×
Retirement and forum shutdown (17 Jan 2022)

Hi,

John Howell who has managed the forum for years is getting on and wishes to retire from the role of managing it.
Over the years, he has managed the forum through good days and bad days and he has always been fair.
He has managed to bring his passion for fish keeping to the forum and keep it going for so long.

I wish to thank John for his hard work in keeping the forum going.

With John wishing to "retire" from the role of managing the forum and the forum receiving very little traffic, I think we must agree that forum has come to a natural conclusion and it's time to put it to rest.

I am proposing that the forum be made read-only from March 2022 onwards and that no new users or content be created. The website is still registered for several more years, so the content will still be accessible but no new topics or replies will be allowed.

If there is interest from the ITFS or other fish keeping clubs, we may redirect traffic to them or to a Facebook group but will not actively manage it.

I'd like to thank everyone over the years who helped with forum, posted a reply, started a new topic, ask a question and helped a newbie in fish keeping. And thank you to the sponsors who helped us along the away. Hopefully it made the hobby stronger.

I'd especially like to thank John Howell and Valerie Rousseau for all of their contributions, without them the forum would have never been has successful.

Thank you
Darragh Sherwin

Coconuts

More
27 Jun 2007 04:55 #1 by JohnH (John)
Coconuts was created by JohnH (John)
Another of my famous 'long shots'...

Can anyone tell me if coconuts are available all year round, or are they a winter thing only?

I bought a couple around Christmastime last year in Lidl whilst shopping for Instant Noodles but have not seen any more since.

When I was young - yes, even I was young once (Holger) - they were available year-round, at least the fairgrounds always had them for their 'Coconut Shies'.

The 'flesh' inside is pretty tasty but the shells make excellent spawning caves for cave-spawning fish...and a lot cheaper than the 'custom-made' ones.

Or do I have to wait until next Christmas? - I'll be the one coming out of Lidl with armsful. :shock: :shock: :shock:

John

Location:
N. Tipp

We're just two lost souls swimming in a fish bowl - year after year.


ITFS member.



It's a long way to Tipperary.

Please Log in to join the conversation.

More
27 Jun 2007 05:00 #2 by ricko10 (jamie)
Replied by ricko10 (jamie) on topic Re: Coconuts
John,
Try a good Tesco. Im sure they do them all year round. :)
jamie

Please Log in to join the conversation.

  • apistodiscus (apistodiscus)
  • apistodiscus (apistodiscus)'s Avatar
  • Visitor
  • Visitor
27 Jun 2007 05:23 #3 by apistodiscus (apistodiscus)
Replied by apistodiscus (apistodiscus) on topic Re: Coconuts
Even seen them in Dunnes. How many do you need? I can bring them up to Limerick next Friday

Please Log in to join the conversation.

More
27 Jun 2007 06:03 #4 by JohnH (John)
Replied by JohnH (John) on topic Re: Coconuts
I have a Tesco and Dunnes stores in Nenagh, I'll pop there later on or tomorrow.

thanks for suggestions,

John

Location:
N. Tipp

We're just two lost souls swimming in a fish bowl - year after year.


ITFS member.



It's a long way to Tipperary.

Please Log in to join the conversation.

More
27 Jun 2007 06:15 #5 by zebadee (zebadee)
Replied by zebadee (zebadee) on topic Re: Coconuts
If you happen to have any of the 'ethnic' food shops catering for the African/Asian population in your vacinity, they'll likely have coconuts all year round.

Please Log in to join the conversation.

  • S180de (S180de)
  • S180de (S180de)'s Avatar
  • Visitor
  • Visitor
27 Jun 2007 06:22 #6 by S180de (S180de)
Replied by S180de (S180de) on topic Re: Coconuts
you can get them anytime of the year. you local oriental/chinese store should have them. shouldn't be more than 0.5 - 1 EUR each.

use a screwdriver to pierce one of the three "soft spots", insert straw and drink. then take a heavy tool with a strong "sharpish" edge (e.g. a file or something like that, not a knife). a few strong blow on the side of the coconut will crack it without major sharp edges. much faster and more convenient than using a saw...

Please Log in to join the conversation.

More
27 Jun 2007 06:40 #7 by zebadee (zebadee)
Replied by zebadee (zebadee) on topic Re: Coconuts
Another tip is to cover the outside of the half coconut with silicone glue (similar to that used to seal the aquarium, make sure you don't use anti fungicidal silicone) and dip the shell into whatever substrate you happen to use. In that way it will look less like half a coconut in your tank :wink:

Please Log in to join the conversation.

  • S180de (S180de)
  • S180de (S180de)'s Avatar
  • Visitor
  • Visitor
27 Jun 2007 07:00 #8 by S180de (S180de)
Replied by S180de (S180de) on topic Re: Coconuts
smart idea! :wink:

Please Log in to join the conversation.

