Amphibious' 135 gal Reef

[V]

Nice bud.
Ampage, how come your spreading red jelly everywhere, you hoping to cultivate bikini girls for wrestling as well?

[Amphibious]

Uh huh!

[saltaddict]

It’s yours BUT you have to come and get it! Oh, I’m such a devilish old man.





Dick

Don't be surprised if I show up on your door step holding a fishy bag!!

[rayme07]

Don't be surprised if I show up on your door step holding a fishy bag!!

LOL It would be worth the trip.

[saltaddict]

LOL It would be worth the trip.

It would be so worth it!!

[Amphibious]

Don't be surprised if I show up on your door step holding a fishy bag!!

LOL, now that would be a treat, you at my doorstep!!! You’d better have the girls with you or NO DEAL!!!

Ampage, how come your spreading red jelly everywhere, you hoping to cultivate bikini girls for wrestling as well?

Now there’s a thought. Wrestling bikini girls in strawberry jelly. You guys down under come up with some of the best suggestions. Not sure my heart could stand the excitement, V.

[saltaddict]

LOL, now that would be a treat, you at my doorstep!!! You’d better have the girls with you or NO DEAL!!!



Now there’s a thought. Wrestling bikini girls in strawberry jelly. You guys down under come up with some of the best suggestions. Not sure my heart could stand the excitement, V.

You sure are demanding!! LMAO
I might bring the girls but I am not wrestling in strawberry jelly - Grape maybe!! LOL

[Amphibious]

Yes, demanding comes with age. You get to a point in life where you don’t give a hoot about being politically correct or socially accepted. You are who you’ve become, it’s too late to change, you get tired of conforming to other people’s expectations of who you ought to be, or how you should act around them, and you decide one day you no longer care what other people think. How’s that for a laugh?

Grape jelly, I suppose for you I could make an exception. Yee gads what a man has to do for the sake of love. What about “Cool Whip”? Lite cool whip, of course. I’m on a diet.

[saltaddict]

Yes, demanding comes with age. You get to a point in life where you don’t give a hoot about being politically correct or socially accepted. You are who you’ve become, it’s too late to change, you get tired of conforming to other people’s expectations of who you ought to be, or how you should act around them, and you decide one day you no longer care what other people think. How’s that for a laugh?

Grape jelly, I suppose for you I could make an exception. Yee gads what a man has to do for the sake of love. What about “Cool Whip”? Lite cool whip, of course. I’m on a diet.

Not conforming doesn't just come with age - I don't conform and I am 21!!!

Cool whip is fine - NOT Lite - that stuff taste awful. Real deal or nothing!

[Amphibious]

Your 21??? Thank god. I don’t have to worry about the age police knocking on my door right in the middle of the MATCH. OK, it’s the real deal.

Are we going to have to transfer this to the adult only forum???

[CarmieJo]

LOL, Rhonda, hold out for real whip cream!

[saltaddict]

LOL - I guess if I have to wrestle in jelly and whip cream to get that fish then it would be worth it!! It is certainly a beautiful fish.

[rayme07]

Yes, demanding comes with age. You get to a point in life where you don’t give a hoot about being politically correct or socially accepted. You are who you’ve become, it’s too late to change, you get tired of conforming to other people’s expectations of who you ought to be, or how you should act around them, and you decide one day you no longer care what other people think. How’s that for a laugh?

lol then I must be old because I am that way right now. I am who I am and who I want to be and no one is going to change that. Even though a lot of people tell me I am a 50 year old in a 17 year old body. LOL

LOL - I guess if I have to wrestle in jelly and whip cream to get that fish then it would be worth it!! It is certainly a beautiful fish.

LOL Well we all know who would win.

[saltaddict]

It is called being wise beyond your years Ray and that is a good thing.....

