Chat transcripts

[20:02 13/02/2004] <@Nigel> Hi All, many thanks for taking the time and trouble to visit us here tonight.
[20:03 13/02/2004] <@Nigel> Tonight's speaker is Craig Morrison, a rabid Botia & Loach fan.
[20:03 13/02/2004] <@Nigel> His experience spans many years and is hard won, his solutions have saved a good few fish.
[20:03 13/02/2004] <@Nigel> If you have questions after the session - please type /msg jessica I have a question.
[20:03 13/02/2004] <@Nigel> If any of you are interested in acting as a speaker in the future, please contact <ladyjai@fishpalace.org>
[20:03 13/02/2004] <@Nigel> On that note - Craig, the floor is yours :-)
[20:04 13/02/2004] <@Craig> I hope I can follow in the footsteps of the speakers we have had in the past. :-)
[20:05 13/02/2004] <@Craig> My history with keeping fish is not that long, even though there has been an aquarium in my house for the past 6 years, it has only been the past 2 that I have taken an active role.
[20:06 13/02/2004] <@Craig> In the past 2 years I have had the opportunity to meet a great number of people who are interested in the fascinating species of fish collectively known as loaches.
[20:06 13/02/2004] <@Craig> Tonight I am here to talk to all of you about one species in particular; Botia Sidthimunki--The Dwarf Loach.
[20:07 13/02/2004] <@Craig> The most common name for botia sidthimunki is "sid", such a short name for such a fascinating animal.
[20:08 13/02/2004] <@Craig> Sids are known to be the smallest of the botia family.
[20:09 13/02/2004] <@Craig> While some specimens have been collected in the 16cm range, 10-12cm is more common in the home aquarium. [Ed; metric conversion was off, 8-9cm is more appropriate]
[20:10 13/02/2004] <@Craig> They are ideal for smaller aquariums with at least a 24 inch width. However, since they are the most social botia species a 48 inch tank comes highly recommended.
[20:10 13/02/2004] <@Craig> Once you see their antics in a small group you will surely want more.
[20:11 13/02/2004] <@Craig> Sids were originally discovered in Thailand, you can view a map of their home range at:
[20:11 13/02/2004] <@Craig> http://www.loaches.com/map3.html
[20:12 13/02/2004] <@Craig> In the early years after their introduction into the fish trade they were a highly sought after fish and were pushed almost to the brink of extinction.
[20:12 13/02/2004] <@Craig> The IUCN red list has them listed as critically endangered.
[20:13 13/02/2004] <@Craig> Their status is listed here: http://www.redlist.org/search/details.php?species=2953
[20:14 13/02/2004] <@Craig> In the past few years another source for wild caught sids was discovered in Asia and a breeding program consisting of hormone injections was started to bring this wonderful botia back to the home aquarist.
[20:15 13/02/2004] <@Craig> With that thought in mind, it is imperative that if we try to keep this species of botia, that we give them the utmost care and respect as there may come a time when we are the only source for the fish.
[20:16 13/02/2004] <@Craig> The ideal water condition for sids consists of a pH of 6.5-6.9, hardness is not crucial, 1-15 degrees is fine and as you can see is a broad range.
[20:17 13/02/2004] <@Craig> Sids are a hardy fish if they are introduced into an established tank.
[20:17 13/02/2004] <@Craig> They also have a broad temperature range at which they can be comfortable in; 77-86 F.
[20:19 13/02/2004] <@Craig> Care and maintenance is not especially hard, but is required to follow a strict regimen of water changes on a regular basis.
[20:19 13/02/2004] <@Craig> They come from the clear flowing streams of thailand and are best suited to crisp, clear waters.
[20:20 13/02/2004] <@Craig> Hiding place consisting of caves, driftwood or a densely planted tank will make these animals feel secure and allow them to show you just how delightful they really are.
[20:21 13/02/2004] <@Craig> Sids will accept a broad range of prepared foods from flake to live to frozen, a wide and varied diet is the key to fat and happy sids.
