Box of Americans from Don Conkels (with pics)

[cchhcc]

You also want to do good gravel vacs during and after ich treatment....

Matt

Good point! Gets rid of trophonts. Water changes too to get rid of tomites....... Anything to reduce numbers.

Of course, a UV lamp of high power and slow flow would help to, but certainly not necessary.

 

[Mojarraman]

Um, if you total all your water holding paraphernalia, not including the toilet, you must have like what 3000 gallons?

Right around there. In glass anyway. Add the stock tanks and just about double that - tho 1000 of that is presently empty. One looks kinda lonesome sitting out there all in the cold...be cheerier come May even if I do have to throw in a heater and cover it some nights for a month...

Speaking of cheer, I'm hoping all are in good cheer. Becoming enough suppliers of New World cichlids and more "consumers" coming on all the time it seems to me. Get the impression that facet of the hobby has nowhere to go but up. Our local club tripled in members (way over 100 now) over the last several years.

I never would have imagined how "competitive" things can get.
Funniest thing: over the internet, folks can get testy quick. Then they meet in person, and it's like they were long lost pals. I'd SWEAR it almost ALWAYS happens that way. Throw in some commerce, and then some of the comradeship dissipates, maybe. Everybody probably has some sort of his/her own "internet persona," to some extent, but that's not "who they are," but rather "what they happen to have typed on their keyboards at that particular time." One would think it would be more obvious. As a somewhat related example, take somebody like Bob Dylan. I always really loved his records. Then finally I saw some fairly "intimate" a) interviews and b) "home movies type of film footage." Based on the interviews, I said to myself, "I don't think I'd really like that guy," but on the home movies, he seemed much more personable. Conclusion: I honestly have no idea who that person is, and I never will. So I'll stick to what I like about him (his musical "product") and basically ignore the rest. I honestly can't say whether that "sterilizes the audible experience" for me or not.

The internet gives everybody his/her "15 minutes of fame." Or, like Warhol also said, "In 15 minutes everybody will be famous." In some strange, awkward way the internet turns us all into "performance artists." My older brother told me one time, "If you're going to make an a hole out of yourself, you might as well do it in front of a crowd!" I didn't think it would come to pass. Then along came the internet, and 3 billion ready made crowds and a holes all at once. Virtually nobody is exempt. OK, you're human, and on the internet, so go ahead and get it over with: check the radio box, the one marked "a hole." It is even possible to be one before anybody actually reads your stuff. "Crap, I just typed it, and posted it, now they'll all know for sure I'm an a hole." That's how it normally goes. So it won't help to put it off any longer. It's inevitable. Death, taxes, and a hole. Those are the three certain things in life on the internet. BTW, If ever there were two words that didn't belong together it's "Reality" and "TV." Total conundrum. I don't watch TV for any other purpose than to escape reality. I've got plenty of my own to deal with already. Now, out of 150 channels, I only have two left to accomplish that with. They did that on purpose. How much does it cost to make Reality TV? Almost nothing. No writers, no producers, no directors, nothing but some a holes and a cameraman. And as soon as they point the camera at an a hole s/he quits being "real." Now they have THREE reality shows about midgets. For those that don't watch, I'm not making that up: THREE. Wasn't two - or one - more than enough? WTH???

Recently an interviewer remarked to Van Morrison that "it seemed [he'd] handled fame very well." VM responded, "Yeah, but things aren't always what they seem." That's almost the rule on the internet, more accurately: things are never what they seem...not to be cynical, or even advocate cautiousness, just that appearances can be deceiving...almost nobody ever really gets naked on the internet except porn stars. It would be too permanent. It's less dangerous that way. Even for the starlets.

I type this kind of crap once in a while on my local forum. No one ever pays any heed, and I only wind up starved for attention LoL!

Bad, are we still OK w/ this?

 

[jgentry]

Right around there. In glass anyway. Add the stock tanks and just about double that - tho 1000 of that is presently empty. One looks kinda lonesome sitting out there all in the cold...be cheerier come May even if I do have to throw in a heater and cover it some nights for a month...

Speaking of cheer, I'm hoping all are in good cheer. Becoming enough suppliers of New World cichlids and more "consumers" coming on all the time it seems to me. Get the impression that facet of the hobby has nowhere to go but up. Our local club tripled in members (way over 100 now) over the last several years.

I never would have imagined how "competitive" things can get.
Funniest thing: over the internet, folks can get testy quick. Then they meet in person, and it's like they were long lost pals. I'd SWEAR it almost ALWAYS happens that way. Throw in some commerce, and then some of the comradeship dissipates, maybe. Everybody probably has some sort of his/her own "internet persona," to some extent, but that's not "who they are," but rather "what they happen to have typed on their keyboards at that particular time." One would think it would be more obvious. As a somewhat related example, take somebody like Bob Dylan. I always really loved his records. Then finally I saw some fairly "intimate" a) interviews and b) "home movies type of film footage." Based on the interviews, I said to myself, "I don't think I'd really like that guy," but on the home movies, he seemed much more personable. Conclusion: I honestly have no idea who that person is, and I never will. So I'll stick to what I like about him (his musical "product") and basically ignore the rest. I honestly can't say whether that "sterilizes the audible experience" for me or not.

