Oct 152013
 
The next ANGFA Queensland meeting has been postponed to Friday, October 18.

The Melbourne Convention was a roaring success so this meeting we’ll have a run down from some of the ANGFA Queensland members who attended, thank-you ANGFA Victoria.

We’ll also take a trip down memory lane with some of Doug Collom’s videos about fish keeping, and fish from the Brisbane River.

If you’re not a member please feel free to come and have a look, you can join on the night if you’re interested. The club shop with dry goods and supplies will be open, as will the drinks stand. There’ll be an auction after the talks where anyone can buy, though you must be a member to register as a seller.

The next ANGFA Qld meeting is at the Bar Jai hall – 178 Alexandra Road, Clayfield. Friday night 9/8/2013 starting at 7:30 pm sharp!

The next ANGFA Qld meeting is at the Bar Jai hall – 178 Alexandra Road, Clayfield. Friday night 18/10/2013 starting at 7:30 pm sharp!

Oct 122013
 

A short YouTube video from Louis Villain featuring Gymnothorax Polyuranodon.

Australian MuseumFrom the Australian Museum

The Freshwater Moray can be recognised by its colour.  It’s distribution in Australia is restricted to a number of streams in far northern Queensland.

Alternative Name/s

Manytoothed Moray

Identification

The Freshwater Moray can be recognised by its colour and habitat. It is yellowish to brown with dark spots on the head, body and fins. The snout and lower jaw of adults are pale. The species is often wrongly identified as a species of Uropterygius because it appears to lack a dorsal fin. A fleshy dorsal fin, which originates behind the gill openings, is present.

Size range

The species grows to at least 90 cm in length.

Distribution

It occurs in the tropical Western Pacific.  In Australia it is only known from a few creeks on the eastern coast of the lower Cape York peninsula, Queensland.

Freshwater Moray from Cape Tribulation. Photo: © Brendan Ebner

Freshwater Moray from Cape Tribulation. Photo: © Brendan Ebner

Habitat

It occurs in estuaries and lower reaches of freshwater streams.

Classification
Species:
polyuranodon
Genus:
Gymnothorax
Family:
Muraenidae
Order:
Anguilliformes
Class:
Actinopterygii
Subphylum:
Vertebrata
Phylum:
Chordata
Kingdom:
Animalia
References
  1. Allen, G.R., Midgley, S.H. & M. Allen. 2002. Field Guide to the Freshwater Fishes of Australia. Western Australian Museum. Pp. 394.
  2. Bohlke, E.B. & J.E. McCosker. 2001. The moray eels of Australia and New Zealand, with the description of two new species (Anguilliformes: Muraenidae). Records of the Australian Museum. 53(1): 71-102.
  3. Ebner, B.C., Kroll, B., Godfrey, P., Thuesen, P.A., Vallance, T., Pusey, B., Allen, G.R., Rayner, T.S. & C.N. Perna. 2011. Is the elusive Gymnothorax polyuranodon really a freshwater moray? Journal of Fish Biology. doi:10.1111/j.1095-8649.2011.02987.x.
Oct 052013
 

Original story by Rachel ReillyDaily Mail

Now that’s what you call a tiddler! Aquarium manages to breed one of the world’s smallest fish – that grows to just 10mm long
The tiny Danionella translucida from Burma (pictured) is just 10mm long when fully grown, and its tiny babies are so small they are almost invisible to the naked eye.

The tiny Danionella translucida from Burma (pictured) is just 10mm long when fully grown, and its tiny babies are so small they are almost invisible to the naked eye.

DANIONELLA TRANSLUCIDA

The fish are found in Southern Myanmar in small shallow muddy streams.
One recorded habitat is known as Bala Stream. Here the water has a pH of 7.2 and is medium-hard.
They are found with various barbs and rasboras, and are highly likely to be at the bottom of the food chain due to its size.
The maximum recorded is 12mm. Males are larger than females.
Eggs are reported to be 0.5mm in diameter (relatively large for the size of fish), and only a few are laid at any one time.
Their estimated lifespan is 2-3 years, but accurate data is still lacking on this.

The Blue Planet Aquarium in Cheshire is celebrating a tiny triumph after successfully breeding one of the world’s smallest species of fish.

The tiny Danionella translucida, from Burma, is just 10mm long when fully grown, and its tiny babies are only 2mm long and almost invisible to the naked eye.

The creatures is also transparent, allowing to see the fish’s internal organs.

Staff at the aquarium were amazed when they noticed the tiny babies swimming with their parents in the display tank.

Steve Chester, our Freshwater Aquarist, told MailOnline: ‘I am delighted to have the chance to work with this very rare fish.