[20:22 13/02/2004] <@Craig> The breeding habits of this species are as yet unknown, only through hormone injections has the species spawned in captivity.
[20:23 13/02/2004] <@Craig> Ideally sids should be kept in numbers of 3 or more, the more the better.
[20:24 13/02/2004] <@Craig> As I mentioned earlier, this is the one true shoaling botia species. A group of 6 or more will bring out their true nature.
[20:24 13/02/2004] <@Craig> They are playful by day and night and always willing to greet their owner in hopes of a tasty morsel to snack on.
[20:25 13/02/2004] <@Craig> While I know that I have shown no justice to this species, I do hope that I have raised some interest in them.
[20:26 13/02/2004] <@Craig> They are a wonderful loach to keep and will provide you with many, many hours of entertainment.
[20:26 13/02/2004] <@Craig> Thank you for coming, if you have any questions, please feel free to ask.
[20:26 13/02/2004] <+Noname> Why are sids collected at such small, almost fry-like sizes, while loaches such as clown, and zebra are collected at around 2 inches +?
[20:26 13/02/2004] <@Jessica> you're up
[20:27 13/02/2004] <@Craig> NN, sids aren't collected from the wild any more, they are mass bred via hormone injection and introduced into the trade at a small size.
[20:27 13/02/2004] <+Noname> ah, thanks
[20:28 13/02/2004] <@Jessica> nigel, your turn
[20:29 13/02/2004] <@Jessica> i quote, lol "thaiand saw the spill off from a major war - did that affect botia at all?"
[20:32 13/02/2004] <@Craig> Unfortunately I can't answer that directly. However, the massive collection of these fish during their initial introduction into the trade was the cause of their almost complete disappearance from Asia.
[20:33 13/02/2004] <+Noname> :D
[20:33 13/02/2004] <+Noname> How long could I keep a few sids in a 15 gallon tank without stunting, until they are large enough not to be sucked into a filter intake or eaten by skunk loaches?
[20:34 13/02/2004] <@Craig> Given the difference in size of the two botias, you should let the sids grow to at least 1.5 inches, at that size they would be more than capable of taking care of themselves.
[20:34 13/02/2004] <@Craig> As with all botias, they too have sub-ocular spines that can be used in defense.
[20:35 13/02/2004] <+Mark> Are sids susceptible to diseases like ich? And what's up with the name "sidthimunki"?
[20:36 13/02/2004] <@Craig> I may be one of the lucky ones, but my sids have never had ich, in the research I have done I have seen no direct anecdotal evidence that states that they are more susceptible to disease than any other tropical fish.
[20:37 13/02/2004] <@Craig> As for the name, well..
[20:37 13/02/2004] <@Craig> I don't know the origina, but I can give you a way to remember how to pronounce it.
[20:37 13/02/2004] <@Craig> Think of this phrase: Sid The Monkey
[20:38 13/02/2004] <@Craig> Run it all together and you have it.
[20:38 13/02/2004] <+Dave> That's quite ironic. When Mike O wrote his article "sid the monkey" on lol he was actually describing nigrolineata :)
[20:38 13/02/2004] <+Dave> but that's another story
[20:38 13/02/2004] <@Craig> Irony is the bane of existence. ;-)
[20:39 13/02/2004] <+Dave> the question was...
[20:39 13/02/2004] <+Dave> you said they average 10-12cm in captivity. Have you ever seen one that size?
[20:39 13/02/2004] <@Craig> I knew someone was going to ask that.. :-)
[20:40 13/02/2004] <@Craig> I haven't personally seen it, no
[20:40 13/02/2004] <+Noname> only a couple (dozen) more craig ^_^
[20:40 13/02/2004] <+Noname> What makes these loach2019s behavior more interesting than say, a zebra loach, or botia Dario?
[20:40 13/02/2004] <@Craig> What I can attest to is my own, after a year they are now 2 inches.
