I hatch rams ...

[coralbandit]

Ok I like to use my threads as a type of log to keep track of happenings ..
Eggs again in the Angel fish tank ! Again not sure who the parents are but there are only Albino Dantums ,Silver Dantums and true Altums so I will gladly take them regardless of whose they are !
They spawned on a breeding cone this time and there seems to be plenty [200+] !
There somewhere between 20-50 wigglers from the first spawn who should hopefully free swim before the weekend !
It has been 5 days since the discus laid eggs and even though they kept them for 2-3 days I expect eggs from them again by the weekend also..That is just a wild guess though so we will have to see?
Almost Friday ,hope everyone is getting through this crazy corona time and I would like everyone to stay on guard .. Let NY be the example of what thinking you are safe will get you ..We are not out of the woods yet people so everyone stay safe and smart regardless of what your state leaders say .

[LizStreithorst]

Any combination of the above strains should make you happy. At least if I were an Angelfish breeder they would make me happy.

I actually do live out in the woods, Tom. Still, I know that out here the virus is still circulating to a lesser degree than in NY. I'm doing my best to stay safe, nonetheless.

[coralbandit]

Update ,all of the latest angel eggs went bad .I am not real surprised as there are just too many in the tank for good breeding to take place in my imagination ? I have not seen the breeding yet so ?
While I am watching the few wigglers and these eggs go bad the Santarem pair snook in a set of eggs I guess 2 days ago ? They also seemed mostly bad or I caught them in the act of eating the good ones .
These guys moved forward so well and raised 2 sets with great attention yet they are lost in this egg game .
I will admit I didn't see them breed but the calendar says it could have been 2 days ago.If I had noticed I would have got a protector up but they laid eggs on the back of the cone .
They move them around the cone but I think they really tried to sneak this set in ,hiding them in the back from me ..
Big water changes all the way around today so ready to start over ..
I am having with drawl with the discus and angels ,but am catching some of the rams right on time !
Got a couple sets of EBR and black cross.
Here is one of my winter project results , black /EBR long fin cross !!!

There are couple different color variations in this group but wow !
Pretty pleased with these two.
Here are some of my swordtails I will be sending out tomorrow .
The male is a LF Ruby Red with 2 red/black alphas and Ruby Red female .

[sipaboy]

So that ram pair is from a Ebr and black cross parents? Reason I ask is I somewhat just did that cross. I had an EBR male and female black cross/hybrid. Both long fin. I ask the breeder I got the rams from and she said I might get Ebr and Gbr looking fishes. Got 2 week old frys and notice around 20% of the frys seem a tad darker.lE6CDC20B-F47E-4AA0-9856-BC1335D6C7D4.jpg

[coralbandit]

So that ram pair is from a Ebr and black cross parents? Reason I ask is I somewhat just did that cross. I had an EBR male and female black cross/hybrid. Both long fin. I ask the breeder I got the rams from and she said I might get Ebr and Gbr looking fishes. Got 2 week old frys and notice around 20% of the frys seem a tad darker.lE6CDC20B-F47E-4AA0-9856-BC1335D6C7D4.jpg

Yea crossed the two ,I think only one parent was long fin.
With crosses every fish can be different and unique. I have other males that have no spot at all and a nice blue/black sheen .
You can usually see the fry that are dark early on ..
Nice looking fish you got there .

[coralbandit]

Today my Santarem Juvis are 3 months old . I have maybe 25 out of 80 left for sale and decided to keep 6 which I have placed in the 65g with the latest I got from Hans about a week ago .
When I got the last Hans guys they were all of 3 inches but my guys are catching up quick !
Here is one of my keepers ;


^^ 3 months free swimming today !^^
I am pretty proud of how well they have been growing for me ..

Here are the latest swordtails going to AquBid;

^^ This group has red eyed long fin Ruby red male with two regular fin red eyed females and two sail fin females .

^^ this group has long fin ruby red male , sailfin female and two red black alphas ..^^

[LizStreithorst]

Do yu have any near adults of the swordtails in the last pic. If so, I must have some. If not, I want to see what you get when you cross the two types,

[danotaylor]

You did a fantastic job with the Santarem fry Tom, you should be proud!
Love the sword tails as well...fancy!

