FishChannel Forums / Community Forums / Announcements

Forum Rules

Animal Network Admin — Thu, 03 Jul 2008 12:46:34 GMT

Welcome to Our Community!

These are just some basic rules you should follow so we can all enjoy our time here!

You must have a full understanding of all the rules. If you are unsure about any rule, do not hesitate to ask a moderator. If you receive a warning and are unaware of the rule, it is assumed you falsely agreed to the rules during registration, which could result in a ban

When participating in our community, there are a few simple rules we ask each member to follow:

1. Communicate in a friendly and respectful manner.
It’s OK to share your opinions and to disagree, we simply ask that you do so without attacking another member in the process.

If you believe you have been personally attacked in our community, don’t respond with an attack of your own. Instead, e-mail the moderator to alert us to the problem.

2. Keep it clean.
Profanity and obscenities will not be tolerated. This includes masked profanity where letters are substituted with special characters.

3. Don’t instigate arguments.
Content intended to inflame or disrupt the community is not allowed. This includes harassment of fellow members and the community team, links to inappropriate content, racial, ethnic, religious, or other slurs as well as any name-calling. Any violation of federal or state law will not be tolerated and may result in immediate suspension from the site. For further information regarding the terms of use of this website, please see http://www.fishchannel.com/corporate/terms.aspx.

4. No solicitations.
No unsolicited or unauthorized advertising. This includes promotion of items for personal financial gain, as well as promotion of an item or issue for the purpose of mass communication. Further, mass posting or ‘spamming’ the community is not allowed.

Soliciting means you are persuading other members to buy something, try a new service, visit another website, etc., where the members may or may not have interest in doing so.

The private messaging system is for you to exchange advice, learn, and have fun. Using the private messaging system and message board as a means of mass communication for solicitation is strictly prohibited. Report abuse to the moderator by forwarding the private communication. We must have proof to stop future abuse.

5. Don’t share personally identifiable information.
To protect your privacy and to ensure your online safety, we ask that you do not post personally identifiable information. This includes phone numbers, address, instant messaging screen names (AOL, ICQ, Yahoo, MSN, etc.) or web addresses leading to such information. Further, we ask that you do not share someone else’s personally identifiable information.

6. Don’t post copyrighted material.
We ask that you do not post any copyrighted or trademarked material unless you have the express written consent of the owner to do so. The website is not responsible for any posts that infringe on copyright laws. If a copyright has been broken, you may be held legally responsible.

7. Respect our community team
The community team does its best to maintain the integrity and standards of the community areas. Should a problem arise in the community, we ask that you assist the community team by paying attention to its posts and following any directions the team provides.

8. Signatures
Your signature is not to exceed 500 pixels by 200 pixels.

500 x 200 pixels

If all the contents of your signature do not fit into the above space, your signature is too big. The lone exception is text. Text may go further right than the edge of the box because it wraps naturally. However, all images must fit in this area. You may have as many images in this area, but they can't exceed the boundaries, and no one image can exceed any boundary.

Your total signature images must be less than 100K in size. To find how large your signature is, right click your image and choose "Properties" to see what your file size is. Please note: Animated images are big in file size.

The rules and guidelines of the community apply to signatures as well.

9. External links
Linking to other sites is allowed, however, please adhere to the above rules when posting links.

10. Keep on topic
Please keep all postings and subject matter relevant to the thread topics. This is a forum where all members share and give advice and information. It is not a place to gossip, rant, or rave about subject matters not pertaining to the discussion.

These rules are here for your protection. They ensure we maintain a fun, safe and supportive environment where members can talk about the animals they adore. Members who continually break these rules are subject to account suspension and are no longer eligible for participation in our community.

Now that you know the rules, we invite you to join in our community and look forward to your participation. Welcome!

Did a new member level get added?

Hailey — Sat, 21 Jun 2008 06:33:59 GMT

I just noticed that my member status changed to "Fishkeeping GURU"...cute...lol. I have no idea how long it has been that way. What post count do people need to hit to get it?

June AFI 20th Anniversary $50 Winners

FishChannel Moderator — Wed, 25 Jun 2008 14:23:41 GMT

The June AFI 20th Anniversary Contest $50 Raffle winners have been posted. Check it out now to see if you won.

http://www.fishchannel.com/fish-contests/20th-anniversary-winners.aspx

The grand prize winner will be announced in the September issue of Aquarium Fish International.

Good Luck,

F.M.

New Categories

FishChannel Moderator — Wed, 26 Mar 2008 08:32:13 GMT

We're getting close to having the new forum setup done and we just wanted to check with all of you about what we're planning and get some final input.

In freshwater, we will be adding a ponds and invertebrate section, and in saltwater we will be adding an invertebrate section.

We are also thinking about adding some fish specific sections in freshwater and would like to know what you think. The specific sections you have mentioned were: Bettas, Goldfish and Cichlids.

Do you think we should add these sections? Should we add only some of these?

Thanks in advance for any input.

F.M.

Flying Fish!

FishChannel Moderator — Thu, 22 May 2008 08:43:15 GMT

Raw Video: Fish Flies for 45 Seconds

May 21 - A Japanese TV crew has filmed what is believed to be the longest ever flight of a flying fish caught on camera. The fish is out of the water for 45 seconds.

This is pretty remarkable. The fish is actually flying. I always thought they just left the water and glided. I've seen many of them and the ones I've seen only stay out of the water for a couple of seconds.

Here's the link: http://usatoday.feedroom.com/index.jsp?fr_story=FRdamp273193

F.M.

New FC Design

FishChannel Moderator — Wed, 14 May 2008 10:40:15 GMT

Hi Everyone,

We updated the look of FC with new tabs, a more squared off look. Just curious if anyone noticed and if you like it, or liked the previous design better.

