Chat transcripts

[20:00 06/02/2004] <@Craig> Good evening everyone, thank you for dropping by!
[20:01 06/02/2004] <@Craig> We have a special guest tonight who is a regular participant on the message boards at Badman's Tropical Fish.
[20:02 06/02/2004] <@Craig> Shortly Samantha will give her presentation on a very fascinating species of lake Malawai cichlids.
[20:02 06/02/2004] <@Craig> But first, I'd like to give everyone a short intro into how the moderated chat session works.
[20:03 06/02/2004] <@Craig> While the guest speaker is giving their presentation, please hold your questions.
[20:03 06/02/2004] <@Craig> At the end of the presentation, there will be a Q & A session where you will be able to ask questions one on one with the speaker.
[20:04 06/02/2004] <@Craig> After the Q & A I will open the floor for general discussion.
[20:04 06/02/2004] <@Craig> Sam, are you ready to go?
[20:04 06/02/2004] <+samantha> absolutely, thank you Craig :)
[20:05 06/02/2004] <@Craig> The floor is yours, please begin at your leisure.
[20:05 06/02/2004] <+samantha> For those of you who don't know me, my name is Samantha, known as Princess Zelda on Badman's. I'm here tonight to share my experiences with Sciaenochromis fryeri, the Electric Blue Hap.
[20:05 06/02/2004] <+samantha> I began keeping these fish a little over a year ago, when I received my first tank as a gift. As I made all of the common beginner mistakes, the haps toughed out my learning process, and have been very rewarding. It's been incredible to watch the juveniles I started with develop into large, beautiful adults.
also be called an Electric Blue Ahli, Haplochromis Ahli, and Haplochromis Jacksoni, though these are certainly not all of the names used.
[20:07 06/02/2004] <+samantha> I would like to take a moment to note the inaccuracy of the names including 'Ahli,' as Sciaenochromis Ahli is a different fish, and very rare in the hobby.
[20:08 06/02/2004] <+samantha> If you have ever seen an adult male fryeri, it is easy to understand why they are amongst the most popular Malawi cichlids.
[20:09 06/02/2004] <+samantha> Males are an amazing metallic royal blue, with colors brilliant enough to rival those of marine fish. Depending on the variant, some may have a white blaze running from their forehead along the top of the dorsal fin. Some males may have more orange on their tail and anal fins than others. Females remain a silvery brown.
[20:10 06/02/2004] <+samantha> To see pictures of Sciaenochromis fryeri, click the following link, select Malawi Haplochromines from the drop down box, then Sciaenochromis fryeri or Electric Blue Hap. http://cichlid-forum.com/photogallery/
[20:11 06/02/2004] <+samantha> Males tend to average about 6 inches, though have been said to reach up to 8 inches in home aquaria. Females stay smaller, usually 4-5 inches, in my experiences.
[20:12 06/02/2004] <+samantha> I would recommend a 55 gallon aquarium as the minimum for this fish, as they can be aggressive and territorial. Sandy substrate (either sand or crushed coral work well), rocky caves, and open swimming room are appreciated. These fish need hard, alkaline water.
[20:14 06/02/2004] <+samantha> Ideally, one male should be kept with a minimum of three females. I find that if he has any less than three females, he will beat up on the females, possibly killing them.
[20:15 06/02/2004] <+samantha> Appropriate tankmates include other Malawi cichlids, though there are certain things too look out for. Avoid other fish with bright blue colouring.
[20:15 06/02/2004] <+samantha> Be cautious when combining fryeri with algae-grazing mbuna, as the fryeri have different dietary needs than most mbuna. Additionally, be careful when keeping fryeri with aulonocara, as some species will hybridize.
[20:16 06/02/2004] <+samantha> Fryeri are easy to feed. Cichlid pellets and flakes work well for an everyday food, while brine shrimp and bloodworms are a welcome treat. They will also accept spirulina and other vegetable matter.
[20:18 06/02/2004] <+samantha> Sciaenochromis fryeri are mouthbrooders. Interestingly, the males fertilize the eggs *before* the female picks them up.
[20:19 06/02/2004] <+samantha> With other mouthbrooders, the egg spots on the males anal fin look like eggs to the female, drawing her to his anal fin, where he then fertilizes the eggs, after she has already picked them up.