I would wrestle you for it Ray - you would have to wear the bikini too!!LOL

[rayme07]

I would wrestle you for it Ray - you would have to wear the bikini too!!LOL

LOL I joined the wrestling team at my high school so I know a few moves. But I don't think I would look to good in a bikini all that manly hair on my legs and chest would not be attractive. Well I guess I can get my bikini line and chest waxed.LOL

[saltaddict]

You let me know how that waxing turns out Ray!!!

[rayme07]

You let me know how that waxing turns out Ray!!!

LOL

[Amphibious]

OK Kidos, up and out of the Cool Whip and Strawberry Jam. Hit the showers. NO, not together! I want my thread back.

Moving right along...



There are two Calloplesiops altivelis, Marine Bettas (no relation to the FW Betta) in the tank that have been with me of three years. Very shy members of the Grouper family. They mostly live within the LR. This one appears regularly, the other comes out for feedings and will come out and swim the length of the tank occasionally. The Marine Betta is now being bred in captivity in small numbers. They still command a pretty steep price in the $60 to $80 range. The wild caught are picky eaters at first but will learn in time where the food comes into the tank. If you are looking for a showy fish I’d recommend this one. Be aware they are members of the Grouper family and, even though they are relatively small (4”), ornamental shrimp could be considered dinner.

Next, every Newbies nemesis... Synchiropus splendidus



The spectacular Mandarin Fish. Nearly everyone wants a Mandarin fish and why not? They are “Spectacular” in a small package. It would seem logical that any sized aquarium would be a perfect home even the Nanos. BUT alas, that is simply not the case. They require a constant supply of live food in the form of Copepods.



The Mandarin fish constantly searches the LR, LS and walls of the aquarium for live food things just to survive. Given time they MIGHT begin to take frozen brine and Cyclop-eze. But after two years, I can’t say for sure that this one has ever eaten the dead stuff. They skim the rock and bottom seeing things I can’t see and suddenly dart forward and pick up some little piece of nothing. Yet, she survives fat and sassy.



That tiny mouth requires tiny food and their fussy eating habits has been the downfall of thousands of Mandarin fish in the hands of people trying to keep them in a too small tank or a system that hasn’t matured. It is suggested a tank of 50 gallons and up is sufficient to house a Mandarin and then only after the system is about a year old. One Mandarin is easily capable of stripping an immature system of all food items in a short period of time and soon after that will starve to death.

Thanks for viewing this thread. Hopefully you can gain something useful from my rantings.

Dick

[saltaddict]

Beautiful Dick but they still don't beat the Sohal!

[rayme07]

Beautiful looking Marine Betta and Mandarin. The colors are amazing.

[Skurvey Dog]

Lol Way to go Dick on reclaiming your territory. :-) J/K Love everyone! I really love your Mandy's colors, very vibrant. He is adorable and I can't thank you enough for stressing the high intake of food for those lil guys. Many people make the mistake of being seduced by the eyes instead of using their marine species knowledge and also thinking in the back of their minds that they will meet the needs as they go, instead of planning ahead before taking action. There are a few exceptions to the rule with some mandarins trained to prepared foods, but that is not the norm.

I am thrilled to be able to see an up front and personal view of your Betta. I know before he was quite a challenge to get a shot of.

[BekChed]

I'm so envious of your tank! Aha. Gorgeous!
I first saw a marine betta in a LFS, and seeing yours now makes me want one more!! :P And I love the Mandarin. Since I can't have one.. I'm trying to convince my cousin to host one for me in her 54 gallon. Just so I can stare when ever I want. Aha.
But first I'm going to master my little nano reef...
Happy reefing!!

[Amphibious]

What a find. A 5” Copperband Butterfly, in captivity for 3 years, at a LFS for $38. Hard to believe. I asked if the guy would feed him. He thawed out some frozen BS and the CB chowed down on it. That’s all I needed to see.





Here he is getting along just fine with Rhonda’s Sohal. You know, the one she’s going to wrestle in whip cream with me for.

[techguy]

You know, the one she’s going to wrestle in whip cream with me for.

Beautiful fish Dick! A great find for a great tank.

[CarmieJo]

Wow, that was great and what a beauty!