[20:41 13/02/2004] <@Craig> NN, it is their shoaling behavior, of all the botias these show a much more social partnership with each other. The like to be together and play together.
[20:43 13/02/2004] <+russ> Craig, great presentation. Are there any relative captive breeding sites outside of the far East that you know of. Like in Florida or reports from any society members?
[20:44 13/02/2004] <@Craig> All I know of are "grapevine" reports Russ, nothing that I can definitely point a finger at.
[20:44 13/02/2004] <@Jessica> heather your turn
[20:44 13/02/2004] <@Craig> The numbers have been rising in the past year though.
[20:44 13/02/2004] <+Heather> In a community setting, would sids be more of an agressive feeder, I wonder if they
would 'out-compete' other fish for food like some other loaches do
[20:44 13/02/2004] <@Craig> No, they won't, they are very docile, almost playful.
[20:46 13/02/2004] <@Jessica> ok with that we'll open up the floor. thanks much for talking with us about this wonderful loach, craig
[20:46 13/02/2004] <Noname> You mentioned that this botia is found in clear streams and such, does this mean they would be good candidates for a river tank?
[20:46 13/02/2004] <@Craig> Most welcome. :-)
[20:46 13/02/2004] <Noname> good job craig... ^_^
[20:46 13/02/2004] <Heather> Thank you Craig
[20:46 13/02/2004] <Noname> now keep the answers coming.....
[20:46 13/02/2004] <@Craig> NN, it would need to be slightly warmer, they could handle the current though.
[20:46 13/02/2004] <@Craig> They are not cold water fish.
[20:46 13/02/2004] <Noname> hmmm thanks, thats all, for now
[20:47 13/02/2004] <@Jessica> that's it ;-)
[20:47 13/02/2004] <Noname> I must personally thank you for answering all of my questions, as wierd and specific as they were ^_^
[20:47 13/02/2004] <@Jessica> Craig, it was great :-D
[20:47 13/02/2004] <@Craig> Typos excluded. ;-)
[20:47 13/02/2004] <@Jessica> lol
[20:48 13/02/2004] <@Jessica> they're expected, (maybe required
[20:48 13/02/2004] <Noname> must get, sids....no money....curses....sids, or other birthday present....hmmmmmm
[20:48 13/02/2004] <Heather> In your opinion Craig, what is the ideal sid tank?
[20:48 13/02/2004] <@Craig> Honestly. :-D
[20:48 13/02/2004] <Heather> absolutely
[20:49 13/02/2004] <@Craig> A 75 gallon with 25 of them.
[20:49 13/02/2004] <russ> Craig, with the demand for these fish evry increasing in popularity, I would imagine tht breeding activities overseas are getting intense. Are these hormones introduced through their food?
[20:49 13/02/2004] <@Jessica> hehe
[20:49 13/02/2004] <Noname> holy crap../...the price.....
[20:49 13/02/2004] <Noname> 325 dollars......
[20:49 13/02/2004] <Noname> roughly....
[20:49 13/02/2004] <@Craig> Russ, from what I have heard it is standard practice to breed them in drums with the hormones introduced into the water. :-/
[20:50 13/02/2004] <Dave> what happened to the Thai guy who was supposedly breeding them in ponds a few years back?
[20:50 13/02/2004] <Heather> yeah but it would be worth it!
[20:50 13/02/2004] <russ> Craig, thanks, I guess that would work faster;-)
[20:50 13/02/2004] <@Craig> The biggest problem with breeding them is that no one really knows and those that do aren't letting it out.
[20:51 13/02/2004] <@Craig> Dave, I never came across that? Do you have a link to more information on it?
[20:51 13/02/2004] <russ> I've heard many of that breeding story come out of the far East
[20:51 13/02/2004] <Noname> is it true they are sexually dimorphic?
[20:51 13/02/2004] <Dave> sorry Craig I never bookmarked it. It was mentioned in a thread on LOL back in '99 or '00
[20:52 13/02/2004] <@Craig> NN, that's a big word I never have gotten around..
