17 replies to this topic

[humbug]

Looking for any Rhamphochromis which may be around, adults or juvi.  Anyone in WA breeding them these days? 

If you have any you would be prepared to part with, please let me know. 

I'm in South Australia.  Even if you aren't able to ship, I'm sure we can find a way to make it happen!

[Fox]

Thats a hard one Kathy, last ones I heard of were with Ken Harvey.
I think one of the guys here grabbed a few of his stock. Not sure what though.

[Buccal]

R.chilingali,,,,, I got about 15 about a month off from beginning to mature.
These are the last clutch offspring I kept before having a break from breeding, (extracting fry and sales), and had the original colony shipped from Queensland a while back.
I would have thought swaps, but a while back, after you flaunted your fish pics on here, I asked if you'd be interested in shipping me some fish, and you said no, you don't supply other than shops, so im no go then ???,,, or you good to go ??? Because your in need now,,,, Hah ha,,,,,, I'm not being a bum hole, I'm serious, If you don't remember,,

[Poncho]

Pure class

[Buccal]

Yep,, treat others how they treat me,, but there's a cut off point so I don't reduce myself to that level.
And yep, that's me,, when I got nothing to lose.
I've got enough people in this world to vouch that I'm kind and generous and very giving of my own time to help anyone.
It's people who draw lines down groups of people and treat them accordingly just based on judgement rather than experiencing first to have good reason for, this is what create issues.
When it comes to fairness,,, I'll philosophize the hell out of it.

But don't forget Poncho, this is a classified, we shouldn't be squabbling here like this.
"pure class". Haha,,, Very aparent who the trouble causer is considering our unstable history.

Edited by Buccal, 16 September 2016 - 04:22 AM.

[Buccal]

Pure class

i simply said what I said because I thought humbug may have reasons for not wanting to deal with me for whatever reasons.

[Ageofaquariums]

Likely still someone breeding the Rhamphochromis macrophthalmus in QLD. At least I am sure it was macros.

 

[Poncho]

i simply said what I said because I thought humbug may have reasons for not wanting to deal with me for whatever reasons.

No that's not what you're doing. You are taking a cheap shot in a public domain targeted at another person who has contributed in the past to this forum and effectively scaring away yet another person whom has something to offer other members. I think you see this as some kind of threat to your perceived status here. Using words like "flaunt your pictures" indicate that you are not simply trying to see if there is a reason humbug won't deal with you. Putting your post in a public domain indicates you want there to be awareness of what you have to say to humbug - you haven't wanted to make people aware of any previous "dealings" before now so that's not typical.

I'm nor squabbling, I'm moderating. While this backhanded, cowardly type of remark isn't directly against any t&c and shouldn't be removed, it does create a negative atmosphere for this forum and moderators need to address that. In this case you should have continued to use the pm function to find out if humbug had an issue with you. Instead you publicly attempt to belittle her. Therefore I've made a comment that highlights your poor form. I don't think it will do anything to change your behaviour on this forum but at least it indicates to humbug that your behaviour towards her is not consistent with everyone else here. If there are actually people here that think you are a "kind and generous" person, then highlighting this type of behaviour may also encourage them to reconsider their opinion.

So no Buccal, I'm not squabbling - I'm moderating and to use bigjohnos words - telling it how it is

[humbug]

Yes, I have a policy of only selling the fish I breed to shops, with very few exceptions.  I can assure you, Buccal, that I apply that same policy consistently to ALL – even to people in my own state.  It is a stance I have taken for several years now.  I am sure that there are many people on this forum who can attest to that, as they too have contacted me and have received EXACTLY the same response. 
 

I do occasionally deal with people individually in states where I don’t have a relationship with a shop, but even then I generally first point them towards one or other of the reputable, specialist businesses who are in a position to ship nationally.  On the odd occasions that I do sell privately, I ensure that prices are commensurate with retail prices so I am not undercutting dinky-die businesses.
 

Why?  Because I’m concerned about the survival of specialist aquariums shops.  I believe that their survival is essential to the survival of our hobby.  I feel my stance is one tiny thing that I can do to try to help support these guys in a tough economic climate. If anyone has issues with that position, well so be it. I'm comfortable with my own decisions.
 

Having said that, I do also spend an inordinate amount of my time helping people locate good quality, pure fish, from both private breeders and industry sources around the country.  I will just as quickly point individuals to other sources of good quality fish, even if they are trying to source a species which I myself keep.  I’m certainly not protective of what I keep. In my eyes, the best way of keeping any species safe is to have them in the hands of a number of dedicated hobbyists – people prepared to foster those fish long term, and help to maintain a steady stream of juvis available to hobbyists.
 

