AfricanCichlids.net

MOVED!

2009-08-12T18:50:00.001-06:00

I've moved the BLOG to wordpress...

FishHobbySupply.com

2008-10-17T09:12:00.006-06:00

Somewhere between the aquarium owner and the fish farmer lies the fish enthusiast... the hobbyist with more than a few tanks... or maybe a whole barn full of them. They breed. They swap. They auction. They gather on weekends and flare their gills. You're one of them... and you need lots of food for not a lot of money.

Enter FishHobbySupply.com.

Currently we carry the two types of flake and algae wafers that we feed our own fish, and we offer three hand-blended formulas to make it easy for you to feed fish with different needs.

We also have fish bags, plants and invertebrates!

In the future, we hope to be a one-stop shop for the fish geek. So bookmark our site and check back for updates!

New Gallery Images

2008-08-10T15:25:00.002-06:00

Astatotilapia defontainii

For more, see our GALLERY!

New Puzzles

2008-06-21T21:42:00.004-06:00

The following have been posted to our PUZZLES page on the site:

Xystichromis phytophagus Jigsaw Puzzle

Xystichromis phytophagus Jigsaw Puzzle

Synodontis granulosus Jigsaw Puzzle

Steatocranus sp. 'squarehead' Jigsaw Puzzle

Pundamilia nyererei Python Island Jigsaw Puzzle

MORE!

The rest of the new puzzles can be found with all of our puzzles on our JIGZONE GALLERY. These will be posted on the PUZZLES page of our site very soon.

New Gallery Image

2008-06-20T21:53:00.003-06:00

Lithochromis xanthopteryx

For more, see our GALLERY!

New Video: Fry Pool

2008-06-20T18:56:00.000-06:00

Ever think about setting up a pool or pond outside for your cichlids? We did, and we've thrown in some baby Victorians to grow them out... so put on your mask and snorkel and take a dip with us in the FRY POOL!

New Gallery Images

2008-06-19T22:19:00.003-06:00

Pelvicachromis pulcher

Steatocranus sp. 'squarehead'

For more, see our GALLERY!

New Video: Drifting Down the Rio Comal

2008-06-19T21:23:00.000-06:00

VIDEOS!

2008-06-15T21:40:00.000-06:00

We've added a new category to our site... Videos! We have been taking footage of our fish so that you can see them in motion... something distinctly lacking in regular photographs. Check them out on our Videos page, and keep checking back for new additions.

New Gallery Images (Slideshow)

2008-06-13T20:50:00.000-06:00

Mouse-over top of slideshow to adjust speed. Click on an image for more information (species, location)

Created with Admarket's flickrSLiDR.

New Article: Metriaclima estherae (Konings, 1995) by Rohnda Pagan

2008-06-08T21:21:00.000-06:00

Rohnda Pagan (aka Malawi Mother) has written an excellent article for us on the beautiful Malawi cichlid, Metriaclima estherae (Konings, 1995). This stunning fish is widely known in the cichlid hobby as the Red Zebra. We would also like to thank Evan Bowers for his excellent photographic contributions for the article. Both article and photos can be found here, or simply follow the 'articles' link above. Much thanks to both Rohnda and Evan!

Gallery Slideshows

2008-03-22T22:35:00.002-06:00

Lake Malawi:

Lake Tanganyika:

Lake Victoria and Others:

We're on Squidoo!

2008-02-19T14:11:00.002-06:00

Check out our Squidoo Lenses... it's pretty neat.

Multimedia message

2008-02-09T12:35:00.001-06:00

Huge crowd today at our winter auction in Garden Ridge. We'll be here till we're done so come on out! See hillcountrycichlidclub.com for more info

Multimedia message

2007-12-15T19:43:00.001-06:00

Book signing

Multimedia message

2007-12-15T18:20:00.001-06:00

Ad Konings speaks on the breeding habits of Lake Tanganyika cichlids at our xmas party

Testing Video Feature

2007-10-05T19:41:00.000-06:00

Just testing out this little feature thingy. This is the cute little Neochromis sp. 'Madonna' from Lake Victoria. It's so named because of the black 'roots' along the base of the dorsal fin.

FOTAS 2007: Play x Play 15

2007-09-09T12:42:00.001-06:00

What a crowd! It lasted about 7 hours, and we had over 500 items!

FOTAS 2007: Play x Play 14

2007-09-09T10:51:00.001-06:00

The auction is underway!

FOTAS 2007: Play x Play 13

2007-09-09T08:48:00.001-06:00

Setting up the auction...

Tearing down the show.