[20:52 13/02/2004] <Noname> are there psysical differences between genders>
[20:53 13/02/2004] <russ> NN's science homework comming into fruitation;-)
[20:53 13/02/2004] <Dave> All loaches are sexually dimporhic
[20:53 13/02/2004] <Dave> typo ^
[20:53 13/02/2004] <Noname> oh, quite... -_-
[20:53 13/02/2004] <Noname> actually it wasnt science homework, just random fish research
[20:54 13/02/2004] <@Craig> If they follow basic botia trends, which I am completely not sure of, the females would tend to be more fully bodied and rounder in the abdomen.
[20:54 13/02/2004] <Noname> does that mean my bigger of 3 skunks is female or is it just the head of the pack and thus eaten more and gotten bigger?
[20:55 13/02/2004] <@Craig> You'd have to look at the under belly, there is a distinct "roundness" to the females, males are more "flat".
[20:55 13/02/2004] <Dave> If she's bigger as in more fully bodied then there's a good chance she's female.
[20:56 13/02/2004] <russ> Thanks again Craig:-) I have to be AFk for a few, but be back later tonight:-)
[20:56 13/02/2004] <Dave> Same with clowns, modestas, sids, etc
[20:56 13/02/2004] <@Craig> Dave, next time you get to co-host. ;-D
[20:57 13/02/2004] <@Jessica> lol
[20:57 13/02/2004] <@Jessica> next time.. he can be speaker?
[20:57 13/02/2004] <@Craig> I am not expert, I will admit to that up front, just and avid, yes sometimes called rabid loach fan.
[20:57 13/02/2004] <Dave> sorry. Thought it was open floor time :)
[20:58 13/02/2004] <Noname> it is
[20:58 13/02/2004] <@Jessica> it is dave
[20:58 13/02/2004] <Heather> Do any albinos ever show up?
[20:58 13/02/2004] <Noname> we all just think of craig as the loach god
[20:58 13/02/2004] <@Jessica> {me is plugging for more speakers)
[20:58 13/02/2004] <@Craig> It is Dave, by all means speak up.
[20:58 13/02/2004] <Dave> it was a great presentation Craig btw
[20:58 13/02/2004] <Noname> Dave, as a loach expert, what is your favourite loach? :D
[20:59 13/02/2004] <Dave> Well noname, it's got to be the sidthimunki, but I'm not an expert, just an enthusiast
[20:59 13/02/2004] <@Craig> That puts us in the same boat Dave.
[20:59 13/02/2004] <Noname> lol
[20:59 13/02/2004] <Heather> I'l try again LOL
[20:59 13/02/2004] <Heather> do any albinos ever show up?
[20:59 13/02/2004] <@Jessica> lol
[21:00 13/02/2004] <@Craig> Heather, soz, it is possible.
[21:00 13/02/2004] <@Craig> But I have never seen one personally.
[21:00 13/02/2004] <Dave> I've never seen nor heard of an albino sid but it's possible
[21:00 13/02/2004] <@Craig> There's an echo in here. :-D
[21:01 13/02/2004] <Dave> you type too fast :D
[21:01 13/02/2004] <@Jessica> there's an echo in here. :-D
[21:01 13/02/2004] <@Jessica> ;-)
[21:01 13/02/2004] <@Jessica> everyone got quiet?
[21:02 13/02/2004] <Heather> rolling spare change with kiddo ;)
[21:02 13/02/2004] <rewm> yeah
[21:02 13/02/2004] <Dave> How many sids does everybody here have?
[21:02 13/02/2004] <rewm> that was great craig
[21:02 13/02/2004] <Heather> 0
[21:02 13/02/2004] <@Jessica> 9
[21:02 13/02/2004] <Noname> 0.....
[21:02 13/02/2004] <rewm> 0
[21:03 13/02/2004] <Dave> 18
[21:03 13/02/2004] <Noname> birthday coming up, still not sure if they are worth the price of a videogame or DVD set.....
