22 replies to this topic

[oo fish styx oo]

I went to Regan's new school here in Canberra for Parent / Teacher interviews the other day.

I had a meeting with her class teacher and an interview with her "environment" (science) teacher. The Environment centre at her school is fantastic, they have chickens, rabbits, worm farms, vegetable patch, recycling, compost, etc. etc.

While I was talking to the teacher, the conversation came around to fish and aquariums. They have two 30" tanks in the classroom, and he explained that they lost a lot of the tropicals in the tank, regularly, and that he was thinking of changing to goldfish.

We went inside, both the aquariums were empty. The year 6's had cleaned it out that day. Emptied the water out, cleaned the gravel under a tap, given the filter media a good rinse out in nice hot water, and rubbed the glass clean inside and out. The fish themselves were in ice cream containers (no heater) overnight until the tank was dry and they could put everything back in.

Apparently (gasp in surprise) a lot of the fish die after these monthly cleans!

Needless to say, I gave him an incredulous stare and explained about the cycling process. I could not believe that a science teacher hadn't even researched that far!

Seems I now have two new fish tanks to play with, he's asked me to help out with them, he has a high budget and money to spare. I thought something that would breed in the tank would be ideal, so might recommend multis for one.... do you think 30" standard would be big enough for a pair of convicts, or any other suggestions for something that will breed in a smaller tank and not kill babies? They don't have to be cichlids, something relatively easy to look after would be great.

Cheers

Colleen

[eX024]

At least after the monthly clean the tank must have looked damn clean!

I find shellies interesting to watch and they'd go well in a small tank, but they're not that colourful and kids might night like them too much. Don't multis live together well and raise their own fry? (not sure, I've never kept them)

[Brett4Perth]

Not the first batch of fish killed by "kindness" and won't be last. Glad to see you have taken them under your wing Colleen.

How about some bristlenose, not that hard to breed and pretty tough. Nice big eggs the kids can see and the fry are cute. Parents so ugly you have to love them.

Good Luck
Brett

[anchar]

Hi Colleen,
I used to breed guppies and bristlenoses together successfully....that way you also have some kiddie colour happening

merjo

[mtchye]

Hey Colleen,

At least you can now have your cichlid "fix" vicariously through the school!

A small colony of multis I would have thought would be ideal.

That guppies / bristlenose idea sounds pretty good too - especially since the kids can learn about viviparous/oviparous styles of breeding in one tank...

Good luck choosing

Vincent

Visit the:
Perth Cichlid Forums

[oo fish styx oo]

Excellent Ideas, thanks all. I am going to be looking for some multis for myself, so might suggest a colony of those for one of the tanks, and I guess I'll keep my eyes open for some Bristlenose / Guppies for the other tank.

Cheers

Cold Colleen

[canerod]

hey Colleen
multies are great.
By the way, your old colony will soon be moving up to a 100lt 80cm x 40cm but at the mo their still goin great guns in the 2 ft.
The other option you could look at would be an established colony of N brichardi, they look cool too with their lyretails and long fins and they look after their offspring.
Bob

[oo fish styx oo]

Thanks Bob

I had thought of brichardi, but not sure if the tank will be big enough. I will have to see what is available first.

Cheers

Colleen

[vishy101]

Hi Colleen,
Ralph is still going strong, and the tanks starting to look better. Discus should be on the way, mum's the only one stopping me. Have fun setting up the tanks.
Matt

[Alistair Grev]

OK clearly Geophagus steindachneri are the way to go! If not go for archocentrus sajica

[Chilli Powder]

I personally think that the multis for a 30" tank, especially with the kids is too boring. Might want to pile a bit a of rock at one end and put either some caudos or princess

Yes, I agree that the other tank should be different. Sword tails, angels etc should be good.

Cheers.
Arj.

Arj’s Aquarium | Chilli_Powder@telstra.com | Melbourne

[here fishie fishie]

When i had a seafood shop, we had a pair of convicts in a 24" Tank, mum albino, dad striped. They bred like rabbits, great parents, & great food source for my Alto's. shhhh didnt tell the public that people used to love seeing babies & ask questions, like are the parents eating them , are they for sale, is that where your fillets come from ....the tank got more comments than the pin ball machine.

Frenchy

One thing I know, & that is that I know nothing.

[BettaAnt]

lol...thats not good. Being a future teacher i plan to design teaching units that include all there is to know about fish keeping, i think it can have really great educational benifits from young children to upper secondary. This could span across all the curriculum areas from Science, Geography to Society and the Environment. It also prvides for something different in the curriculum areas instead of the same boring subject areas.

Would those parents out there like their children learning this in the school????

Provided it is taught the correct way..lol

Anthony

We spend all of our lives gong out of our mind, looking back to our birth, forward to our demise, but even scientists say every thing is just light, not created, destroyed, but eternally bright ~LIVE~

[BettaAnt]

yea docos can promote boredom..lol..but if they had a tank in the class with a colony of cichlids that would surely generate some intrest in the subject.

Anthony

We spend all of our lives gong out of our mind, looking back to our birth, forward to our demise, but even scientists say every thing is just light, not created, destroyed, but eternally bright ~LIVE~

[BettaAnt]

aahhh... i see... no problems. I was replying to the original post..oops

We spend all of our lives gong out of our mind, looking back to our birth, forward to our demise, but even scientists say every thing is just light, not created, destroyed, but eternally bright ~LIVE~

Edited by: BettaAnt at: 7/5/04 10:14 pm

[Boots n all]

He is something l found this morning on the ACE(SPC) forum, maybe the two teachers should meet
scp.ipbhost.com/index.php?showtopic=7993