FOTAS 2007: Play x Play 12

2007-09-08T20:43:00.001-06:00

Anton speaks again, this time on Congo Brazzaville. You must remember to vear your rubber trousers ven you vade in de vater dere!

FOTAS 2007: Play x Play 11

2007-09-08T19:51:00.001-06:00

Keith Arnold chairs the Braz Walker auction myrtery items. The items are auctioned off and then members donate $1 for a peek inside. This particular auction brought in over $200 for the fund... WOW!

FOTAS 2007: Play x Play 10

2007-09-08T19:37:00.001-06:00

Dave Hansen takes best in show cichlid with an Orthochromis stormsi. Marvin England takes BIS catfish with something I can't spell.

FOTAS 2007: Play x Play 9

2007-09-08T19:28:00.001-06:00

Greg and Dave hand out show class awards but they look confused.

FOTAS 2007: Play x Play 8

2007-09-08T18:13:00.001-06:00

The banquet begins! We had more people than we had anticipated... normally you'd worry about the food, but we had more than enough. It was the elbow room (and butt room) that was the problem! Sardines anyone?

FOTAS 2007: Play x Play 7

2007-09-08T14:54:00.001-06:00

Spence speaks on his trip to Uruguay. I want to go there.

FOTAS 2007: Play x Play 6

2007-09-08T13:40:00.001-06:00

Juanmi speaks again on new world cichlids.

FOTAS 2007: Play x Play 5

2007-09-08T09:36:00.001-06:00

Anton Lamboj begins his West African talk.

Afterward, on our way to lunch across the street, Spence, Hernan, Anton, and Greg decided to do their impression of Abbey Road. I wonder if any of the drivers figured out what we were doing :)

FOTAS 2007: Play x Play 4

2007-09-08T08:22:00.001-06:00

Spence rolled out of bed and into the lecture room. That's sponge bob on his pj's. Must remember to schedule him earlier next time eh?

FOTAS 2007: Play x Play 3

2007-09-08T08:08:00.001-06:00

Spencer Jack speaks this morning on his collecting trip to Suriname.

FOTAS 2007: Play x Play 2

2007-09-07T21:57:00.001-06:00

Control your light Jeff!

OK, I think I'm the only one that thought this was funny... it's just the way Dave said it I think... like Jeff was being a bad boy or something. Which he probably was.

FOTAS 2007: Play x Play 1

2007-09-07T21:06:00.001-06:00

Dave Hansen speaks on aquarium photography. We also just heard Juan speaking on the Herichthys of Mexico.

Major Event This Weekend: FOTAS 2007

2007-09-07T12:58:00.001-06:00

When: September 7-9th 2007

Where: Springhill Suites by Marriott
Loop 410 @ IH 10, San Antonio, Texas

Who: Speakers include Juan Miguel Artigas-Azas (Mexico), Dave Hansen (USA), Spencer Jack (Canada), and Anton Lamboj (Austria)

What: Fish Show, Lectures, Banquet, Auction and Good Times!

Hosted by: The Hill Country Cichlid Club

More Information

Keep an eye on this blog for updates from the event!

Lake Victoria & Area Photo Slideshow

2007-07-18T21:30:00.000-06:00

Lost kitteh wuz lost.

2007-07-13T19:15:00.001-06:00

New fishroom kitty: Pocki. Showed up about a month ago and just never left... we ignored him for a while, then caved in to his demands for food and pettins... and finally about a week ago we resigned ourselves to him staying, so I made an appt for him to be neutered tomorrow so he could come live in the house. Lo and behold, his owner crawled out of the woodwork and cried, showing me pictures, and telling me the story of how he got out and got lost and she's been frantically looking for him ever since... so I handed him over.

We're gonna miss the little fart.

Fishroom: Live Chat

2007-06-28T15:52:00.000-06:00

I've been informed that we've been having server issues, so we may experience some outtages this weekend as the machine undergoes some necessary upgrades. Sorry for the inconvenience... use the downtime to your advantage though - water changes, photographing your fish... or if you can handle a new learning curve, come hang out in FISHROOM.

The JAVA client is here.

Or if you prefer to telnet directly, go here:

telnet://www2.seaplace.org:23

If you have GMud or another mudding program, set the host to www2.seaplace.org at port 23

New Article: Xystichromis sp. 'Kyoga flameback'

2007-06-26T12:23:00.000-06:00

The Kyoga Basin in Uganda is a large portion of the Victorian Nile drainage system. Situated North of Lake Victoria, Lake Kyoga is the main body of water with many surrounding shallow bays and isolated finger-lakes. Lake Nawampassa is situated in the south east portion of this region and is separated from the main Kyoga waters by a thin strip of swamp. Lake Nawampassa is home not only to species found throughout the Kyoga Basin, but also to several endemics. Due to environmental fragility, all species from this region are considered threatened. Most of the cichlid lineages found in Lake Victoria have representatives in the Kyoga region and into Nawampassa.