  • Didihno (Didihno)
  • Didihno (Didihno)'s Avatar
  • Visitor
  • Visitor
27 Jun 2007 08:48 #9 by Didihno (Didihno)
Replied by Didihno (Didihno) on topic Re: Coconuts
Do you 'shave' it first?

Please Log in to join the conversation.

  • S180de (S180de)
  • S180de (S180de)'s Avatar
  • Visitor
  • Visitor
27 Jun 2007 10:04 #10 by S180de (S180de)
Replied by S180de (S180de) on topic Re: Coconuts
no need for that if you buy females only.

Please Log in to join the conversation.

More
27 Jun 2007 11:04 #11 by koinonia (koinonia)
Replied by koinonia (koinonia) on topic Re: Coconuts

no need for that if you buy females only.


female coconuts....no ive heard it all :lol:

Please Log in to join the conversation.

  • Didihno (Didihno)
  • Didihno (Didihno)'s Avatar
  • Visitor
  • Visitor
27 Jun 2007 11:24 #12 by Didihno (Didihno)
Replied by Didihno (Didihno) on topic Re: Coconuts

no need for that if you buy females only.

I was being serious for a change!!!

Please Log in to join the conversation.

  • Anthony (Anthony)
  • Anthony (Anthony)'s Avatar
  • Visitor
  • Visitor
27 Jun 2007 11:27 #13 by Anthony (Anthony)
Replied by Anthony (Anthony) on topic Re: Coconuts
I bet you don`t get them.
They`re seasonal. :cry: :cry:

Please Log in to join the conversation.

More
27 Jun 2007 11:57 #14 by richardbunn (Richard Bunn)
Tesco's in Tralee have them every time I'm looking for them. I have a thing every couple of months for making a coconut sponge cake then filling it with coconut & mascarpone & then covering the whole thing with it too. I made one early in May. Just to show that they're always available.

JohnH I don't recommend you try the recipe though, it'll wreck you're cholesterol.

"Everything's going perfectly in my aquarium. What do I do???"

Please Log in to join the conversation.

More
27 Jun 2007 19:13 #15 by Daragh_Owens (Daragh Owens)
Ahhh the maternity suite for BN's :-)

I think you will get them now. Just be careful cutting them, I prefer you use a saw than smash them.


Daragh

Please Log in to join the conversation.

More
28 Jun 2007 01:17 #16 by zebadee (zebadee)
Replied by zebadee (zebadee) on topic Re: Coconuts
The husk fibres on coconuts are easily dealt with. The polynesians etc bury the empty shells for about a week to let the fibres loosen then rub them off using hand fulls of sand. I've used sand paper after soaking them in hot water and washing powder with bacterial agents, comes right off.

Please Log in to join the conversation.

  • apistodiscus (apistodiscus)
  • apistodiscus (apistodiscus)'s Avatar
  • Visitor
  • Visitor
28 Jun 2007 02:02 #17 by apistodiscus (apistodiscus)
Replied by apistodiscus (apistodiscus) on topic Re: Coconuts
For any body keeping plecos. Just leave the fibres on your plecs will deal wwith them in short time. L90 is particularly fond of them.

Please Log in to join the conversation.

More
28 Jun 2007 02:52 #18 by JohnH (John)
Replied by JohnH (John) on topic Re: Coconuts
Thanks lads,
I went to Nenagh and got some yesterday.

They are all sour (the ones I've pierced for the 'milk' are, anyhow) but I shaln't be taking them back...expect the bird population will manage to devour the flesh - if not the cows in the field next to my garden will eat ANYTHING!!!

John

Location:
N. Tipp

We're just two lost souls swimming in a fish bowl - year after year.


ITFS member.



It's a long way to Tipperary.

Please Log in to join the conversation.

More
28 Jun 2007 03:20 #19 by Acara (Dave Walters)
Replied by Acara (Dave Walters) on topic Re: Coconuts
I may be wrong,but I seem to recall from years ago,that coconut,at least when dessicated is very bad,if not lethal to birds.Maybe the cows might appreciate it more.

always on the lookout for interesting corys.pm me if you know off any!

Please Log in to join the conversation.

More
28 Jun 2007 04:00 #20 by JohnH (John)
Replied by JohnH (John) on topic Re: Coconuts
Hmmm,
Maybe I'll just burn it, that is when the patrol helicopter isn't in the area, I have other stuff which can go the same way...

John

Location:
N. Tipp

We're just two lost souls swimming in a fish bowl - year after year.


ITFS member.



It's a long way to Tipperary.

Please Log in to join the conversation.

