Backyard Aquaponics
A place to discuss aquaponics

How about a juvenile female Shaw's Cowfish (Arcana aurita). I think the horns develop as they mature. Markings can be pretty variable, and it looks like they can change their colors a bit.

http://www.underwater.com.au/image.php/id/6420/

http://www.ifg.bioteck.org/Fish%20speci ... owfish.htm

Janet ,

IMHO seems to fit regards your pic no 1. and looking at the distrubution data!

Pretty special looking fish IMHO!

Well done .. I think you are correct ..

If so it would be worth about $ 700 US in aquarium shops in the USA!



any other ideas?

nah, I don't reckon it's on of them, has too many bits hanging off it?

That's why I thought it was a juvenile. That's my best try. Someone else can have a go.

My friends at the Perth Cichlid Society have identified it.

http://www.perthcichlid.com/pcs/modules ... ic&t=11086

Like you say Johnnie... an amazing little fish.....

Gets a bit big for an aquarium, though.

nice work J7

how cool is it to have forums that know their stuff! one of the finer points of the 'net

Wouldn't a puffer tank be nice in a loungeroom.

I am no expert but are saltwater aquariums pretty difficult to keep unless you live right near the beach and can get hold of fresh seawater regularly?

You can buy salt mixes and make your own seawater, but they are supposed to be harder than a freshwater tank. I also understand that a lot fewer of the salt water fish are bred in captivity, but are instead wild-caught. Between the difficulty keeping the aquarium, and the method of sourcing many of the fish, I don't figure I need a salt setup.

i had a salt water aq.

harder in the sense that you gotta keep the salt conc. stable.

if water evaps you gotta top up with straight water

when doing water changes you gotta use the salt mix at the right qty.

and if you have a coral tank the balance between Ca levels and alkalinity can be hard!

But well worth it, even if you start off with just live rock and a coral.

The amount of life on the live rock is incredible, i used to sit there for hours just watching the beasties!

fish as mega $$ though.

elegance coral look beautiful!

basically you cant be lazy with it

so that puts you out does it Steve

Awsome J7. Thanks so much. I knew I came to the right place

My 6YO will be most excited to know what it is.