http://tmmb.mywire.org/ Fri, 24 Apr 2026 15:57:01 +0000 MyBB http://tmmb.mywire.org/showthread.php?tid=3888 Mon, 31 Mar 2025 23:25:02 +0200 zqwerty]]> http://tmmb.mywire.org/showthread.php?tid=3888
https://v.redd.it/tmd51xxod0se1

Watch till the end.]]>
https://v.redd.it/tmd51xxod0se1

Watch till the end.]]> http://tmmb.mywire.org/showthread.php?tid=3830 Tue, 04 Mar 2025 02:37:09 +0100 zqwerty]]> http://tmmb.mywire.org/showthread.php?tid=3830
https://v.redd.it/5fz1w2uimhme1]]>
https://v.redd.it/5fz1w2uimhme1]]> http://tmmb.mywire.org/showthread.php?tid=2921 Sun, 25 Feb 2024 23:07:52 +0100 SueDonim]]> http://tmmb.mywire.org/showthread.php?tid=2921
Oh_hunnihunni Wrote:
"You had me intrigued with the gender changing thing, but it seems more likely that apparent sex changes are in fact just late developers, though hermaphrodite fish are occasionally seen. They are usually sterile though, so I think I can just focus on the youngsters who start showing male colouration and separate them out till I can select the best one to go back with the females. "



There are a number of fish that routinely change sex as part of their normal life cycle, eg clown fish, spotties, etc. Here's a general article about it https://www.latrobe.edu.au/news/articles...change-sex.

For guppies, when you do a Google search you get lots of fishkeepers on forums asking the questions related to what they have observed and "experts" coming in saying guppies can't change sex/gender. And you will get an occasional person saying "no, that is wrong" but most of the links they provide are old and gone.

I think the explanation that I have always gone by came from the book Sex, Color, and Mate Choice in Guppies by Houde. I had interloaned the book through my library so don't have it at hand, and Google Books doesn't provide the preview of the right chapter. It was a long time ago (my notes show 2009) so I might be remembering the wrong book. Anyway, what I have always understood is that guppies have XX/XY genes like we do and that when there are no males present (eg in the wild they have been eaten by a predator ÔÇô they are smaller and more prominently coloured than the females after all) the population can continue by male hormones being triggered in a female so that she can breed with the other females and produce babies. The babies are all XX (ie female) and any that function as male will be less colourful than XY males because many of the guppies' colours are Y-chromosome linked. But it's a temporary survival strategy that helps to prevent extinction until the all-female group gets a chance to meet up with a normal group with access to males again.

It's rarely seen in hobby fishkeepers because no one really keeps groups of females on their own. Usually a tank of sexually mature females will have male fry with them, or already be fertilised by a male from the past (one insemination can last for months worth of broods - the more common "population survival" strategy). So usually when people think they have observed an apparent sex change it is mistaken, but it is occasionally seen. Usually the gravid spot disappears as any developing embryos are reabsorbed, but if the change is late enough in their development a "male" can give birth. Somewhere along the way I have seen a photo of a fish with a gonopodium giving birth.

There are also all sorts of stories about the trade practices in Asia, where most of our imported fish come from, that include a few weeks of use of (reversible) synthetic testosterone to get females to show their genetic colours to facilitate line breeding, and also the practice of somehow manipulating XX-only fish so that the fish bought by the customer are sterile. I have no idea how true that is.

The great thing about your Endlers is that, unless they have been hybridised with guppies, they will be a "pure" population. I have no idea if they can change sex, but surmised that it might be possible because they are so closely related to guppies. Not a worry for you though. You can just sit back and enjoy them so long as you have a means of controlling the numbers, which is what you are doing. Have fun.]]>
Oh_hunnihunni Wrote:
"You had me intrigued with the gender changing thing, but it seems more likely that apparent sex changes are in fact just late developers, though hermaphrodite fish are occasionally seen. They are usually sterile though, so I think I can just focus on the youngsters who start showing male colouration and separate them out till I can select the best one to go back with the females. "



There are a number of fish that routinely change sex as part of their normal life cycle, eg clown fish, spotties, etc. Here's a general article about it https://www.latrobe.edu.au/news/articles...change-sex.

For guppies, when you do a Google search you get lots of fishkeepers on forums asking the questions related to what they have observed and "experts" coming in saying guppies can't change sex/gender. And you will get an occasional person saying "no, that is wrong" but most of the links they provide are old and gone.