[21:03 13/02/2004] <Heather> 1 lfs has offered to order them, 1 said 'huh?' and the other one stopped selling freshwater
[21:03 13/02/2004] <@Jessica> ORLF
[21:03 13/02/2004] <@Jessica> rofl, even
[21:03 13/02/2004] <Noname> lol
[21:03 13/02/2004] <@Jessica> powerful question ;-)
[21:03 13/02/2004] <@Jessica> if it'll stop them from selling freshwater ;-)
[21:04 13/02/2004] <Dave> better than any videogame or dvd
[21:04 13/02/2004] <@Craig> I missed it.. I have 13.. :-D
[21:04 13/02/2004] <Heather> natl geographic's sex show is on guys
[21:04 13/02/2004] <Noname> dont get that in Canada....
[21:04 13/02/2004] <rewm> we never get the good stuff
[21:04 13/02/2004] <@Jessica> umm... sids.... back on topic...
[21:04 13/02/2004] <Noname> at least not on the cable I have,... LOL
[21:04 13/02/2004] <Heather> Craig, erase that on the transcript :O
[21:05 13/02/2004] <Noname> LOL
[21:05 13/02/2004] <@Jessica> lol
[21:05 13/02/2004] <Dave> my lfs has 8 little half-inch sids in and I'm tempted
[21:05 13/02/2004] <@Craig> I'm gonna make that one bold..
[21:05 13/02/2004] <@Jessica> lolol
[21:05 13/02/2004] <@Craig> Dave, so your LFS is as bad as mine?
[21:05 13/02/2004] <Noname> Must, resist....buying....sids......so expensive....but so cool.......
[21:05 13/02/2004] <@Jessica> dave... 26! :-D
[21:06 13/02/2004] <Dave> could be 26 by the end of the weekend :-)
[21:06 13/02/2004] <Dave> Yeah Craig, my lfs is terrible :-)
[21:06 13/02/2004] <Dave> The owner even emailed me a few month's back to say they'd got kubotai in
[21:06 13/02/2004] <@Craig> You've seen Martin, Jim and I banter about mine.
[21:07 13/02/2004] <Dave> I've quick-read some of your guy's banter but not picked up on the detail
[21:08 13/02/2004] <@Craig> Jim drives up to my LFS which about 2 hours away to buy fish.
[21:08 13/02/2004] <Noname> my lfs just got several hundred sids in.......
[21:08 13/02/2004] <Noname> mocking me with their price tag....
[21:08 13/02/2004] <@Craig> And those two got me hooked on hillstreams. :-D
[21:08 13/02/2004] <Dave> It must be a good place for him to drive that far
[21:09 13/02/2004] <@Craig> Dave, it is.
[21:09 13/02/2004] <Dave> sounds like noname has a good lfs too :-)
[21:09 13/02/2004] <@Craig> Shameless plug: http://www.2cah.com/aqworld/
[21:09 13/02/2004] <Dave> I'll have a looksee later
[21:09 13/02/2004] <Noname> its good for a semi-chain
[21:10 13/02/2004] <@Craig> Getting back to sids...
[21:10 13/02/2004] <Noname> VERY good for a semi chain actually
[21:10 13/02/2004] <Noname> very few stores have a "loach" isle ^_^
[21:10 13/02/2004] <@Craig> What's everyone's thoughts on their favorite thing that they do?
[21:11 13/02/2004] <@Jessica> waving at you in the morning... lol
[21:11 13/02/2004] <Noname> getting sucked into filter intakes (:()
[21:11 13/02/2004] <@Jessica> though seeing 9 streaming across the back of the tank is fun too
[21:11 13/02/2004] <@Craig> Geoff!
[21:11 13/02/2004] <Noname> I mean.....schooling....
[21:11 13/02/2004] <@Jessica> lol
[21:11 13/02/2004] <@Craig> I did miss one link in the presentation I wanted to get in..