‘Little is known on the natural breeding cycle and as a team we are working hard to increase our knowledge on the life cycle and breeding habits of this fish, with a view to sharing our findings with other public aquariums and researchers.’

Mr Chester added: ‘Their size and the fact that in the wild they live in a small area makes them particularly vulnerable to environmental change.’

The creatures, which are just 2mm long when hatched, are also transparent, revealing the fish's internal organs.

The creatures, which are just 2mm long when hatched, are also transparent, revealing the fish’s internal organs.

‘Establishing a viable breeding populationwill help secure their survival.’

Found in Southern Myanmar in small shallow muddy streams, the tiny Danionella translucida eggs are reported to be 0.5mm in diameter.

Only a few are laid at any one time and the fish’s estimated lifespan is two to three years.

Staff at the aquarium were amazed when they noticed the tiny babies swimming with their parents in the display tank.

Staff at the aquarium were amazed when they noticed the tiny babies swimming with their parents in the display tank.

‘Due to their scarcity, little is known about their breeding habits,’ said Dave Wolfenden, curator at the Blue Planet Aquariam.

‘Bolton Museum has been assisting with our breeding programme, and we are continuing to record breeding habits to increase knowledge on the species.’

Oct 012013
 

This month’s issue of In-Stream includes a profile of the Blue Stream Goby – Sicyopterus lagocephalus. YouTube user pabloxanibar has compiled a set of videos capturing the amazing colour and behaviour of Blue Stream Gobies in an aquarium which are well worth a look.

Sicyopterus lagocephalus in breeding dress

 

Sicyopterus lagocephalus territorial display

 

Male S. lagocephalus trying to entice female into his nupital chamber

 

Sicyopterus lagocephalus part 4

Sep 272013
 

The Queensland Aquarium Hobbyists (QAH) are holding another fish auction, Saturday September 28!

QAH auctions attract hundreds of aquarium enthusiasts and you’ll usually see all manner of aquarium fish, plants, driftwood, equipment, supplies, etc., etc., etc.

The auction statrs at 5.00 PM and if you’re taking fish to sell you can register as a seller and put them in from 3.30 PM.

Caboolture High School, Lee St, Caboolture


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Sep 252013
 

Press release from the University of Bristol

An adult female zebrafish

An adult female zebrafish

New research could improve the welfare standards of millions of fish used by scientists around the world.  The study, published in PLOS ONE, is one of the first to formally assess the welfare implications of anaesthetics on fish.  Researchers use fish to study the developmental origins of health and disease.

The work, carried out in collaboration between the University of Bristol’s School of Veterinary Sciences and AstraZeneca Brixham Environmental Laboratory, investigated whether scientists are using the right anaesthetics and if current best practice for fish could be improved.

The research team’s behavioural study evaluated nine of the most commonly used anaesthetics and performed preference tests using adult mixed sex zebrafish (Danio rerio), the most commonly held laboratory fish, to record their responses.   Video tracking software measured swimming behaviour related to dislike for each anaesthetic at 50 per cent of its standard recommended dose compared with clean water in a flow-through chemotaxic choice chamber.

The aim of the research was to find out if anaesthetic compounds cause changes in the swimming behaviour of the zebrafish and whether the potential stress induced in these animals is inhumane.

Zebrafish embryos are transparent and develop outside the body, allowing simple study of the developing embryo. Zebrafish research provides a unique visual approach to understanding the developmental defects in adult diseases and age-related abnormalities, such as cardiovascular diseases.

Dr Jo Murrell, Senior Lecturer in Veterinary Anaesthesia at the Vet School and co-author on the study with Gareth Readman, Bristol PhD student and fish biologist at AstraZeneca, said: “Zebrafish are the most commonly used fish in universities and research organisations.  There is a need to use anaesthetics to help handle them, collect samples, or humanely euthanise them.

“With tens of millions of fish used in science around the world, it is very important that the anaesthetics used to do this are the most humane available and do not themselves cause a stress response. “

The team found that several commonly used anaesthetics were aversive, including two of the most commonly recommended and used: MS222 (ethyl 3-aminobenzoate methanesulphate) and benzocaine.  For ethical best practice, it is recommended that compounds that are aversive, even at low concentration, should no longer be used routinely for anaesthesia or for the first step of humane euthanasia of adult zebrafish.

Two agents were found not to induce aversive behavioural responses: etomidate and 2,2,2 tribromoethanol.

For the millions of adult zebrafish used in laboratories and breeding worldwide, the research team found the anaesthetic etomidate appears best suited for future routine humane use.