The internet gives everybody his/her "15 minutes of fame." Or, like Warhol also said, "In 15 minutes everybody will be famous." In some strange, awkward way the internet turns us all into "performance artists." My older brother told me one time, "If you're going to make an a hole out of yourself, you might as well do it in front of a crowd!" I didn't think it would come to pass. Then along came the internet, and 3 billion ready made crowds and a holes all at once. Virtually nobody is exempt. OK, you're human, and on the internet, so go ahead and get it over with: check the radio box, the one marked "a hole." It is even possible to be one before anybody actually reads your stuff. "Crap, I just typed it, and posted it, now they'll all know for sure I'm an a hole." That's how it normally goes. So it won't help to put it off any longer. It's inevitable. Death, taxes, and a hole. Those are the three certain things in life on the internet. BTW, If ever there were two words that didn't belong together it's "Reality" and "TV." Total conundrum. I don't watch TV for any other purpose than to escape reality. I've got plenty of my own to deal with already. Now, out of 150 channels, I only have two left to accomplish that with. They did that on purpose. How much does it cost to make Reality TV? Almost nothing. No writers, no producers, no directors, nothing but some a holes and a cameraman. And as soon as they point the camera at an a hole s/he quits being "real." Now they have THREE reality shows about midgets. For those that don't watch, I'm not making that up: THREE. Wasn't two - or one - more than enough? WTH???

Recently an interviewer remarked to Van Morrison that "it seemed [he'd] handled fame very well." VM responded, "Yeah, but things aren't always what they seem." That's almost the rule on the internet, more accurately: things are never what they seem...not to be cynical, or even advocate cautiousness, just that appearances can be deceiving...almost nobody ever really gets naked on the internet except porn stars. It would be too permanent. It's less dangerous that way. Even for the starlets.

I type this kind of crap once in a while on my local forum. No one ever pays any heed, and I only wind up starved for attention LoL!

Bad, are we still OK w/ this?

Lol, that's very funny. The scary part is it's very true as well.

 

[BadOscar]

Then along came the internet, and 3 billion ready made crowds and a holes all at once.

Bad, are we still OK w/ this?

Oh yeah, that entire post is just Epic, FTW, . You should be a YouTuber. With comentary like this, I would watch you. Plus you would be sure to have fish in the background right... so even the crappy parts could be good.

 

[Mojarraman]

Oh yeah, that entire post is just Epic, FTW, . You should be a YouTuber. With comentary like this, I would watch you. Plus you would be sure to have fish in the background right... so even the crappy parts could be good.

Well, I might consider it, but my 15 minutes is long since up. Whew! What a relief!