For the hobbyist, the furu from Kyoga are sought after due to their small size, adaptability to captive life and coloration (they are among the most colorful cichlids on the planet). These fish are not regularly seen at your local store so it may take some effort and digging to locate them. One such species is the vibrant Xystichromis sp. "Kyoga flameback".

This species was first discovered in Lake Nawampassa by Julian Whitehead (in all probability) and later located by Les Kaufman, who gave this species the cheironym "Kyoga flameback". This may be a misnomer as it is uncertain if the Kyoga Flameback is actually found in Kyoga proper. X. sp. "Kyoga flameback’ is not to be confused with Xystichromis sp. "flameback" that was discovered at Kisumu Kenya in 1989 by Dr. Kaufman. The latter species has a wide distribution within Lake Victoria and sports differing body markings. The Victorian flameback is a smaller species and a generalized feeder as is its Nawampassian cousin. To add to the confusion level, X. sp. "Kyoga flameback" is known by the trade name Haplochromis sp. "all red" Nawampassa. This cichlid is sometimes confused with Haplochromis sp. "all red" from Lake Edward. I feel that to avoid unnecessary misidentifications, one should refer to the fish as X. sp. "Kyoga flameback" (the original field name) and drop the other monikers.

Want more? Check out the FULL ARTICLE

Photo Book on the Forum

2007-06-23T16:22:00.000-06:00

Just added a new category on our forum for posting and commenting on your pictures of your fish, aquariums, fishrooms, events, auctions, people, etc... Just keep it clean or you'll see us get mean :)

Keep it G baby!

After the Auction

2007-06-19T09:10:00.000-06:00

Well, phooey. When Cingular became the New AT&T, they apparently changed my MMS address so when I tried to blog from my phone it ended up in the void. I just now got the posts to come through. Sorry about that.

We didn't have a huge turnout this time... so the prices were low. Great for the buyers... bad for the sellers. I just hope they'll still come to our events :)

There was lots to find there, from Africans to Central and South Americans, to Eels and Catfish, Filters, Decorations, Holey Rock, Tanks, Books, Food and even some very nice shirts, pillows and bags offered by Doc and his mum.

Our next event is FOTAS, September 7-9th in San Antonio. This is NOT one to miss! Go HERE for more information.

HCCC Auction 3

2007-06-16T11:49:00.001-06:00

HCCC Auction 2

2007-06-16T11:47:00.001-06:00

some very nice pillows bags and shirts for sale too!

HCCC Auction 1

2007-06-16T11:46:00.001-06:00

Lots of fish plants rocks and equipment here. Not many buyers so far so prices are low! Get down here and bid! See post below for directions!

HCCC Summer Auction Saturday June 16th!

2007-06-14T21:53:00.000-06:00

Click HERE for more information!

GO SPURS GO!!!!

2007-06-14T21:52:00.000-06:00

Nuff said :)

F.O.T.A.S. 2007 - Register Now!

2007-04-22T21:22:00.000-06:00

(HillCountryCichlidClub.com):
The Federation of Texas Aquarium Societies (FOTAS) holds an annual convention that rotates between member clubs. This year, for the first time, the Hill Country Cichlid Club is honored to host this prestigious event. (more...)

The event is September 7th - September 9th in San Antonio, Texas. There will be a fish show, lectures, a banquet and an auction... a full weekend for fish lovers!

Register early for the banquet... there are a limited number of seats and they're going fast!

TCA Spring Auction

2007-04-15T10:12:00.001-06:00

Original Post from My Phone:

And we're off! The talks and banquet were awesome despite the copious issues with the hotel. Today is the auction. Lots of cool offerings so get your caudal peduncles down here and bid!

Update:
If you've never been to a fish auction, you really should try to make it to one soon... they're a blast! Different clubs do things differently, but generally you can expect long tables loaded with bags of fish and plants, and possibly some equipment, decor and other items of interest. The auctioneer will describe each item and start the bidding... the bidders hold up a numbered card, and the last bid (highest) wins the item. At the end of the auction, you pay for your items and leave. It's that simple!