There have been advancements in general veterinary anaesthesia for mammals, but fish have been left behind and the research team hope this work will begin to re-address that balance.

Paper: Do fish perceive anaesthetics as aversive? Gareth D. Readman, Stewart F. Owen, Joanna C. Murrell, Toby G. Knowles, PLOS ONE, September 2013, Volume 8, Issue 9.

Sep 252013
 

Original story by  , Queensland Times

WHAT A CATCH! Eight-year-old Erica Bickers (front) and sister Emily, 10, of Toogoolawah, check out the more than 100kg groper at the Shark Shipwreck exhibition at UnderWater World yesterday. Photo: Darryn Smith

WHAT A CATCH! Eight-year-old Erica Bickers (front) and sister Emily, 10, of Toogoolawah, check out the more than 100kg groper at the Shark Shipwreck exhibition at UnderWater World yesterday. Photo: Darryn Smith

WITH bulging eyes, a blubbing big mouth and a hearty mid section, the groper cruises through the water as a piece of the ocean’s prehistoric past.

Now an enormous 1.8-metre groper weighing more than 100kg calls UnderWater World home.

The fish, which overshadows his counterpart in the Ocean Tank, was relocated from an aquaculture farm to the Mooloolaba aquarium yesterday.

UnderWater World curator of fishes Kate Willson said the groper was the largest she has ever seen.

“It’s a lot bigger than any Sydney or Melbourne aquarium has so it is all very exciting for us,” Ms Wilson said.

The mighty fish is typically known for its stout body and large mouth, which forms a powerful sucking system to suck in and swallow its prey, including fish, octopus and crustaceans.

Catch of the day

179kg giant groper caught March 4, 2012 off Latham Island, Tanzania

197kg warsaw groper caught December 22, 1985 off Florida

Sep 222013
 

ABC NewsOriginal story at ABC News

One of the largest crocodiles in captivity has gone on display at the Melbourne Aquarium.
Youngster goes face-to-face with giant crocodile. Seven-year-old Sophie Fletcher watches Pinjarra in his new enclosure at the Melbourne Aquarium. Photo: Julian Smith, AAP

Youngster goes face-to-face with giant crocodile. Seven-year-old Sophie Fletcher watches Pinjarra in his new enclosure at the Melbourne Aquarium. Photo: Julian Smith, AAP

Pinjarra is a 50-year-old saltwater crocodile weighing 750 kilograms from Queensland.

Exhibit manager, Alison Edmunds, says he was rescued from flooding and sent to a crocodile farm in Rockhampton 30 years ago.

But now he has outgrown that home.

“Well he’s got his favourite girls and he’s a very big animal and unfortunately as his size is getting bigger, he’s really outgrowing his ladies,” she said.

“He’s retired now and living here happily.”

A group of aquarium staff have been given specialist training on how to take care of the crocodile

“We’ve learnt an amazing amount of things about crocodiles and we’ve got this magnificent state-of-the art aquarium here for him to live in,” Ms Edmunds said.

“We’re going to give him the best life and the best retirement that he could ever hope for.”

Sep 222013
 

ABC NewsOriginal story at ABC News

A $5 million application has been lodged to expand the Australian Shark and Ray Centre at Port Stephens. Owners of the Australian Shark and Ray Centre at Port Stephens want to expand to cater for growing tourist numbers. Photo: Brad Norman/Eco-ocean

A $5 million application has been lodged to expand the Australian Shark and Ray Centre at Port Stephens. Owners of the Australian Shark and Ray Centre at Port Stephens want to expand to cater for growing tourist numbers. Photo: Brad Norman/Eco-ocean

Port Stephens Council is assessing plans for a $5 million expansion of the Australian Shark and Ray Centre at Bobs Farm.

The proposal includes the construction of more tourist accommodation, a new aquarium and an equestrian centre, as well as setting aside an area for recreational fishing.

Director Andrew Tindale says the centre needs to expand to cater for the increasing number of national and international tourists.

“There’s several elements to the proposal,” he said.

“We have a lot of cabins, we have a fairly impressive Lake which will be built for larger families.

“The equestrian centre is potential for people who want to bring their horse to have a holiday.

“It’s a great place for it so obviously they can also come to see the sharks and rays and get in the water and feed them as well.”

Mr Tindale say the expansion plans will eventually include building one of the largest aquariums in the world.

“We have a long term vision for a super big aquarium, probably one of the biggest in the world,” he said.

“A bit different to your standard, as ours already is.

“Something for people to get in and experience some really big sharks and rays and hopefully we will have the largest collection of those large animals, possibly anywhere in the world.”