[21:12 13/02/2004] <Dave> I just like the way they "buzz" around together like a bunch of bees
[21:12 13/02/2004] <@Craig> They was just babes then: http://www.2cah.com/pets/loaches/sids2.JPG
[21:12 13/02/2004] <@Jessica> :-D
[21:13 13/02/2004] <Noname> wow, my skunks know its nightime even though I left the light on....smart fish.....
[21:13 13/02/2004] <@Craig> Most if not all of the sids in that pic are 2 inches now.
[21:13 13/02/2004] <@Jessica> gotta love em...
[21:13 13/02/2004] <@Jessica> geoff, its called a loach ;-)
[21:13 13/02/2004] <Noname> why must loaches be so cool?
[21:13 13/02/2004] <@Jessica> because they are loaches
[21:13 13/02/2004] <@Jessica> :-D
[21:13 13/02/2004] <Noname> I must buy some pictus to see if they can compare in behavior.....
[21:14 13/02/2004] <@Craig> Never!
[21:14 13/02/2004] <Noname> lol
[21:14 13/02/2004] <@Jessica> geoff!!!!
[21:14 13/02/2004] <Noname> ....what?
[21:14 13/02/2004] <@Jessica> pictus... pfft
[21:14 13/02/2004] <@Craig> Loaches r00l..
[21:14 13/02/2004] <@Jessica> (nice fish of their own accord...but... sids rule!
[21:14 13/02/2004] <Noname> like to see loaches online people go against planetcatfish's mofia....
[21:14 13/02/2004] <@Jessica> along with all the rest of the Loachy Collective
[21:15 13/02/2004] <@Jessica> lol
[21:15 13/02/2004] * @Craig points at Dave
[21:15 13/02/2004] <@Craig> He's a LoL'er..
[21:15 13/02/2004] <Noname> Planetcatfish seems like a cult.....must....join....
[21:15 13/02/2004] <Dave> :)
[21:15 13/02/2004] <@Jessica> lol
[21:15 13/02/2004] <Noname> I can see it now, a movie, Catfish vs Loach II the rematch
[21:15 13/02/2004] <@Craig> And most welcome here Dave, drop by anytime.
[21:16 13/02/2004] <@Jessica> definately :-D
[21:16 13/02/2004] <@Craig> Catfish suck, loaches rule..
[21:16 13/02/2004] <Noname> grrrrr
[21:16 13/02/2004] <@Jessica> lol
[21:16 13/02/2004] <Dave> can I show you a bad pic of the biggest sid I've ever seen?
[21:16 13/02/2004] <@Craig> Well, catfish do suck! :-D
[21:16 13/02/2004] <Noname> LOL
[21:16 13/02/2004] <@Jessica> dave yes!
[21:16 13/02/2004] <@Craig> Dave, go for it!
[21:16 13/02/2004] <Noname> catfish?
[21:16 13/02/2004] * @Craig thinks he knows this pic too.
[21:16 13/02/2004] <Noname> -_-
[21:16 13/02/2004] <@Jessica> craig.... *shakes head* lol
[21:17 13/02/2004] <Noname> like to see ANY loach try to take on the coolness of a red-tail catfish, not that redtails should be sold.....
[21:17 13/02/2004] <Dave> just gotta get ftp fired up...
[21:17 13/02/2004] <@Craig> NN, try an 8 inch clown loach that is almost 2 inches from belly to dorsal..
[21:18 13/02/2004] <Noname> lol
[21:18 13/02/2004] <@Jessica> hiya
[21:18 13/02/2004] <@Craig> Dude! Yer late!
[21:18 13/02/2004] * @Craig is Basher
[21:19 13/02/2004] <@Jessica> hi JBall
[21:19 13/02/2004] <JBall> I know. Could not connect.
[21:19 13/02/2004] <Dave> it's just uploading now...
[21:19 13/02/2004] <JBall> Did I miss it?
[21:19 13/02/2004] <@Craig> Yeah, but there will be a transcript posted soon.
[21:20 13/02/2004] <@Craig> Feel free to ask questions, babble about your fish, etc..