[20:20 06/02/2004] <+samantha> A piece of slate may be appreciated during spawning, though isn't necessary. I have found that they will breed readily in a community tank, but prefer being secluded, and will find the most secluded area or cave in the tank. Males become very aggressive to other fish during spawning.
[20:21 06/02/2004] <+samantha> Females will hold anywhere from 21-30 days. Broods consist of up to 50-70 fry. I have found fryeri females to be excellent parents.
[20:22 06/02/2004] <+samantha> I often leave the female in with her fry for up to a week and a half, as this also give her time to regain her strength before returning to the main tank.
[20:22 06/02/2004] <+samantha> I have found that males tend to be rather rough with the females when breeding, and it can be difficult to re-introduce the female back to the main aquarium.
[20:23 06/02/2004] <+samantha> In conclusion, Sciaenochromis fryeri is a beautiful, fascinating fish to keep. Given the proper conditions, you will be rewarded with gorgeous fish full of personality.
[20:24 06/02/2004] <@Craig> At this time, if you have any questions you would like to ask, please address them to me by typing /query craig I have a question
[20:25 06/02/2004] <@Jessica> what do you feed the fry?
[20:26 06/02/2004] <+samantha> Baby brine shrimp and crushed flakes.
[20:26 06/02/2004] <@Nigel> how do the males and other fish react to the fry?
[20:27 06/02/2004] <+samantha> I've only let the female release her fry into the main tank once, and they were all eaten. Since the males can get so rough with the females, I don't keep the males with the females or the fry, to reduce stress on the mother.
[20:28 06/02/2004] <@Craig> NN..
[20:28 06/02/2004] <+Noname> I was wondering how these fish react to non cichlid species, such as large tetras, and catfish, or anything you may have experience with
[20:30 06/02/2004] <+samantha> I have a common pleco in with my Malawis, with no issues. I believe that they could be kept with larger, moderately agressive non-cichlids. I have known many people to keep loaches with their african cichlids.
[20:30 06/02/2004] <@Craig> Follow ups NN?
[20:30 06/02/2004] <+Noname> no thanks
[20:30 06/02/2004] <+samantha> Crash currently has a hap in with loaches and a red-tail shark, without any issues that I'm aware of, though his neons did become a meal.
[20:31 06/02/2004] <@Craig> Mark..
[20:31 06/02/2004] <+Mark> Thanks for the good word on cichlids... But what do you do with any fry that survive? Do they go back to the lfs? And if so, how reliable is the stock one finds in the typical lfs - in terms of species and correct names, etc...?
[20:32 06/02/2004] <+samantha> Great question Mark :)
[20:32 06/02/2004] <+samantha> I have raised several broods of fry. I have sold them locally and online.
[20:33 06/02/2004] <+samantha> In terms of stock in a typical lfs. Be careful. There are majJlãryeri/aulonocara crosses out, being sold as an electric blue hap.
[20:33 06/02/2004] <+Mark> Does their breed-ability reduce the stress on wild collecting then?
[20:34 06/02/2004] <+samantha> In my opinion, the easiest way to spot a hybrid is the shape of their body and slope in their face, as it's different from aulonocara.
[20:34 06/02/2004] <+samantha> Yes, though I have still seen some F0's in a particular lfs. Fryeri breed very easily.
[20:35 06/02/2004] <@Craig> One more question, then I am going to open the discussion.
[20:35 06/02/2004] <@Craig> Russ..
[20:36 06/02/2004] <+russ> Sam, you mentioned that the Electric Blues have a specialized diet in the wild. What is the difference in that diet compared to what you feed yours?:-)
[20:38 06/02/2004] <+samantha> In the wild it's not necessarily specialized, but can consist of small fish, such as the young of other fish, and small crustaceans. Personally, I don't care to feed mine live fish.
[20:39 06/02/2004] <@Craig> Jess, did you have a question you wanted to ask before I opened the floor for general discussion?
[20:39 06/02/2004] <@Jessica> it got answered
[20:39 06/02/2004] <@Craig> Okay then..
[20:39 06/02/2004] <+russ> Are yours the silver straek or the ones with more orange in the caudal and anal fins?
