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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

Bumble bee Goby

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08 Oct 2010 17:39 #1 by Fishowner (Gavin fishowner)
Ok, so Im toying with the idea of purchasing some bumblebee gobys. I know they are meant to be kept in brackish water but Id be keeping them in freshwater. So has anyone had much experience of them?

I dont have too many large fish so I think they would be ok on that front,the largest being a german ram so really they wouldnt have any bullys. What are peoples experience of them in freshwater. Ideally Id set up a brackish tank but thats not a runner. Anyone have any thoughts? Are they shrimp friendly also?

Gavin

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08 Oct 2010 18:21 #2 by fishmad1234 (Craig Coyle)
had them before didnt work out tho died after 4 days. was told they where fully fresh water ie bred in fresh water but would argue the case they where not and where from brackish water


craig

at the end of the day it becomes nite

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08 Oct 2010 18:31 #3 by stretnik (stretnik)
Replied by stretnik (stretnik) on topic Re:Bumble bee Goby
I have 6 in completely fresh Water for seven Months, never lost a single one, they eat everything the ther Fish in the Tank eat, from, Pelleted, Flake and their absolute Favourite... Bloodworm ! now there's a surprise. They hang on the side of the Glass at every conceivable angle and inhabit every part of the Tank at times. Sweet lookin little beggars.

Kev.

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08 Oct 2010 18:33 #4 by Fishowner (Gavin fishowner)
Cheers lads. Kev,do yours ever fin nip at all? What are they sharing the tank with?

Gavin

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08 Oct 2010 19:03 - 08 Oct 2010 19:03 #5 by stretnik (stretnik)
Replied by stretnik (stretnik) on topic Re:Bumble bee Goby
OK hold your breath, this Tank has been going for 8 months or so and it was originally set up as an Apistogramma Tank but everything just got chucked in there so here goes, the afore said Apistos, Borelli, agazzizi, macmasteri all males and females, Galaxy danios, dwarf emerald danios, 2 Rams, Garra, Asian rummies, Ottocinclus, Dorsigera Cichlids, Kuhli loaches, Amanda Tetras, and a few I can't remember and these aren't always supposed to be together but no one has told them!!

The Tank is a jungle of Algae-free Plants, Vallis everywhere, frogbit on top,you name it, it's there.


Kev.
Last edit: 08 Oct 2010 19:03 by stretnik (stretnik).

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08 Oct 2010 19:39 #6 by Fishowner (Gavin fishowner)
Sweet,sounds like I m getting them tomorrow so then!!! I can put them in any of my tanks so then! Happy days. Will go in tomorrow to get them.They are in a shop Ive never bought from before,but we never see's these guys down in Cork so Im gonna go for it :)
Nice one Kev.
Gavin

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08 Oct 2010 19:52 #7 by igmillichip (ian millichip)
They are great little fish....and used to cost about 10pence each when I last got any !!!

The requirement of salt depends upon species, but I would consider that low temperatures might be a reason why many people haver some problems keeping them alive.
The first few days after getting them are a critical time......in some cases maybe these are bit like keeping Nothobranchus killies: if you have salted soft water at a high enough temperature and you are fortunate enough to have easy feeders (ie take dead or flaked food) then you're onto a good start. If, as with Nothos, they only take live food then they may be on the edge of starvation when you get them (and there's not too much buffering allowed between feeds).

I was tempted to get a few when I saw them in a place that you might know Gav (:)) but I didn't really have a suitable set-up (well....I'm sure the old stonefish would say 'yep' put them with me).

Go for it, they don't take up much space.

ps. I've just be scouring to see what species are available in the aquatic world.....I'm a bit dubious that some species are what they are claimed to be.

ian

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08 Oct 2010 20:01 - 08 Oct 2010 20:02 #8 by stretnik (stretnik)
Replied by stretnik (stretnik) on topic Re:Bumble bee Goby
These are my SALT FREE babies.



Kev.
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Last edit: 08 Oct 2010 20:02 by stretnik (stretnik).