I’m not into breeding fish to make money.  It’s a hobby for me.  No – that’s understating it – they are my passion.  I’ve been around for long enough to understand the risks facing our hobby, and those risks are greater now than they have ever been. I will do everything I can to help make sure that future generations of cichlid enthusiasts have the same opportunities that I’ve had to keep some of the amazing species we have here.

And believe it or not, people share photos for reasons other than trying to flog fish.  Some of us are keen to show others what are still about, to engage in discussion, to compare notes with others, and to share experiences.
 

With regards to trying to obtain Rhamps – my first avenue was to approach the specialist shops likely to have them, and who are able to ship.  I would be MORE than happy to purchase these retail if I could locate them.  It was only when I drew a blank with shops that I started to look elsewhere. 
 

There appear to be quite a few people around keeping R. chilingali.   I have much more serious concerns about R. macrophthalmus.  I had a young group which had bred a couple of times but not produced fry. I lost all but one female recently when an air pump failed while I was travelling away from home.  I would be very appreciative of any leads to a breeder of these fish, or other Rhamp species!

Edited by humbug, 16 September 2016 - 09:32 AM.

[Chopstick_mike]

Well written

[humbug]

 

Likely still someone breeding the Rhamphochromis macrophthalmus in QLD. At least I am sure it was macros.

 

 

Any help with leads would be gratefully appreciated!!!!  

[Buccal]

Humbug, absolutely love your words, a few people I know could vouch my business ethics are just like yours, you'll see many of my history posts saying very similar things to you.
The only time I ever got narky, was when people weren't understanding the coin serious breeders dropped and time taken to obtain German lines and wilds,,, we always like to get the money back off the initial cost (well aim for), then start lowering the price, then once someone else has finally bred them, the price drops even more, then we are out to do our duty again (new Germans).
Some people from history in Perth, just never understood the concept,,, selling privately blows holes in clean cut numbers to supply shops with to.
I like to make enough money to cover all costs, but because my breeding unit is so compact yet so huge still in size I need a bare minimum of 138,000 liters per hour to be suffient for the fish,,,,, 30,000 L/H x 4 and 18,000 L/H, the 18k pump is the rays section.
But just to pull money to cover costs would probably have people that don't understand think different things.
I get a smile when I get a bit of profit for the labor.

Yeah I was the main hard soul distributor of R.macrop for a solid 2 years, now only a few males reside in my display.
Unfortunately some time back we had two huge storms within 26 hours or so apart, multiple suburb black outs, saw me with a double whammy of 9 and 11 hour black outs,,,,, unfortunately in a big tub was my next generation ready to go, they were really crammed in there ready to go into tank, big power head raging,,, wasn't home for most of the first blackout, they must of died fast.
Tropheus colonies got done over,,, but fortunately and amazingly everything else got through for the most part.

Let me know if you decide later you want chilingali and I can get them to a shop for you,, but as I said before, likely 4-6 months till they go at it.

My belief is that rhamp macs get big and are their own downfall for existence in the hobby,,, big frontys can go in a 4 footer, we'll get away with it,, but the magnificent macs are to wild minded and need space.
They charge ambush in natural habitat, come from underneath fish school 100 miles a hour and chomps in,, for this reason, they can't perform their task in the tank, so they remain docile. Superb fish,,, steel silver shiny grey with a hint of steel blue tint and bright yellow anal fin.
Just the way the act and move for spawning is mesmorising.

But yes ageofaquariums is correct,, at least 10 months ago I knew they were there.
Queensland forum I'd say.....

[Ageofaquariums]

Quite a few breeders of them over the years in QLD. Many were being pumped out by Mario in Wishart and The German Steve. But yea QLD forum would be best way to find someone who ships. Guy posting as None, would have a source surely.

[Buccal]

Yeah those guys were dispersing them either before or after me, at the time I couldn't see them anywhere, and I remembered them around some time before I had them, then some time after I had them.
My guess would be two proper viable breeders roughly in Queensland would be the only place atm.

These fish once close to full size or more, actually can go into very long times between spawns,, but can be very busy when younger,, spooked very easy with the net catching holding females, spit real easy,,, be ready with a bucket and 10mm flexi pipe to siphon the eggs out fast,,
Bare minimum 6ft tank with 5-7 full growns.

[Stormfyre]

Ask The_German in the QLDAF cichlid section.

[humbug]

Ask The_German in the QLDAF cichlid section.
 

 

Thanks guys.  Have sent a PM, and posted on QLDAF.  Will see how we go.

 

Edited by humbug, 18 September 2016 - 09:15 AM.

[Poncho]

Good luck

Would be great to see these guys on offer at the lfs's again.

[Buccal]

Yeah, I'd grab them if I saw them again.
Having both chilingali and macropthalmus avaliable is a excellent choice for people to have,,, if your tank is nice and big, then your macropthalmus specie,,,, smaller tanks the chilingali are the go.