I think the explanation that I have always gone by came from the book Sex, Color, and Mate Choice in Guppies by Houde. I had interloaned the book through my library so don't have it at hand, and Google Books doesn't provide the preview of the right chapter. It was a long time ago (my notes show 2009) so I might be remembering the wrong book. Anyway, what I have always understood is that guppies have XX/XY genes like we do and that when there are no males present (eg in the wild they have been eaten by a predator ÔÇô they are smaller and more prominently coloured than the females after all) the population can continue by male hormones being triggered in a female so that she can breed with the other females and produce babies. The babies are all XX (ie female) and any that function as male will be less colourful than XY males because many of the guppies' colours are Y-chromosome linked. But it's a temporary survival strategy that helps to prevent extinction until the all-female group gets a chance to meet up with a normal group with access to males again.

It's rarely seen in hobby fishkeepers because no one really keeps groups of females on their own. Usually a tank of sexually mature females will have male fry with them, or already be fertilised by a male from the past (one insemination can last for months worth of broods - the more common "population survival" strategy). So usually when people think they have observed an apparent sex change it is mistaken, but it is occasionally seen. Usually the gravid spot disappears as any developing embryos are reabsorbed, but if the change is late enough in their development a "male" can give birth. Somewhere along the way I have seen a photo of a fish with a gonopodium giving birth.

There are also all sorts of stories about the trade practices in Asia, where most of our imported fish come from, that include a few weeks of use of (reversible) synthetic testosterone to get females to show their genetic colours to facilitate line breeding, and also the practice of somehow manipulating XX-only fish so that the fish bought by the customer are sterile. I have no idea how true that is.

The great thing about your Endlers is that, unless they have been hybridised with guppies, they will be a "pure" population. I have no idea if they can change sex, but surmised that it might be possible because they are so closely related to guppies. Not a worry for you though. You can just sit back and enjoy them so long as you have a means of controlling the numbers, which is what you are doing. Have fun.]]> http://tmmb.mywire.org/showthread.php?tid=2918 Sat, 24 Feb 2024 05:52:21 +0100 SueDonim]]> http://tmmb.mywire.org/showthread.php?tid=2918 http://tmmb.mywire.org/showthread.php?tid=2057 Wed, 12 Apr 2023 12:14:23 +0200 Underwhelmed]]> http://tmmb.mywire.org/showthread.php?tid=2057 thanks]]> thanks]]> http://tmmb.mywire.org/showthread.php?tid=1906 Mon, 13 Feb 2023 23:23:13 +0100 SueDonim]]> http://tmmb.mywire.org/showthread.php?tid=1906
I figured that the problem wasn't that he didn't like them, rather that it smelled wrong and he didn't recognise them as food. Mixing them up with the old biscuits didn't work. He also refused the "contaminated" old biscuits.

So, I very slowly introduced them with his meal foods. First a ground up sprinkle mixed in, then a whole biscuit wrapped in meat, then two.... and so on. A few false starts when I did too many too soon and got the "what's going on here?" look. I kept a count - one to me every time he ate one, one to him for every one left in the dish. We were about even for a couple of weeks then I started making headway. And now four weeks later, he's happy eating the dry biscuits on their own.

And the brand that caused all this fuss - Fussy Cat.]]>
I figured that the problem wasn't that he didn't like them, rather that it smelled wrong and he didn't recognise them as food. Mixing them up with the old biscuits didn't work. He also refused the "contaminated" old biscuits.

So, I very slowly introduced them with his meal foods. First a ground up sprinkle mixed in, then a whole biscuit wrapped in meat, then two.... and so on. A few false starts when I did too many too soon and got the "what's going on here?" look. I kept a count - one to me every time he ate one, one to him for every one left in the dish. We were about even for a couple of weeks then I started making headway. And now four weeks later, he's happy eating the dry biscuits on their own.