  • apistodiscus (apistodiscus)
  • apistodiscus (apistodiscus)'s Avatar
  • Visitor
  • Visitor
28 Jun 2007 04:33 #21 by apistodiscus (apistodiscus)
Replied by apistodiscus (apistodiscus) on topic Re: Coconuts
Too much coconut will give you the runs. The bit you have won't cause harm to anything

Please Log in to join the conversation.

More
28 Jun 2007 05:49 #22 by richardbunn (Richard Bunn)
If I'm cooking & put them in a plastic bag & introduce them to the back step (while thinking of someone I don't like), but for aquarium use you just can't do that, you end up with large shards of the stuff, which while ok for putting plants on, won't do for cichlid caves one bit.

"Everything's going perfectly in my aquarium. What do I do???"

Please Log in to join the conversation.

More
28 Jun 2007 05:53 #23 by richardbunn (Richard Bunn)

Thanks lads,
I went to Nenagh and got some yesterday.

They are all sour (the ones I've pierced for the 'milk' are, anyhow) but I shaln't be taking them back...expect the bird population will manage to devour the flesh - if not the cows in the field next to my garden will eat ANYTHING!!!

John


Was there any milk in there? If so then they're fine. Real coconut tastes nothing like what the commercial world of totally easy going Malibu or coconut flavouring leads us to believe. It should have a slight sour taste to it.

"Everything's going perfectly in my aquarium. What do I do???"

Please Log in to join the conversation.

More
28 Jun 2007 06:35 #24 by mickeywallace (Michael Wallace Cath Woods)
in the past i used them for hamsters they cleaned the flesh and used them for many things i had some old drill bits (my grandfathers) and was able to drill large holes these day you can pick up cheap drill attachments with saws which drill a perfect circle up to about three inches. i would also give them a long soak in water from the tank first!

Mickey Wallace & Cath Woods

Please Log in to join the conversation.

  • Anthony (Anthony)
  • Anthony (Anthony)'s Avatar
  • Visitor
  • Visitor
29 Jun 2007 09:05 #25 by Anthony (Anthony)
Replied by Anthony (Anthony) on topic Re: Coconuts

If I'm cooking & put them in a plastic bag & introduce them to the back step (while thinking of someone I don't like), but for aquarium use you just can't do that, you end up with large shards of the stuff, which while ok for putting plants on, won't do for cichlid caves one bit.



A guy who is amember here uses them for breeding Apistogramma cichlids so I would have to disagree with you on that. :lol:

Please Log in to join the conversation.

More
29 Jun 2007 12:59 #26 by neki (neki)
Replied by neki (neki) on topic Re: Coconuts
Just have a look in this websit and u will find very usefull things.

www.aquariumlife.net/projects/diy-decoration/87.asp

Neki!

Please Log in to join the conversation.

  • apistodiscus (apistodiscus)
  • apistodiscus (apistodiscus)'s Avatar
  • Visitor
  • Visitor
29 Jun 2007 15:16 #27 by apistodiscus (apistodiscus)
Replied by apistodiscus (apistodiscus) on topic Re: Coconuts

A guy who is amember here uses them for breeding Apistogramma cichlids so I would have to disagree with you on that. :lol:


Yep they do fine unless you have a species that requieres a very small entrance

Please Log in to join the conversation.

  • Anthony (Anthony)
  • Anthony (Anthony)'s Avatar
  • Visitor
  • Visitor
29 Jun 2007 15:22 #28 by Anthony (Anthony)
Replied by Anthony (Anthony) on topic Re: Coconuts
My mate cuts them in half and drills a little hole in them. Works a treat.

Please Log in to join the conversation.

  • apistodiscus (apistodiscus)
  • apistodiscus (apistodiscus)'s Avatar
  • Visitor
  • Visitor
30 Jun 2007 02:36 #29 by apistodiscus (apistodiscus)
Replied by apistodiscus (apistodiscus) on topic Re: Coconuts
So do I. but there are species where the coconuts will not do it. They need a cave where the female just about fits in. The male never gets near the eggs and has to blow his load as it were outside. Look on the bright side, no need for cuddles after the deed is done. Straight to sleep :D

Please Log in to join the conversation.

More
30 Jun 2007 07:31 #30 by richardbunn (Richard Bunn)

If I'm cooking & put them in a plastic bag & introduce them to the back step (while thinking of someone I don't like), but for aquarium use you just can't do that, you end up with large shards of the stuff, which while ok for putting plants on, won't do for cichlid caves one bit.



A guy who is amember here uses them for breeding Apistogramma cichlids so I would have to disagree with you on that. :lol:


I meant the shards. Half shells are ok breeding. They look the part alright. But I do prefer something smaller to gain a larger brood.

"Everything's going perfectly in my aquarium. What do I do???"

Please Log in to join the conversation.

Time to create page: 0.083 seconds
Powered by Kunena Forum