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08 Oct 2010 20:18 #9 by igmillichip (ian millichip)
That is a healthy chunky looking fish....many I see for sale don't quite look as great.

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08 Oct 2010 20:50 #10 by fishmad1234 (Craig Coyle)
nice shot kev :)

at the end of the day it becomes nite

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08 Oct 2010 20:54 - 08 Oct 2010 20:56 #11 by stretnik (stretnik)
Replied by stretnik (stretnik) on topic Re:Bumble bee Goby
Here's another less clear pic.





Kev.
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Last edit: 08 Oct 2010 20:56 by stretnik (stretnik).

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08 Oct 2010 20:58 #12 by Fishowner (Gavin fishowner)
Far less clearer Kev!!!!

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08 Oct 2010 21:01 #13 by stretnik (stretnik)
Replied by stretnik (stretnik) on topic Re:Bumble bee Goby
Sorry guys, not my pic.


Here's a foggier version.

Kev.
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08 Oct 2010 21:03 #14 by stretnik (stretnik)
Replied by stretnik (stretnik) on topic Re:Bumble bee Goby
Fishowner wrote:

Far less clearer Kev!!!!


:laugh: :laugh:

Drink, does nobody no good !


Kev.

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08 Oct 2010 21:09 #15 by Fishowner (Gavin fishowner)
haha...Im on it tonight as well with the darts on tv!! Anyhow defo going to get these bumblebee's tomorrow,they look nice,have been looking for a few for a while. Hope they are still there.

Gavin

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08 Oct 2010 22:24 #16 by igmillichip (ian millichip)
So, any plans to breed these guys, guys? rainy season breeders.
{yeah yeah, first steps first....but there's nothing like a bit of ambition).

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08 Oct 2010 22:26 #17 by Fishowner (Gavin fishowner)
Not initially...I'll see how they got on first....I need to get my hands on a L144 female first!!! Heading to Dublin in a few weeks so if anyone at all has a female L144 id be happy to buy one off ya!!

Gavin

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09 Oct 2010 17:35 #18 by Fishowner (Gavin fishowner)
Right got 6 bumble bee's. They are happy out in their new surroundings! They are interesting little fella's,seem to glide effortlessly in midwater and then hop along the substrate!Im looking forward to keeping an eye on them. I felt bad cos there was 7 in the shop,but I only saw 6 and took the lot. Only notice the remaining one when I was leaving...might get it next week if its not been sold!!! (Heart of gold eh!!!).

Must put up a pic of my Rams also,their colouring is super at the moment,need to capture it.
Gavin

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12 Oct 2010 18:07 #19 by Fishowner (Gavin fishowner)
Well I went back today and bought the 7th little fella!!!!

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12 Oct 2010 22:25 #20 by dyco619 (steve carmody)
good luck with them!!
and thanks for posting as i was gonna post the same question:laugh: :laugh:
was just reading up on them the other day..
keep us posted on how there getting on..oh and some pics...:)

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13 Oct 2010 10:52 #21 by joey (joe watson)
i keep them in slight brackish conditions with a GSP but i did buy from fresh, i would recommend even the slightest pinch of salt in the water just to be sure (all my tanks get this anyway it keeps the nasties away)

comical things, i would get more if it weren't just a 40l

Location: Portlaoise, Midlands

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13 Oct 2010 13:26 #22 by tina.d (Tina Doyle)
hi def agree a bit of salt and as many as poss in a species tank. there lovely and no as expensive as they used to be.


tina

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13 Oct 2010 13:31 #23 by tina.d (Tina Doyle)
hi joey, just wondering what salt you use? i use tonic salts im a firm beliver in its ability to help maintain healthy fish just wondering is there a better one i could use ?


tina

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13 Oct 2010 13:33 #24 by stretnik (stretnik)
Replied by stretnik (stretnik) on topic Re:Bumble bee Goby
As I've said, the type in MY Tank are thriving, big bellied comical specimens, no Salt at all as they share their space with Apistos etc , no nipping and no ailments.
Depends on whether wild caught and how the exporter held them.

Kev.

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