And the brand that caused all this fuss - Fussy Cat.]]> http://tmmb.mywire.org/showthread.php?tid=1587 Mon, 10 Oct 2022 03:46:49 +0200 SueDonim]]> http://tmmb.mywire.org/showthread.php?tid=1587
Yes, the programme is American and they keep cats inside. We will probably move in that direction too but for conservation reasons rather than for the safety of the cats. The other night when our guy was running full speed across the lawn playing I thought how unhappy he would be if he had to be shut in. And he has had no real impact on our urban bird life. He does catch some, mainly blackbirds, but we still have at least two successful clutches a year in the garden. And he always catches any rodents in the compost before they come inside.]]>
Yes, the programme is American and they keep cats inside. We will probably move in that direction too but for conservation reasons rather than for the safety of the cats. The other night when our guy was running full speed across the lawn playing I thought how unhappy he would be if he had to be shut in. And he has had no real impact on our urban bird life. He does catch some, mainly blackbirds, but we still have at least two successful clutches a year in the garden. And he always catches any rodents in the compost before they come inside.]]> http://tmmb.mywire.org/showthread.php?tid=1062 Fri, 28 Jan 2022 02:02:53 +0100 SueDonim]]> http://tmmb.mywire.org/showthread.php?tid=1062 https://www.newshub.co.nz/home/new-zeala...bowls.html. Every now and again it comes up. On one level it makes sense if all "bowls" are small and all are used to keep goldfish but bowls can be big, and even small bowls can be used to keep small fish. If the SPCA want to be credible, they should be clearer what they mean, and correct the errors of fact in what they are sending out in the press release.]]> https://www.newshub.co.nz/home/new-zeala...bowls.html. Every now and again it comes up. On one level it makes sense if all "bowls" are small and all are used to keep goldfish but bowls can be big, and even small bowls can be used to keep small fish. If the SPCA want to be credible, they should be clearer what they mean, and correct the errors of fact in what they are sending out in the press release.]]> http://tmmb.mywire.org/showthread.php?tid=984 Sun, 02 Jan 2022 04:22:44 +0100 yousnoozeyoulose]]> http://tmmb.mywire.org/showthread.php?tid=984 Currently looking after someone else's cat, and she's just dropped off a dead mouse outside the front door.
I've been accepted!]]> Currently looking after someone else's cat, and she's just dropped off a dead mouse outside the front door.
I've been accepted!]]> http://tmmb.mywire.org/showthread.php?tid=962 Tue, 28 Dec 2021 02:46:55 +0100 datoofairy]]> http://tmmb.mywire.org/showthread.php?tid=962 So far he's been eating the Chef kitten food pouches and he likes that just fine.  But I think the pouches work out expensive and I dont like how much non-recyclable waste they produce.
I've looked in all our local supermarkets and no one stocks the Chef kitten food in a can any more, or the Whiskers kitten food in a can either. It seems its pouches or nothing.  The cans worked out much cheaper and the can could be recycled.  I've asked the companies if the disappearance of these ranges is just due to supply issues or if its permanent but no one has replied.
So that leaves the even more expensive 'posh' brands, however they dont seem to have any thing in kitten formula either.
Is feeding a kitten the 'adult' Chef really that bad?  I'm sure I used to years ago, before separate kitten formula was an option.  At what age can they start eating the adult food?   I do want whats best for our wee man but need to be practical about balancing it with our budget and the environment too.]]> So far he's been eating the Chef kitten food pouches and he likes that just fine.  But I think the pouches work out expensive and I dont like how much non-recyclable waste they produce.
I've looked in all our local supermarkets and no one stocks the Chef kitten food in a can any more, or the Whiskers kitten food in a can either. It seems its pouches or nothing.  The cans worked out much cheaper and the can could be recycled.  I've asked the companies if the disappearance of these ranges is just due to supply issues or if its permanent but no one has replied.
So that leaves the even more expensive 'posh' brands, however they dont seem to have any thing in kitten formula either.
Is feeding a kitten the 'adult' Chef really that bad?  I'm sure I used to years ago, before separate kitten formula was an option.  At what age can they start eating the adult food?   I do want whats best for our wee man but need to be practical about balancing it with our budget and the environment too.]]> http://tmmb.mywire.org/showthread.php?tid=903 Fri, 17 Dec 2021 23:34:52 +0100 Muzza3]]> http://tmmb.mywire.org/showthread.php?tid=903
Looking for eligable bachlor with prospects and good manners , in Tauranga .
I have no idea never had a female dog before so all new to me.
Not sure if allowed to post Ph no , but here goes 0800 787 225,cheers

Murray]]>
Looking for eligable bachlor with prospects and good manners , in Tauranga .
I have no idea never had a female dog before so all new to me.
Not sure if allowed to post Ph no , but here goes 0800 787 225,cheers

Murray]]> http://tmmb.mywire.org/showthread.php?tid=877 Mon, 13 Dec 2021 23:31:44 +0100 SueDonim]]> http://tmmb.mywire.org/showthread.php?tid=877
Anyway, our nightly games have more purpose and benefit than just being fun.]]>
Anyway, our nightly games have more purpose and benefit than just being fun.]]> http://tmmb.mywire.org/showthread.php?tid=809 Mon, 29 Nov 2021 13:35:57 +0100 Underwhelmed]]> http://tmmb.mywire.org/showthread.php?tid=809 I went to Animates the other day to pick up my $96 pet food order and while there, spent another $48 on their great pet food offer.

Paid and was asked if I  had a bag for the $48 assortment of cans and sachets. 
I had left the house with numerous bags but they were now full of groceries in the car a block away and juggling the click and collect (already bagged) plus this new purchase of 48 cans and sachets was going to be tough without another bag. So  I asked for one. There was a discernable pause then she said they only had paper bags and she didn't think it would fit everything. I suggested we try and see, it did and I was able to carry everything back to the car in one trip rather than carrying half back, emptying a grocery bag and driving the car to the shop for the remainder. (It was too hot to walk twice).