Fortunately now it's OK for me to go back to being a KING SIZED * hole (depending on whom you ask) or just a regular guy (again, depending).

~~~

BO, (sorry, I couldn't resist) I think it's OK to remove the "All Don Conkel's" from your tag, beings the likelihood is greater than not that I MYSELF bred most of those fish - just teasin'!

But seriously...the animals are yours now, so it's fine to say "All BO" (and "No BS!") even if it doesn't make a hit.

On a lighter note, in a "perfect world" any/everybody stops sucking up (if indeed that's what it sometimes happens to be) to DC or JR or IRA or KD or BGRASS or WHOMEVER (my apologies to any/all breeders/distributors/hobbyists I've overlooked including Seagrest and any/everybody in the FTFFA full or associate) and gives them all the benefit of the doubt unless/until something concrete ugly and/or scandalous/deceitful becomes factually evident. I'm just one guy, but seems it's probably high time to let bygones be bygones and water under the bridge and bet most if not all of them are working their cans off to help provide the best aquaculture experience they possibly know how to as many hobbyists who are interested. For those that are "making a living" at it, the "damage" or "destruction" done by ill-placed comments is simply too much. Or was at one time. IMHO, no one undeserving should have to further endure any more of that. If I've been "opaque" about something, yes, I've stayed at DC's a few times, always had a nice time on the farm, everything looked "legit," helped pack a few dozens of boxes for national/international shipment a couple of times, took copious handwritten notes for my own benefit, and learned a lot. Wasn't renumerated for my "efforts"; call it "volunteerism" if you'd like. Never had anybody hold it against me - not yet anyway.

I get the impression, that with the internet, virtually nobody can/would "get away with" scamming or garbage (some/most of which may have been exaggerated or inflated tho I'm admittedly in the dark about junk - and broadly speaking the hobby in general outside my cubic little centimeter) for anything resembling an extended period. "Hobby cops" are/were crawling all over the place it seems at times and might just do that into perpetuity. No biggie. I got honked at for rolling a stop sign just the other day - loud and long. Musta really loved Jesus. I'm OK w/ that. Every time I roll another one I know for sure somebody's keepin' the faith! By "roll another one" I'm unambiguous.

I mean, like maybe 2% of hobbyists give a rat about aquatic forums? It's all good. But boy, are 2% of those 2% policing that thing! Sometimes I imagine that innocent young girl or boy, new to the hobby, wandering in to something as scary as a "Monster" forum. Yikes! At times, Freddy Kruger and Friday The 13th got nothin' on this, not to mention Psycho and Wolfman Meets Dracula. I'm terrified to even inquire what goes on over in some of the other (including Saltwater) forums. "Sharks of Death" and "Pirhannas of Pleasure" no doubt. I don't EVEN want to tick anybody off about Stingrays! [For the record: I'm cool with Rays!] Sure enough they'd invite me to go "collecting." Box jellies, sans wetsuit, no less.

Anyhow, please don't egg this on...otherwise bound to graduate to SuperXXKING LoL!

 

[Mojarraman]

Almost forgot to mention, If I've been "opaque" about something, yes, I've stayed at DC's a few times, visited a few more, always had a nice time on the farm, everything looked quite "legit," noticed the loiselleiXcarpintis in a coffin vat (subsequently one more X on his wholesale list I haven't ID'd) helped pack a few dozens of boxes for national/international shipment a couple of times, took copious handwritten notes for my own benefit, and learned a lot. Wasn't renumerated for my "efforts"; call it "volunteerism" if you'd like. Never had anybody hold it against me - not yet anyway. Nor the fact that DCT has indeed supplied me [and untold numbers of hobbyists] hand-picked (his hands or mine [or others]) wild-caught (potential brood) stock - from the vats, but not was I at the collection points. I think there's occasional overall "consensus" that there does tend to be some significant differences in the coloration between wilds & pond bred (CA's in particular 'cause that's within my sphere and little else). That's also my very strong overall impression thus far. However, there isn't any guarantee that those animals will retain those color differences throughout their entire lifetimes, let alone years or even months, let alone in the range and styles of "artificial" habitats/enclosures available.

So if there is some heat in the discussion about WC versus domestic bred, and their appearances, hopefully that "morphological evolution over one lifetime" contingency isn't completely ignored, along with some possibly serious dietary "issues" or "concerns" once they make it into glass enclosures to live out their more/less colorful lives. Some species obviously fare somewhat better/worse than others, but it might be worth considering. I wish I could put it otherwise, but not always do wilds continue to look the way (as good?) as they do straight off the farm (where they were held/nourishe) or (for those that import?) depending how it's phrased, straight out of the wild. I'm sure there are many collectors (I'm actually guessing since I'v yet to do that) who would have more to add about that. Mo Devlin's (and others?) managuensis are pretty good counter-examples, I think, and there are many, from my own experience, that do great. So there's variability, and probably some predictability. I'm not sure it's well documented w/r/t CA's, but (globally) blanket statements about CA (and perhaps SA?) cichlids "wild versus domestic" would be tenuous I'm inclined to think. I'm not an expert, for sure, at anything besides my chosen occupation (day job) and sometimes people (dang fools LoL!) even question that. So many others besides myself could perhaps contribute a lot more to the "wild versus domestic" and maybe there are lots of threads about it so my apologies for diarrhea of the keyboard...

 

[armac]

opaque VS transparent

Took a while to get around to that.

 

[Mojarraman]

Always try to be clear as a bell but in the words of Ian Anderson, "Nuthin's easy." Questions of priority. Yesterday I tried to put my socks on and had to loosen my shoes to do it. Good thing I don't wear any underwear. That's not really true.

 

[cchhcc]

Mojarra, with respect, sometimes I can't figure out just what your point is. But if you were referring to wilds being more colorful (yet perhaps not staying that way), in my experience it is the outdoor lifestyle that is the key contributing factor to that coloration. I've kept fish outdoors for a few years now with great results no matter their heritage. Also, it doesn't take long for their coloration to change should you bring them inside. Part of it may be dietary, but the UV radiation they are exposed to is the key underlying factor from what I can tell. I've had similar results with indoor fish next to a large window that gets direct sunlight.

Also, I'm still unclear on the selling agent thing:
http://www.monsterfishkeepers.com/forums/showthread.php?t=271632

 

[capefeartarheel]

Mojarra, with respect, sometimes I can't figure out just what your point is.

yea, I pretty much agree with that. No offense, but all the play on words, hyperboles, references to 30 yr old songs/artists and literary nuances kill the drive to find any kind of legitimate info in the post, at least for me anyways. It feels like Im trying to read a word search puzzle and things Im interested in and would like to know are buried in a bunch of cutesy, ex hippie treehouse-slang lingo...which, unlike others I guess, I dont find the least bit entertaining.

Obviously, you have a lot to contribute and are extremely knowledgeable...its just that the posts are so...animated & flamboyant.

Any chance of dumbing your posts down for those of us that arent literary scholars with a strong appreciation for resplendent & splendiferous compositions?