Pat

Just an update. One dead egg but the rest now have little heads and tails.

 

The water must be pretty right because my original concern was that their being netted out of a tank full of hungry cichlids then individually handpicked out of the gravelly mess and tossed into a never before tried egg tumbler was going to be too much mistreatment for them.... When you mentioned the water conditions being important to give the eggs a "shell" I was confident I was ok.

 

Basically, if water is suitable Malawi eggs are extremely robust!!

 

I was so pissed off when she spat out all those eggs but its amazing to now have a transparent view on the incubation of a Malawi brood! I guess that's why this hobby can be so addictive. You need the lows to appreciate the highs.

 

Thanks and Regards

Patrick

I have a coloured up and amorous F Rostratus in my smaller tank who is harassing one female. I have tried to catch a couple of females from my larger tank to lighten the load and it was impossible! I remember almost giving up last time and I somehow fluked a catch. They change ends as soon as you put the net in the water, they are LIGHTENING fast and on top of that they can bury and unbury themselves in the sand in the blink of an eye!!! AARRGGH!!! I'll have to do a midnight mission... Sorry had to vent! Is there a harder fish relative to size to catch? The thing is they don't even hide like Mbuna, it's just sheer speed and evasion!!! Outsmarted by a fish...

 

I've definitely noticed a change in the private market from when I was last looking to buy adult Cichlids a few years ago. You can even see on the classifieds here that there are more WTB's than anything and some of the prices people are asking on gumtree for bread and butter cichlids is laughable. My rule of thumb was that I would usually pay a little more than half of what I would pay at an LFS if I was buying privately. Most folks in the know would see getting cash instead of store credit as a bonus. But now the asking prices for private sellers are often (not always) comparable or even exceed LFS prices. Good news for most LFS. That's usually where I head now. You generally get exactly what you want no need to compromise coz the savings aren't there privately anymore.

 

Mate, stick him on gumtree for $200. It wouldn't look out of place and you never know your luck!!!

Hoping someone has a female that they want to swap for my male. He's about 12cm long and my larger male isn't keen on him. Will make a great display fish.

Pat
0428 754 301

It's hard to feel sorry for Carlton and I love to "hate" them but the comp needs a strong Carlton. Financially and culturally...

 

The way I see it is...

Carlton were desperate for success after the lean period they have suffered following the crippling draft sanctions imposed on them by the AFL after they got caught cheating the salary cap a while back. Basically... Carlton, around the time they sacked Ratten, vastly overrated their list and were of the opinion that with a high quality "window coach" they could steal a long overdue (by their lofty standards) premiership. Unfortunately, the kings and heirs who built Carlton did so in an era when reputation, power and money allowed them to top up their list with stars and have a crack at the premiership most years. Many of these kings and their heirs still pull the strings. I just don't think the football department at Carlton has the guts to stand up to the rich boys on the board. They honestly expected their "window coach" to pull off what Fremantle's "window coach" is doing at the moment. But Freo were spot on about where their list was at and about the urgent action required as the expansion teams gathered inevitable momentum on the horizon.

 

Legend has it that the previous Carlton President, the super rich Visy magnate Richard Pratt, begged Kernahan to take over the reins while on his deathbed. Sticks has been at the club in some form for 30 years and he bleeds navy blue. But like most people that are passionate about a cause he seems to have an inability to take a step back and see the uncomfortable truths. It also seems that with his tenure as president coming to an end the temptation was perhaps there for him to try to put a stamp on his legacy with a premiership rather than oversee a fall on the ladder in his final two years due to the implementation of a rebuilding period. Was he just a little selfish or naive? Perhaps a bit of both. It's incredible what even the most intelligent people can make themselves believe if they really want or need it to be so.

 

I reckon Mick Malthouse is at the stage of his career where he simply would not have taken on a club he intended to rebuild. He, for some reason, expected big things this season or next. His unrestrained emotions show me that what's unfolding is definitely not what he signed up for. It also puts his judgment into question. He did leave Collingwood's list with some players that had been allowed to create a poor culture, a culture that's detriment to the club outweighed the players in question's ageing onfield contributions. (Shaw, Didak, Johnson, Jolly.)

 

Nathan Buckly didn't hesitate to make some tough and unpopular decisions after The Pies' suprise exit to Port Adelaide in the 2013 finals. Malthouse kindly made one for him by luring his vastly overrated and injury prone love child,"Daisy," to join his "dad" at Carlton!!! I think Buckley took the Collingwood job fully understanding where his list was at and what was required having been at the club in previous seasons as an assistant. To be fair, Malthouse did not have this luxury at Carlton. Again, unlike Malthouse, Buckley, the rest of the footy department and the board were pragmatic and on the same page about the expectations of the coming years.