For sellers, there is usually a split with the club (this is a fundraiser for the club, after all)... some clubs will pay out to you at the end of the auction, but most will mail checks later. It's an excellent way to get your name out there, whether you're a business or individual. The more information you can provide for the item the better it will sell... a picture is worth 1000 words, and a complete, accurate identification (example, use "Labidochromis caeruleus" instead of "yellow labs") is very important... some hobbyists will go high if they really want the fish - and if its identity is questionable, they probably won't want it all that much.

Don't forget about the silent auctions! Sometimes you can get really cool stuff like gift baskets, themed trinkets, decor... well, anything really. Each item will be accompanied by a sheet of paper where you put your bidder number and the amount you're willing to pay. When the silent auction is over, the bidders are called to collect their items and the amount to be paid is added to your bill.

Auctions are a great way to meet people and make breeder connections... make sure to bring business cards, whether professionally printed or hand-written on business card stock you can buy at the office supply store. You'll want to trade contact info with new friends, and this saves tons of time! Be sure to include your email address!

Most clubs have an auction at least once or twice a year, and some even have variations... like a swap meet. Look for them... go to one before you decide to start selling for yourself... and above all, HAVE FUN!

Tornadoes in Dallas!

2007-04-13T17:24:00.001-06:00

Original Post from My Phone:

We got here okay but look what is heading straight for us!

Update:
So while we were watching this weather alert, the weather guy said that people in our immediate area should take cover IMMEDIATELY... and the signal went dead! Kinda freaky, and we were on floor 4, so I grabbed my fam and we headed down to floor 1 (me being the thinker, to find a bathroom to seek shelter in), and I could NOT get Greg away from the damn windows! "Holy Cats! Lookit this HAIL!!" I swear he needs a shock collar :)

Apparently there were 5 tornadoes, and a few people died in our general vicinity :( Sad, and quite scary... what a Friday the 13th!

Big Fish Weekend

2007-04-11T10:47:00.000-06:00

Texas Cichlid Association Spring Show and Workshop

April 13-15, 2007: Clarion Hotel, 4440 W. Airport Freeway, Irving, Texas.

Speakers include Ad Konings (rift lake cichlids), Hernan Lopez-Fernandez (South American cichlids) and Hill Country Cichlid Club/TCA member Greg Steeves (Victorian cichlids).

Giant All-Species Fish Show -- beautiful awards will be presented to Best of Division and Best in Show winners. Show is sanctioned by the American Cichlid Association.

Awards Banquet Saturday Evening -- Show winners and Breeder Award Program winners will be announced.

Live and Silent Auctions on Sunday -- many unique and hard-to-find items will be available to the highest bidder. If you have donations for the silent auction, try to get them to Coleen Ullman or bring them with you to the April workshop.

Huge Raffle on Sunday -- lots of great give-aways, including fish food, tank decorations, filters, other assorted dry goods, and even a big tank!

TCA Website

Video!

2007-04-09T19:08:00.000-06:00

Orthochromis stormsi in the aquarium with other cichlids.

Species Profile: Pseudotropheus demasoni

2007-04-08T13:21:00.000-06:00

The Pseudotropheus demasoni is a hardy little dwarf mbuna that rivals saltwater reef fish in color and behavior, making it very popular among freshwater aquarists, both beginner and veteran alike.

Origin: Pombo Rocks, Tanzania coastline, Lake Malawi, Africa
Adult Size: Approx. 3"
Wild Diet: Aufwuchs
Aquarium Diet: Tropical Flake, Spirulina Flake, Baby Brine Shrimp
Sexual Dimorphism: Males and females look alike.
Spawn Size: 5-15 fry
Article: Pseudotropheus demasoni by Greg Steeves

THREE SUITABLE TANKMATES:
Labidochromis caeruleus
Aulonocara sp. 'OB'
Synodontis multipunctatus

Fish Stamp!

2007-04-08T12:15:00.000-06:00

This beautiful Pseudotropheus demasoni was photographed by Dave Hansen and is available as a real postage stamp at our Cafe Press Store.

Puzzles

2007-04-07T20:26:00.000-06:00

Xystichromis phytophagus Jigsaw Puzzle

Pseudotropheus demasoni Jigsaw Puzzle

Lamprologus ocellatus 'gold' Jigsaw Puzzle

AfricanCichlids.net

2007-04-06T21:28:00.000-06:00

We keep a variety of African Cichlids from the three main African lakes: Malawi, Tanganyika, and Victoria. We have a special interest in Victorian cichlid conservation efforts. VISIT OUR WEBSITE!!!! You'll find pictures and articles on the species we keep and other articles written by people who share our passion for these wonderful fish.

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