Even More New Arrivals

[blainep]

Ok, so they're not really arrivals, but new fish. I was at my favorite LFS today and they had some new arrivals.
Naturally, I had to bring some home. They didn't really cost any money, whenever you buy a tank, the store gives you a $10.00 store credit for fish.
I've purchased a few tanks over last while, so I paid for the fish with the credit vouchers, still have $20.00 in vouchers left over. ;)

At least, this will be the excuse I use if my wife notices the new fish. :laugh:

Most of the pictures are fairly poor quality, but I feel a need to show them off.

First off - Blue Platys, more of a blue/green color, but definitely some blue in them.

http://www.calgarycommodore.com/tanks/new/blue1.jpg

http://www.calgarycommodore.com/tanks/new/blue3.jpg

http://www.calgarycommodore.com/tanks/new/blue4.jpg

Next, my new male Green Sword. I bought some Green Sword fry at the Calgary Aquarium Soc. auction earlier in the year, apparently, all females. So now they have a male to keep company with.

http://www.calgarycommodore.com/tanks/new/green1.jpg

http://www.calgarycommodore.com/tanks/new/green2.jpg

Next, Peppermint Platys, no idea how they were mixed to get their color. White with an orange crest on top.

http://www.calgarycommodore.com/tanks/new/pepper1.jpg

Finally, What were labeled as Velvet Swords, upon closer inspection look alot more like Velvet Platys, but they have good color, shape and fins. If they mate with the male Velvet Sword, they should drop some nice looking fry.

http://www.calgarycommodore.com/tanks/new/velvet2.jpg

http://www.calgarycommodore.com/tanks/new/velvet3.jpg

I saw a few others I would have loved to bring home BUT, I'd need more tanks to keep them. :swoon:

[Melody]

Yup, those are Red Velvet Platy's. As long as there are no male Platy's in the tank, they should cross, but not before you get a whooooole bunch of Red Velvet Platy's from the brood they're already carrying. The good news is they favour X. maculatus, which is a close relative of the Green Swordtail. Plus, all red Swordtails came from a Platy cross. All of this indicates an easy cross of the two.

The Peppermint coloration comes from Swordtails, but it could still have been bred into the Platy's without a Swordtail cross. Our Red Neon Plumetails look similar without the white. They may throw some Bleeding Hearts by the looks of them.

The Blues are Blue Maculatus or 'Blue Moon Platy's'.:biggrin:

You need brighter tanks lights...lol. Nice scores and even nicer excuse!:laugh:

[blainep]

Lighting has been my biggest issue for pictures, using the flash brightens the picture, but usually to much ( and it freaks out some of the fish ). Without the flash, most are to dark, even in some of the really bright tanks.

Oh well, until fishkeeping and the Internet met, I didn't use a camera at all.
So I'm probably not that bad for someone without experience, or I'm just not that good at pictures and thats as good as it gets. :err:

[Melody]

Your pictures are just fine my dear, I just can't see the fishies in the darkest ones and I really wanna:laugh: . I didn't mean to sound critical - Heaven knows my pic's are nothing to get up in the night over....lol.

Do you have the room dark and the tank light on? That usually works best. You should be able to reduce the exposure on the flash in your camera settings so they're not so bright. Take the pic at an angle if you can. You can also put a thin strip of masking tape over the center of the flash so its not so bright.

In fact, if you don't use a flash you certainly have me beat - I get nothing but blur without a flash. Stupid thing won't even focus.:rolleyes:

[blainep]

I know you're not being critical Melody, I do find I take better pictures in the evening though, when the room is dark.

Maybe I'll try for some better ones tonite.:D

[Melody]

:HappyReindeer:

[CACAdmin]

I have never seen 'Blue Moon Platys' before. Maybe it's a good thing as I'd find it almost impossible to resist buying them.

As for taking pics without a flash, I do sometimes try at night with only the tank lights on and set the speed at 400 and then if I am lucky & the fish don't move too quickly, I might get more than a blur. So I think you've done quite well without a flash... we'll get Melody some glasses so she can see them. :laugh:

[blainep]

It's interesting how fish will react to a camera, some that are normally not that friendly will want to be in on the picture, others that normally are there to say Hi anytime you are near, will head for the back of the tank when the camera is there.

Not one, however, will stay still for a picture. :laugh:

[jones]

niiiicce... gatta love those free offers with tanks...

and like you say, a good cover, hahaha:laugh:

any full tank shots by chance?

all the best

[blainep]

Hey Jones, full tank shots ( sort of ) are here.
http://www.canadianaquariumconnection.com/forum/showthread.php?t=242

None are close ups, but you'll get the idea . ;)

Also known as - The fun of having your kids move out !