 

Collingwood and Geelong are two good examples of teams executing excellent modern list management. Geelong haven't blinked watching Josh Hunt, Paul Chapman and James Podsiadley make solid contributions for their new clubs. Instead they have absorbed injuries to Vardy, Christenson and Motlop, backed in their youngsters and now sit 4 and 0. Collingwood have been impressive also. Anyone who watched the first half of the game last week between the two sides would have been in no doubt as to where they are at. But I digress.....

 

The treatment of Brett Ratten, a Carlton stalwart, I feel, has left a bad taste in everyone at Carltons mouth and has certainly hurt their reputation and culture. A lesser man than Ratten would probably be revelling in Malthouses despair but I think seeing his old club in such a bad place would overide that. He lost no fans and won many with the dignity he displayed in the face of the disrespect and arrogance shown to him by the Carlton board in 2012. If we had room at Geelong I would take him in a heartbeat.

 

Anyway, that's my rather elongated opinion on the original question. (But I'm not a Carlton supporter!) Carlton have buggered up big time. Kernahan will step aside by the end of the year as arranged previously and Malthouse has 2015 to serve on his contract. If they don't improve markedly he will be looking for another bunch of dreamers to coach...

 

These are strictly the opinions of the writer! I'm open to correction, debate or ridicule!

I've been watching the situation in Ukraine with a passing interest up to the point recently where the previous Russian alligned governent was thrown from power, partly through popular protests, that have replaced it with one more open to EU/US overtures. 

 

I am now genuinely concerned. The Russians have already placed forces in the Crimea (Ukrainian territory) based on the reason of protecting "ethnic Russians." The protection by the "mother country" of ethnic groups seperated by a political border has been the reason given for invasions/incursions that have led directly or in part to some of Europes (and the worlds) most horrific conflicts. (WWI, WWII, Balkan Wars.)

 

Whilst the US by no means has a clean record when it comes to inventing reasons for military intervention (WMD's in Iraq) this stand off has potentially much more dire consequences given the military clout (conventional and nuclear) possessed by NATO and the Russians.  

 

There has been so much tough talk and warnings issued by the West it is hard to see how they could stand back and ignore serious aggression in the Ukraine by the Russians.

 

Many are saying it is the most serious threat to global peace since the Cold War.

 

If you watched Channel 7 it made a little segment before the sport....

 

Pat

Must be the most interesting non-Alpine related event in Switzerland's history....

It's just politics. The Federal Liberal government (Abbott) is making the illegal boat arrivals it's Great White Shark while our economy stares into the abyss.... Fear is the politicians best friend. The great distractor.

 

One thing I did find interesting that I read somewhere and it relates back to using the road v shark attacks. Due to the times when we roamed the plains of a much more dangerous world, we are designed to feel a natural sense of anxiety based even on a low percentage chance of an encounter with a large predator. Yet we put our lives in the hands of each and every person (and some total morons) that zip past us at a combined speed of 160km plus hundreds of times a day on the road and we think nothing of it.

 

Evolutionary psychology..... very interesting subject.

Is that a double hulled Chinese aircraft carrier I can see sneaking up on him.....??

I'm at a loss, like most Australians, when it comes to finding anything to respect in our politicians. The fact the Abbott has actually become Prime Minister seems to be an indication of how bare the political cupboard has become. I guess we are lucky in that we can afford to get away with the odd dud but perhaps the day is coming when we won't.

 

While we are by no means living in a totalitarian state, I honestly do feel like we have become just a little less of a democracy since the Liberals took power. Obviously the handing over of the asylum seeker/illegal arrival issue to the military is a very cynical move. It has allowed the enabling of all sorts of powers in relation to "operational secrecy" and "media bans" but the political objective, I think, is clear to most.

 

Additionally, Abbott a devout Chrisitian and renowned climate change skeptic, has decided that we do not need a standalone Science Minister for the first time since 1931. Science has been given as a minor portfolio to Ian McFarlane who is primarily the Minister for Industry. One of his other portfolios is...mining. To me that is frightening. I see the decision as one based purely on personal ideology. It is quite obvious that Science challenges the existence of his version of "god" (because let's face it there are many) and also the conservative mainstay policy of climate change skepticism. Science had to be relegated (placed with industry and mining for an ironic twist!) then he axed The Australian Climate Change Commission for good measure.

