From NIELSEN's MARINE MATES

from NIELSEN’S MARINE MATES 45 – 47 Beenleigh Redland Bay Road, Loganholme. 4129 www.nielsensmarinemates.com.au Ph 3801 4222 MARINE FISH OF THE MONTH STAFF PROFILE BLUE TANGS Carl has worked Sometimes said to be the bluest thing on for Nielsen’s earth, these are certainly a standout in Marine Mates for the marine aquarium. As small fish, blue over a year now tangs will school together but may and has become territorial towards each other as impressed all with they grow, so are best kept singly unless his helpfulness. He has been keeping in a large aquarium where space will fresh water fish since a child and has allow separate territories. Blue tangs fond memories of catching rainbow fish in feed well on a variety of foods but should creeks and streams around Darwin with be encouraged to eat a vegetable based his father. He is still keen on native fish, diet, including seaweed sheets, as this and he has two nicely planted tanks with helps to keep their intense blue colour. rainbow fish at home. They are one of the few fish which, in the Before working here, Carl worked for aquarium, will go against their natural diet several years at an aquarium wholesale and eat protein based foods in preference company who imported both fresh water to vegetable matter. They can be and marine fish, so his quarantine and susceptible to white spot, especially when importing experience has been valuable newly introduced into the aquarium so to us since opening our own quarantine should be watched carefully at that time room and he holds an AQIS Quarantine and treated if necessary. A member of Approved Person certificate. the surgeon fish family, blue tangs Carl has been keeping marine fish for possess a razor sharp spine on the about three years now and has two salt caudal peduncle (where the tail meets the water reef tanks at home. He also grows body) so should be handled with care marine macro algae and keeps a sharp when netting etc. They are reef safe and look out for any new species which may generally good community fish which pass through the shop. Carl’s latest certainly add great colour and constant interest is underwater photography. movement to the marine aquarium. Blue In addition to his indoor aquariums, Carl tangs are instantly recognized by almost has set up a few outdoor ponds keeping all children as ‘Dory’ of Nemo fame. plants and native fish. Small Blue Tangs (approximately 5cm) Despite all of the above experience, Carl Normally $69.00 did not know what an aquarium heater JUNE SPECIAL $59.00 EACH. was when he arrived in Queensland having grown up in tropical Darwin, where heaters were unnecessary! With his good broad knowledge of fresh and salt water fish and his special interest in plants, Carl is happy to assist and advise on most aspects of fish keeping whether fresh or salt water and, yes, he does know about aquarium heaters now! www.nielsensmarinemates.com.au Ph 3801 4222 SEDRA PUMPS THIS MONTH’S FRESHWATER New to us is the FEATURE PLANT - PURPLE TEMPLE Sedra Range of Plants sold for aquariums pumps. These are generally fall into two excellent for use in categories – true aquatic a sump as a return plants which grow fully pump and can be submersed and semi run fully submersed aquatic which, in nature, or externally in-line. usually are bog plants In addition they can also be used in an which grow either in very outdoor pond as a filter pump and/or wet conditions or with the fountain pump. They have a two year roots submersed. This plant is not a true motor warranty and feature a ceramic aquatic plant but nevertheless it does well shaft, making them suitable for fresh for extended periods of time in the water or salt water use. aquarium and is worth having for its exceptional colour – deep green with We currently have four models in stock: purple underside to the leaves. As it not a true aquatic it also is not so readily Model Turnover Head Price eaten by plant eating species such as Lift gold fish. Purple Temple is looking good 2100 2100lt/hr 2.2 $144.00 at present with nice bushy bunches. metres Usually $4.70 per bunch 2800 2800lt/hr 3 $162.65 For the month of June now only $3.95. metres 4200 4200lt/hr 4.4 $203.30 NEW DISPLAY TANK metres Keep an eye open for our new display The above models take a 25mm fitting on tank. We have relocated the fish from the the inlet and a 19mm fitting on the outlet cichlid display to another tank and will be whilst the model below uses 33mm on the using the old cichlid display for a marine inlet and 25mm on the outlet. ‘fish only’ tank. This will enable us to keep 7200 7200lt/hr 5.7 $279.50 a nice selection of fish such as angels, metres butterflies and others which can not be safely mixed in with live corals and invertebrates. Angels, in particular, are DID YOU KNOW?? some of the most The head lift of an aquarium pump or colourful and filter is the maximum height to which beautiful marine water can be pumped before the flow fish but of water will stop. The water turnover unfortunately are on almost all aquarium pumps is rated coral eaters. A beautiful Majestic Angel at no head. Thus a pump rated at Keeping a fish only 4200lt/hr will only pump that amount tank is a great way to start out in marines straight from the pump, without lifting as these tanks can be run with less the water at all. At the maximum lighting and filtration than is needed for a head, the flow of water will be greatly coral tank. Fish generally are also easier reduced, sometimes to no flow at all. to keep than invertebrates. We will be A pump or filter intended to sit utilizing the existing FX5 canister filter underneath an aquarium will require a which sits neatly in the cabinet beneath higher head lift than a pump which the tank and with a 3500lt/hr turnover will runs submersed in the aquarium and certainly cope well. We are currently is not required to lift the water. stripping the tank so look out for our first inhabitants soon. www.nielsensmarinemates.com.au Ph 3801 4222 KEEPING SIAMESE FIGHTERS. Siamese fighters Fighters can be somewhat fussy feeders are a stunningly preferring tiny pellets made specifically beautiful fish for fighters or frozen foods rather than which are quite flake foods. easy to keep. These days They are an air there are breathing fish, numerous taking air from the surface, and can fancy varieties therefore be kept in much smaller which have volumes of water than most fish. In nature been bred they are found in shallow water in places through from like rice paddies. The wild fish is not as the wild colourful and the finnage is not as long. species. We most commonly stock the Male Siamese fighters can not be kept standard variety, as pictured at the together as they will fight, sometimes to beginning of the article, and also the the death. Even keeping a female in with popular Crowntail variety, pictured the male is not always successful. When above, and which feature a shredded breeding, the sexes are usually kept edging to their full finnage. Fighter separate but where they can see one colours range from reds, pinks, blues, another. When the female is very full with greens, white, yellow and even black and eggs she can be tried in with the male. combinations of colours also. The male squeezes the female to expel Siamese fighter setups make a great gift the eggs but he can become over and are perfect for those who do not have enthusiastic in his quest to do this and much space. All that is required is a small sometimes kills the female. To avoid this, tank or bowl, neutralizer, food, a fish of it is necessary to watch the pair carefully course and any tank decoration you may and remove the female if she is not ready wish to add. to release the eggs. Once the eggs are laid, the male fertilizes them and carries JUNE’S FRESHWATER FISH OF THE the eggs up to a bubble nest which he MONTH – SILVER SHARKS has blown on the surface of the water. Silver sharks are so called because they The female can then be removed as she have a torpedo shaped body and shark does not care for the eggs or fry in any like fins but they are not really a shark at way. The male will care for the eggs and all and are most closely related to the also the fry until they are free swimming barb family. These fish are capable of when they must be separated from the growing to 30cm male. It is ironic that a fish which can be but need a large so aggressive towards others of his tank to achieve species, can be so gentle with the fry, this. They are a picking them up in his mouth and placing schooling fish, them carefully in the nest. always on the Siamese fighters are commonly kept in move, and given small fish bowls, even vases, but keep in their large size, are relatively good mind that the smaller the volume of water, community fish although perhaps not with the more often they will require cleaning.

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