[20:43 06/02/2004] <+samantha> There are pics of one of my males in this link. As you can see, he has a thick white blaze, and orange on his anal fin. He does have some orange in his tail, but these pics don't show it.
[20:43 06/02/2004] <+samantha> http://www.badmanstropicalfish.com/message_board/messages/142/16199.html?1075389243
[20:44 06/02/2004] <@Craig> Sam, I would like to extend my gratitude for you being here this evening, you have done a wonderful job..
[20:45 06/02/2004] <+samantha> Thank you for having me :)
[20:45 06/02/2004] <@Craig> At this time I am going to open the floor for genereal discussion.
[20:45 06/02/2004] <@Jessica> thanks much Sam, twas great :-D
[20:45 06/02/2004] <russ> Clap, clap, clap...Nice one Sam:-D
[20:45 06/02/2004] <+samantha> Thanks guys :D
[20:45 06/02/2004] <@Craig> Thanks for begin here everyone, give Sam a pat on the back!
[20:46 06/02/2004] <Beatles_Addict> Great job Sam.
[20:46 06/02/2004] <Noname> nice presentation
[20:46 06/02/2004] <@Craig> being, so I can't spell.
[20:46 06/02/2004] * @Nigel seconds the above - she did good :-D
[20:46 06/02/2004] <+samantha> Thank you very much everybody
[20:46 06/02/2004] <megan> nice job sam :D
[20:46 06/02/2004] <@Craig> Questions can still be asked, don't let her off that easy! ;-D
[20:46 06/02/2004] <+samantha> lol
[20:47 06/02/2004] <russ> Sam, the groups I had contained more orange in the tail and anal finss
[20:47 06/02/2004] <+samantha> some of my females do too Russ
[20:47 06/02/2004] <+samantha> you can see it in some of the juvies
[20:48 06/02/2004] <@Nigel> is it a species thing or is colouring more arbitrary?
[20:48 06/02/2004] <russ> I am a little curious about sightings of FO E. Blues in petshop tanks. Those are not impossible to obtain, but there were generally reserved for the farms that bid on them from the collection spots:-)
[20:49 06/02/2004] <+samantha> Just one particular store, it specializes in Malawians.
[20:49 06/02/2004] <@Jessica> that the one with the front group?
[20:49 06/02/2004] <russ> Was that in Denver?
[20:49 06/02/2004] <+samantha> that's the one Jess :)
[20:50 06/02/2004] <+samantha> Russ, it's in Broomfield, northwest of Denver
[20:50 06/02/2004] <russ> :-)
[20:50 06/02/2004] <@Jessica> ;-)
[20:50 06/02/2004] <+samantha> I think it's stupid to even try to get an F0, when there's plenty non-wilds available anyway.
[20:51 06/02/2004] <@Jessica> well, there the issue of fresh blood?
[20:51 06/02/2004] <@Jessica> new genes?
[20:52 06/02/2004] <russ> I bet Steve lomblad(sp) ('Doogie) from the Chiclid exchange provided some in the Colorado area. He's still hot with the bigger clubs in that region:-)
[20:52 06/02/2004] <+samantha> true, but like russ said, perhaps they should be reserved for farms... and not be in a fish store.
[20:52 06/02/2004] <+samantha> I personally couldn't care less whether my fish are wild or not.
[20:52 06/02/2004] <russ> 'Lumblad' ;-)
[20:52 06/02/2004] <+samantha> But I see your point Jess ;)
[20:53 06/02/2004] <@Jessica> i suppose similar effects could be had from ordering fish from different breeders
[20:53 06/02/2004] <+samantha> yes :)
[20:53 06/02/2004] <russ> Collections of FOs will be necessary for a while longer to keep up the integrity of the breed
[20:53 06/02/2004] <@Jessica> rather than obtaining the breeding group from one fry batch right?
[20:53 06/02/2004] <+samantha> Right, mine are from different sources.
[20:56 06/02/2004] <russ> Sam, I just want to say that you have an excellent presentation and chose a fun fish to work with:-)
[20:56 06/02/2004] <+samantha> Thank you Russ :)
[20:57 06/02/2004] <@Craig> And made it VERY hard for me to follow up on.. Thank you.. ;-D
[20:57 06/02/2004] <+samantha> Well thank you all for having me, and for coming tonight :)