 

The lack of women in his cabinet I think, is a fairly obvious reflection of his long held beliefs. I don't think he wakes up in the morning and thinks how much he hates women, which is why he justifiably felt outraged, as did many of us, at Gillards "misogyny" slur. And it was a slur. However, I think he still believes that women, and I quote him " are not physiologically designed for leadership."

 

I found his comments in Malaysia recently most illuminating. When the Malaysians confronted him about his pre-election allegation that asylum seekers exchanged in the proposed 'Malaysian Solution" would be subjected to routine abuse. He merely stated something to the effect of, Oh I didn't mean it, we play our politics tough in Australia.... What the hell?

 

Finally, his religious beliefs get in the way again (regardless of the constitutional reasons he may have given) when he mounted a high court challenge against the ACT's Same Sex Marriage bill. If he was so concerned about the constitution surely he would not simultaneously deny his MP's a conscience vote on the matter at Federal level. 

 

Regardless of your personal views on any of the above topics, I think his behaviour so far has been poor to say the least. He has made populist promises with easy solutions to complex problems and then pursued his own personal ideological agenda.

 

That's how I see it. For once myself and BJF agree. We got a dud. Do I have a solution or a suggested replacement? I actually think Malcolm Turnbull might have made a half decent PM but I just don't think he was prepared to take the "you say black, I say white" approach of most party politicians these days, where their first allegiance is to their party and their second is to this fine nation. (We probably agree on that too BJF.)

 

PS I love the taste of flouride in the water!

http://www.urbandict...php?term=frosty

Ok, as I approach 40 I realise I'm getting a little slow on the uptake on certain things and I reluctantly admit to having to had to resort to Googling the "Urban Dictionary" in order to understand this thread.
 
I'm guessing your mate is paying you with the frosties referred to in point 7 as opposed to point 2 right?
 
If I have got it the wrong way around that is also cool. I may be getting old but I still believe in "live and let live."
 
Regards Pat

It's been a long time since I've been on this forum. I had a bit of a look over the "Off The Wall" section which I've always enjoyed. There was always the odd redneck rant on here but it was generally just good natured ribbing and lively debate. Some of the posts on here are now extremely offensive.

 

There are plenty of forums on the net where paranoid racists can say their piece and I'm sure some of our members frequent these sites and replicate the bile they spill out on this one. It simply should not be allowed on here.

 

Everyone is entitled to their opinion, but I think far too much leniency is been shown to certain individuals who want to throw in a volatile topic starter often based on right wing lies and propaganda. I just picture a kid getting into fish keeping who finds their way onto our site. They happen to be of an ethnic minority, "god" forbid they might even be a Muslim. They check out "Off The Wall" and read the sort of stuff they might expect to find if they had stumbled onto Stormfront. It makes me cringe.

 

Like I said there are certain people that are shown far too much leniency on this forum. I am happy to name them but I think you know exactly who I am talking about. I am by no means a bleeding heart lefty, I am a working class, middle-thirties man. I believe in sensible, controlled immigration and I am a the stereo typical footy loving, beer drinking, Ashes watching Aussie but I am utterly disgusted at what I have been reading in the past half hour.

 

I get that this is Off The Wall. But I assumed that this forum is also part of an inclusive non-descriminatory (except for hybrids) Society. I reiterate that there are plenty of forums where our more racist members can share their extreme opinions with like minded types. I know I will probably offend moderators as they may view this post as me as accusing them of not doing their jobs and I will no doubt offend some of our far right minded members, but I am prepared to wear it.

This can be a bit of a quiet section so I'll update my post!!
Muz is about 12cm now and enjoys a choice diet of culled Malawi and Tang fry (twice a week) along with NLS Cichlid Formula every morning. I don't want to feed him exclusively live food as I have heard that predators can turn their nose up at pellets to the point of starvation if live food is what they are accustomed to. This guy smashes anything live that goes in the tank. It barely hits the surface and BANG! I probably wouldn't buy or intentionally breed fish as food, that is not me (each to their own) but I do have to cull the fry I have and it's a convenient situation for him. I have to admit it is impressive, but there is rarely much natural stalking to watch. Occasionally the first strike is off target. The second one never is. He has learned that when the lid lifts, something tasty is going in.

These guys are great fish to grow up. Prettier than Barra and more confident at 10cm.

He's going to need his 3rd tank soon...

I will post some pics when he is in his next tank...