[21:20 13/02/2004] <JBall> thanks, sorry
[21:20 13/02/2004] <Noname> babblebabble..pictus......babble....
[21:20 13/02/2004] <JBall> Was it fun for everyone?
[21:20 13/02/2004] <@Craig> NN, L O A C H E S
[21:20 13/02/2004] <Dave> Here you go. The swordtail in the pic is about 2"
[21:20 13/02/2004] <Dave> http://www.dave-guest.pwp.blueyonder.co.uk/pics/chestersid1.jpg
[21:21 13/02/2004] <@Craig> It was for me, JBall, I made it through with a minimum of typos. ;-)
[21:21 13/02/2004] <@Jessica> lol, i liked it
[21:21 13/02/2004] <@Craig> Dat is one FAT sid..
[21:21 13/02/2004] <Noname> indeed
[21:21 13/02/2004] <JBall> craig, I'm happy for you. Can't wai tto read it
[21:21 13/02/2004] <@Jessica> wow
[21:21 13/02/2004] <@Jessica> awesome :-D
[21:22 13/02/2004] <rewm> nice pic
[21:22 13/02/2004] <Dave> It's about 3.5" long, 8-9cm
[21:22 13/02/2004] <@Jessica> craig that would be a hint to not wait to long on the transcript ;-)
[21:22 13/02/2004] <Dave> crap pic rewm :)
[21:22 13/02/2004] <@Craig> And you were asking me about 10cm?!?!?!
[21:22 13/02/2004] <@Craig> Hehehe. :-D
[21:22 13/02/2004] <rewm> better than mine lol
[21:22 13/02/2004] <@Jessica> lol
[21:22 13/02/2004] <Dave> taken at Chester Zoo last year.
[21:23 13/02/2004] <Dave> But you said they average 10cm! That guy is almost 20 years old
[21:23 13/02/2004] <@Jessica> wow!
[21:23 13/02/2004] <JBall> no not a hint
[21:23 13/02/2004] <@Craig> My math sucks.. :-/
[21:23 13/02/2004] <@Jessica> a demand? lol
[21:23 13/02/2004] <@Craig> Especially when it comes to metric conversions.
[21:24 13/02/2004] <@Craig> Dave, how big are yours?
[21:24 13/02/2004] <Dave> Mine are about 2", or 5cm
[21:24 13/02/2004] <@Craig> How old?
[21:24 13/02/2004] <@Jessica> craig, simple put pull up the calc. take the cm and divide by 2.5 not exact, but close enought
[21:24 13/02/2004] <Dave> The oldest I've had since '99 so 4 and a half years
[21:25 13/02/2004] <@Craig> Hmm...
[21:25 13/02/2004] <@Jessica> a 20 year old sid.... wow
[21:25 13/02/2004] <@Craig> Did they spurt up to that size and then stop?
[21:25 13/02/2004] <Dave> Mine are *nowhere* near as big as the gal in the pic
[21:25 13/02/2004] <@Jessica> craig, lol
[21:25 13/02/2004] <@Craig> I'm serious..
[21:25 13/02/2004] <Dave> she's an exceptional specimen imho
[21:25 13/02/2004] <@Jessica> i know craig
[21:26 13/02/2004] <@Jessica> i'm laughing because i can see your brain ;-)
[21:26 13/02/2004] <Dave> the photo doesn't do her justice
[21:26 13/02/2004] <@Craig> I've had mine for just over a year and the majority of them are at 2 inches now.
[21:27 13/02/2004] <Dave> ime they grow extremely quick to 2" and then they just get fatter
[21:28 13/02/2004] <@Craig> Typical botia growth patterns then, get everyone excited, then get fat..
[21:28 13/02/2004] <Dave> sorry just seen your earlier Q. Yes they went from tiny to 1.5"-2" in about a year. They haven't grown much since then
[21:29 13/02/2004] <Noname> Bye all
[21:29 13/02/2004] <Dave> exactly :-)