When I checked the invoice later, I was a bit annoyed to see a 20 cent charge for the bag. The assistant would have been able to see from my membership that I had spent over $300 on pet food that week and I  can't have a free bag? Even a new customer should be able to have a free bag and their purchase packed for them (don't start me on supermarkets).

The point of this long story is that it highlights something I have long believed - that shops are less concerned about the environment than with being able to charge for something that used to be supplied free of charge ie bags. (And customer service is dead).]]> I went to Animates the other day to pick up my $96 pet food order and while there, spent another $48 on their great pet food offer.

Paid and was asked if I  had a bag for the $48 assortment of cans and sachets. 
I had left the house with numerous bags but they were now full of groceries in the car a block away and juggling the click and collect (already bagged) plus this new purchase of 48 cans and sachets was going to be tough without another bag. So  I asked for one. There was a discernable pause then she said they only had paper bags and she didn't think it would fit everything. I suggested we try and see, it did and I was able to carry everything back to the car in one trip rather than carrying half back, emptying a grocery bag and driving the car to the shop for the remainder. (It was too hot to walk twice).

When I checked the invoice later, I was a bit annoyed to see a 20 cent charge for the bag. The assistant would have been able to see from my membership that I had spent over $300 on pet food that week and I  can't have a free bag? Even a new customer should be able to have a free bag and their purchase packed for them (don't start me on supermarkets).

The point of this long story is that it highlights something I have long believed - that shops are less concerned about the environment than with being able to charge for something that used to be supplied free of charge ie bags. (And customer service is dead).]]> http://tmmb.mywire.org/showthread.php?tid=734 Sat, 20 Nov 2021 20:00:15 +0100 Oh_hunnihunni]]> http://tmmb.mywire.org/showthread.php?tid=734
Ms CoCo does not Play Well With Others, so she has taken over the village and only has to fix the other two cats who live here with a narrow eyed stare to have them slinking off back to where they came from. She is quite likely to march into their kitchens to check out food bowls and the wimps simply go for higher ground and hope to remain undetected. And fast? For an elderly lady the beast can put on a fine turn of speed if any of them think running is a good idea. She does enjoy a good chase.

Unfortunately though, Ms CoCo has some health issues of the messy kind. She has IBS, and her fur - being rex - lacks guard hair, so her incessant grooming causes hairballs, and with IBS that is Not a Good Thing. But we deal with the unfortunate results, and with a bit of vet support and the occasional course of steroids she is still enjoying being Queen of all she surveys.

Last night though, she and I had words. For some reason known only to herself, she took exception to being kept inside after the doors closed at 9pm. Her third dinner was insufficent joy, and my going to bed at 10pm was simply unacceptable behaviour. So she started throwing things around, bouncing off bits of me that do not respond well to such treatment, yelling in my ear, and generally being an attention seeking brat.

So, she spent the rest of the night  - from 2am I might add, curled up on a nice thick folded towel on the stool in the bathroom with the door firmly closed, and peace and quiet was restored. The yelling resumed at 7am, so she was released from custody, had her first breakfast of the day, and has now gone out to do her first patrol of the estate.

I might just have won this round.

]]>
Ms CoCo does not Play Well With Others, so she has taken over the village and only has to fix the other two cats who live here with a narrow eyed stare to have them slinking off back to where they came from. She is quite likely to march into their kitchens to check out food bowls and the wimps simply go for higher ground and hope to remain undetected. And fast? For an elderly lady the beast can put on a fine turn of speed if any of them think running is a good idea. She does enjoy a good chase.

Unfortunately though, Ms CoCo has some health issues of the messy kind. She has IBS, and her fur - being rex - lacks guard hair, so her incessant grooming causes hairballs, and with IBS that is Not a Good Thing. But we deal with the unfortunate results, and with a bit of vet support and the occasional course of steroids she is still enjoying being Queen of all she surveys.

Last night though, she and I had words. For some reason known only to herself, she took exception to being kept inside after the doors closed at 9pm. Her third dinner was insufficent joy, and my going to bed at 10pm was simply unacceptable behaviour. So she started throwing things around, bouncing off bits of me that do not respond well to such treatment, yelling in my ear, and generally being an attention seeking brat.

So, she spent the rest of the night  - from 2am I might add, curled up on a nice thick folded towel on the stool in the bathroom with the door firmly closed, and peace and quiet was restored. The yelling resumed at 7am, so she was released from custody, had her first breakfast of the day, and has now gone out to do her first patrol of the estate.

I might just have won this round.

]]> http://tmmb.mywire.org/showthread.php?tid=475 Sun, 23 May 2021 08:33:29 +0200 jackford]]> http://tmmb.mywire.org/showthread.php?tid=475 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A4N7G29GWQI
]]> https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A4N7G29GWQI
]]>