[coralbandit]

You did a fantastic job with the Santarem fry Tom, you should be proud!
Love the sword tails as well...fancy!

Thanks Dan . Raising discus has been a lot more fun then I ever thought it would be . I hope you are staying safe and doing well .

Do yu have any near adults of the swordtails in the last pic. If so, I must have some. If not, I want to see what you get when you cross the two types,

Liz the Ruby Red and the red/black Alpha gets you red/black Alphas and ruby reds ! Kind of a what you see is what you get !
They are the hottest and latest swordtails to hit the market but not real new .Just new to US mostly ..
https://ephieslivebearers.weebly.com...wordtails.html
^^ good link with info ^^
I got my first Alphas 2 years ago at a NECA auction in CT that were donated by the best breeder of Alphas on Long Island.
Now I have fresh Alpha stock that came from my Long fin Ruby Reds I got last fall. I have to admit I was surprised to see red /black Alpha fry come from 2 ruby reds .My only guess is that the female must have been holding sperm from another male [red/black Alpha] since all documentation says you need both colors of opposite sex to get the red/black alpha.
I am excited to have new blood and the long fins although they do not seem to breed true . There are not many of the long fins from the ruby reds or the cauliflower sabre swords but I am happy with what I have got so far ..Not near as many as I expected for the investment I made but it is all in fun really so it is good to me .I have some for you if you want .They are about 4-5 months old but the males are on the small side [no clue why ?] .
People go nuts for the long fins on Aquabid !

[coralbandit]

Tom, you are the most eloquent roofer I know.

^^I figured this was a good lead in to some work pictures ?^^
I know how to do most every roof there is but I specialize in metal standing seam and flat lock roofs .
Here are some pics from the job I just finished today .This I think is my fifth national historic landmark in just Saratoga I have worked on .I am honored to be allowed to work on jobs like this and take great pride in what I do..
This work was done on the Canfield casino in congress park Saratoga .The canfield casino has great history so again I am honored to be allowed to work on this building and become part of its history .








Work like this and my fish will be my only legacy one day ..
I have told people before I am a craftsman and take my fish very seriously .
I put the same attention to detail and time into my fish as my work ,but they will not last as long after I am gone as my real job !
Last year I did the 1863 club at the Saratoga race track .They said it was the largest copper project on the east coast for the year !
Hope you enjoyed the pics as much as enjoyed working on the project .
Here is a quick internet pic of the 1863 club ;
http://r.search.aol.com/_ylt=AwrJ4Na...v2isSkv_m3B.Y-

[RogueDiscus]

I was impressed with your fish work already, but wow! That's great. A specialty craftsman. My grandfather was a gold leaf specialist. I always thought that was pretty cool.

[two utes]

You are a true craftsman Tom....Very impressive work. Did you also fabricate the sphere?

Thanks for sharing

[coralbandit]

Thanks Steve and Joe .
Steve I really appreciate your fish comments .Some people never really get to see what overboard is like so I enjoy sharing !
Your comments and opinion on my fish is greatly appreciated . Your grandfather was a real craftsman when many were also artist . America doesn't even know what they're missing anymore .

Joe I wish I could say I spun the ball..I bought a lathe years ago specifically to try to make my own spheres. I never pursued it enough to get it right but know of one other near me who is fully capable .
He is second generation tin knocker and his father was one of NYs best.. The sphere came from down near Liz in Mo. They spin them on lathes and you need thicker copper to be able to spin it .
Copper comes in pounds per foot as the measure of thickness. Most roofs are 16 ounce copper meaning one pound per square foot. The roof we installed for the Casino is 20 ounce [1 & 1/4 lb.per SQF].
But the ball is a minimum of 32 ounce to be spun.
We did make the finial and I assembled it ..Just not the sphere ..

Like fish all roofs are not the same and some are more special and require a more detailed approach. Everyone on this forum should understand that ..

[danotaylor]

Masterful in every sense! Love your creativity Tom!

[coralbandit]

Thanks Dan . Creating and building is rewarding for me .