Hi guys, I have a pond at my house (must be about
- Thread starter nicos
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Anyway, I did in the end get rid of them. Or rather, they got rid of themselves somehow.
My pump broke while I was away for a weekend, and some serious illness set it. Tried to clean the water when I got back, but stuff just kept dying, the mozzie fish, then the sucker fish things, then all but two of the goldfish... and then after about two weeks things seemed to stabilize. Funny thing is that these mosquito fish are supposed to be damn hardy, but the tilapia outlived them.
I have now had these kurpers in my pond for close to two years. They do not seem to be interested in any food I give them, but regular koi food seems to stimulate algae growth, and I think the tilapia then chows this. They are two beautiful fish, but very shy, will only come out of hiding at night.
Anyway, I did in the end get rid of them. Or rather, they got rid of themselves somehow.
My pump broke while I was away for a weekend, and some serious illness set it. Tried to clean the water when I got back, but stuff just kept dying, the mozzie fish, then the sucker fish things, then all but two of the goldfish... and then after about two weeks things seemed to stabilize. Funny thing is that these mosquito fish are supposed to be damn hardy, but the tilapia outlived them.
I have now had these kurpers in my pond for close to two years. They do not seem to be interested in any food I give them, but regular koi food seems to stimulate algae growth, and I think the tilapia then chows this. They are two beautiful fish, but very shy, will only come out of hiding at night.
Andre Laas
Sealiner
Interesting nicos. The mosquito fish is generally fairly hardy in terms of surviving poor environmental conditions like low oxygen and high temperature, but it seems as if they are not that hardy when it comes to diseases.
I know of few fish that is more hardy than the Tillapia species, and they just never give up. I also kept a large vleikurper for a long time, and was extremely fond of him. lots of personality. They also make for great subjects when teaching students as they are probably the only "student proof" fish I know of!
I know of few fish that is more hardy than the Tillapia species, and they just never give up. I also kept a large vleikurper for a long time, and was extremely fond of him. lots of personality. They also make for great subjects when teaching students as they are probably the only "student proof" fish I know of!
I am actually on a bit of a mission to find a good tilapia spot in our area. Have asked before on Sealine but no real answers other than "Inanda" etc.
Mine came from Shongweni, but it wasn't wild and have tried again with no success.
It's the fish I cut my teeth on, in the far northern transvaal as a 4 year old with my grandfather, and keen to make my daughter catch some too!
Cheers,
Nico
Mine came from Shongweni, but it wasn't wild and have tried again with no success.
It's the fish I cut my teeth on, in the far northern transvaal as a 4 year old with my grandfather, and keen to make my daughter catch some too!
Cheers,
Nico
These guys probably vrekked from White Spot. (did you see anything like this on the fish?)
If any of the water conditions suddenly change, it brings this condition on. Temperature, PH, oxygen levels etc.
With your pump that packed in, the oxygen level plumeted, and boom, white spot.
Then the fish started dying, leading to the advent of increased ammonia levels.(only needs a day to skyrocket)
This killed more fish and fed the Ammonia.
On your return home, you fixed the pump and normally, the nitrogen cycle (breakdown process of ammonia) restores itself in an established system in about - 2 weeks.
If any of the water conditions suddenly change, it brings this condition on. Temperature, PH, oxygen levels etc.
With your pump that packed in, the oxygen level plumeted, and boom, white spot.
Then the fish started dying, leading to the advent of increased ammonia levels.(only needs a day to skyrocket)
This killed more fish and fed the Ammonia.
On your return home, you fixed the pump and normally, the nitrogen cycle (breakdown process of ammonia) restores itself in an established system in about - 2 weeks.
AndriesH wrote:
Must say I didn't examine the casualties - was only too happy to net and discard them. And they had a serious pong to them man!
I have heard about the ammonia thing, and had assumed that that was what was happening.
Interesting thing: with the oxygen gone, the kurpers came out of hidding and where hanging just below the sirface breathing the top layer that obviously absorbes some from the atmosphere - clever buggers. The goldfish just went about their business, stupid little fcks.
Must say I didn't examine the casualties - was only too happy to net and discard them. And they had a serious pong to them man!
I have heard about the ammonia thing, and had assumed that that was what was happening.
Interesting thing: with the oxygen gone, the kurpers came out of hidding and where hanging just below the sirface breathing the top layer that obviously absorbes some from the atmosphere - clever buggers. The goldfish just went about their business, stupid little fcks.
Andre Laas
Sealiner
Andre Laas
Sealiner
nicos wrote:
Sheez, admitting that yours is smaller on an internationally viewed forum
I reckon most of mine is either composting worms or hybrids anyway by now, so I will dig up the garden for those fat juicy ones!
I also have a worm farm, but it is the small red ones that composts quickly, bit small maybe. So lets use yours
Sheez, admitting that yours is smaller on an internationally viewed forum
I reckon most of mine is either composting worms or hybrids anyway by now, so I will dig up the garden for those fat juicy ones!