about 30 degrees. At this young may be rewarded with a few more ous breeders in my experience age, the defining black line was fish than you started out with. and would benefit from a continu- quite evident. The Blue Emperors ous breeding set up that would were often found displaced in Photos from the original article isolate young fry from the varying zones of the aquarium, 36

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entitled to a free classified want ad in each issue, Your Membership Card is your Passport Don’t lose to sell, give away or request fish or dry goods. to Becoming an it. Put it in your “Educatedwallet or purse. Aquarist.” You’ll need it to The attend Monthly Events and get discounts at You’llBAS find is up-to-date on-line at information BASNY.org. about our participating pet stores. monthly events, links to other aquarium societies in the US and stores, manufacturers and related YOUR MEMBERSHIP BENEFITS INCLUDE: to all general meetings, aquarium sites. we have an on-line library with Free Admission held on the 2nd Friday of the month (except July downloadable articles. we have our own BAS forum, & August) at 7:30 pm at the Education Hall of the where you can interact with other freshwater, New York Aquarium, Coney Island, Surf Avenue marine or reef members and post free at west 8th Street , Brooklyn , N.Y. The hobby-related classifieds where Society presents expert speakers on all members sell and trade fish, corals, aspects of the hobby, from freshwater plants and equipment. fish to marine aquatic life. Door For the latest prizes and raffles at every meeting. informationBAS call Hotline: the BAS 24 hour Breeder Awards Program (BAP) – Hotline 718 837-4455 for event and Certificates and trophies awarded. inclement weather information. If General meetings are open to you need advice on fish keeping, the public (a $5 donation is re- breeding or where you can find rare quested for non-members, good to- or hard to find fish, you can often get wards membership that evening). Free help calling the Hotline. Help from parking and free refreshments. the Hotline is always free. (SIGs) hold meetings, The Brooklyn Aquarium Society Special Interest Groups free at members' homes, for members only. Here’s is an organizationVolunteer: run by volunteers. without your chance to network with members with the them there would be no BAS. Volunteers help set same interests. Discuss, ask questions, learn, up events, write articles, coordinate projects, assist teach and develop your expertise in freshwater and work on committees, help at auctions and and/or marine aquarium keeping. meetings. Join in, help, learn and have fun doing it. Call , President (718) 238-1792. Aquatica The ourJournal bi-monthly of the Brooklyn (5 issues Steven Matassa at many BAS exceptAquarium July Society, & August) award winning publication participatingDiscounts pet stores for Members when you present your is on our web site. Each issue is filled with articles current BAS membership card. on both marine and freshwater aquaria keeping welcome and we hope you take advantage Articles can be downloaded. of the many benefits BAS has to offer. The All members receive The Officers & Board of the Brooklyn . our monthlyBAS (10 Bulletin issues except July & August) Aquarium Society Newsletter, the via email, keeping members up to BASdate Bulletinon the latest events at the Educating Aquarists Society, notices of interest and monthly regional society events. All non-commercial members are Since 1911 42

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Membership & Renewal Application Brooklyn Aquarium Society Mail This Form and Your Check Payable to Brooklyn Aquarium Society to BROOKLYN AQUARIUM SOCIETY, ATT: MEMBERSHIP CHAIRPERSON P.O. BOX 290610, BROOKLYN, NEW YORK 11229-0011 Meetings are held at the NY Aquarium Education Hall on the 2nd Friday of the month at 7:30pm. Knowledgeable speakers on fish care and culture, door prizes, raffles, and fish auctions. All meetings are free to members. Visit us on line: WWW.BROOKLYNAQUARIUMSOCIETY.ORG NAME______OCCUPATION______

ADDRESS______CITY______STATE____ZIP______

PHONE (DAY) ______(EVE)______(FAX)______

E-mail Address______TYPE & LENGTH of MEMBERSHIP: (CHECK ONE) INDIVIDUAL FAMILY [ ] $15 STUDENT 1YEAR 1yr. 2yr. 3yr. 4yr. 1yr. 2yr. 3yr. 4yr. (UNDER 18 YEARS) $20 $36 $51 $68 $25 $45 $63 $85 *If family membership, please list all family members. Only first two listed will have voting rights. 1______2______3______

4______5______6______Number of tanks [ ] marine [ ] freshwater [ ] Do you breed fish? [yes] [no] If yes, what types do you breed: ______

______Special interest (if any) ______

______How did you hear about BAS [friend] [dealer] [flyer] [Aquatica] [mag ad] [online] other______To volunteer check [yes] [no] A board member will contact you if you check yes.

On occasion, the Brooklyn Aquarium Society uses its mailing list to send notices of interest to our mem- bers. If you DO NOT wish to receive these mailings please check here [ ]

Official use

Member number:______Type of membership [F] [I] [S] Date paid:______Board approved date ______Amount paid:______Renewal/member since______