F.M.

Are Your Fish Sick?

FishChannel Moderator — Wed, 14 May 2008 14:00:08 GMT

One of the most important roles that your Local Fish Store (LFS) and we here at FishChannel.com have in making you successful at keeping fish is giving advice when your fish are sick and/or dying. The problem is that in order for us to help you, and your fish, we really do need a few pieces of information. The most basic information is "The Big Four." They are the pH, ammonia, nitrite and nitrates of your tank. The reason these four measures are so important is that most problems with fish start with the water conditions rather than some exotic disease or parasite. The Big Four are the basic way that you can tell us, or your LFS, about the water conditions your fish are in.

The answers to the Big Four are ACTUAL numbers. Please do not say, "They're Fine" or "Everything is OK." If everything was OK you wouldn't be asking us or your LFS for help. There are very simple test strips to measure the Big Four, or you can take a water sample to your LFS and have them test it. WHAT IS CRUCIAL IS THAT THE ANSWERS FOR THE BIG FOUR ARE NUMBERS! Don’t allow the fish store to tell you that “everything is fine” or “it’s a little high.” Get the actual numbers.

Happy Mother's Day

FishChannel Moderator — Thu, 08 May 2008 10:13:29 GMT

The new Fish Mother's Day eCards are now available.

Check them out here:

http://www.fishchannel.com/fish-community/fish-ecards.aspx

Happy Mother's Day!

F.M.

Fish Radio!

FishChannel Moderator — Fri, 02 May 2008 11:20:54 GMT

Hey fishkeepers!

If you don't get enough fish talk on these forums, there is now a fish radio program. The first of its kind!

It really is a great show to listen to. You may recognize one of the regulars on the show, your very own FishChannel Moderator David Lass! So congratulate David on this fishkeeping breakthrough and tune in to Reece's Blue Zoo Fish Radio Program!

To learn more about Reece's Blue Zoo, click here.

F.M.

Forums Down

FishChannel Moderator — Tue, 22 Apr 2008 16:42:20 GMT

Hi Everyone,

We had a technical glitch today. As you may have noticed we have lost the last five days of information. We are working to recover this information. We are sorry if this causes anyone any inconvenience.

Thanks,

F.M.

Forums

Armand — Tue, 15 Apr 2008 12:35:54 GMT

I think there should be a community fish and a breeder forum.

New forums!

fredburger999 — Sat, 05 Apr 2008 14:43:55 GMT

The new ones are: R.I.P., Ponds, and Invertabrates. Wonder why we don't have a breeder's section *hint hint*

10,000 Forum Member

FishChannel Moderator — Wed, 02 Apr 2008 16:15:42 GMT

Hi Everyone,

FishChannel is proud to announce that the forums have rolled over from four-digits to five-digits. 10,000 forum members! Thanks to all of you who have signed up over the years, either through the old aquariumfish.com forums or through the FishChannel.com Forums and Fish eClub. We are proud to announce that we have reached the 10,000th member milestone!

FishChannel would like to congratulate the winner: NIKKO.

For simply being at the right place at the right time, Nikko won a great prize courtesy of Marineland. A 37-gallon Eclipse® Deluxe Show Combo Kit and a Heartland Aquarium Stand.

To view the 10,000 Announcement page, Click Here>>

F.M.

Congrats OctopusLover!!!!!!!!!!!

jfish13 — Fri, 28 Mar 2008 10:03:02 GMT

Seems pretty fast. But octopuslover is a senior member. Congrats.

Congrats GoldBarb!!!!!!

jfish13 — Tue, 25 Mar 2008 21:39:25 GMT

Congrats GoldBarb!!!!!! I saw you are a senior member. Thanks for being here you help us a lot! Congrats.

Moving threads and Pinned topics

FishChannel Moderator — Tue, 25 Mar 2008 12:35:40 GMT

Hi Everyone,

You may have noticed that there is only ONE pinned topic in each section. We are trying to organize the forums. All of the topics that were pinned are on this list.

Sorry if this causes anyone any inconvenience.

F.M.

Pinned Topics

FishChannel Moderator — Tue, 25 Mar 2008 11:23:32 GMT

Welcome to the FishChannel Forums! Below you will find links to Frequently Asked Questions and important topics from the FishChannel Forums. Before asking a question on the forums, first make sure you look at the list to see if it has already been covered. Please read the following links below: Official Rules and Regulations, Are Your Fish Sick?and Information needed for other members to answer your questions.

If you have you see a topic that you think should appear on this list, please let the FishChannel Moderator know, via PM or by posting the URL for the topic in the Suggestions Forum.

Official Rules and Regulations

Are Your Fish Sick?

Information needed for other members to answer your questions

Abusing Private Messaging

Step-by-Step Instructions for Deleting PMs

How to Post Pictures

Video Clip Challenge
Link to great fish videos.

Show your tanks!
Pictures of members tanks.

Basics for taking great pictures

Freshwater Stocking Guide: A Reference for Beginners
An Answer to the Question "How Many Fish Can I Keep?"

Ich: What you've always wanted to know.
An in depth explaination of Ich and how to treat it

Fish Food

What's the difference between pH and Hardness
How are they related & how are they different?

Stocking List for a 10 Gallon?

The A to Z of FishKeeping

Signs of Nutrient Deficiencies
Chart & Definitions

Dechlorinated Water And Cycling

Community Safe Shrimp

Spring/Easter eCards

FishChannel Moderator — Thu, 20 Mar 2008 08:26:51 GMT

Happy Spring!

The new Spring/Easter Fish eCards are now available. Check them out and send them to your friends and loved ones.

Remember, you get eClub points for sending eCards!

F.M.

Win a 16 Gallon Complete Setup!

FishChannel Moderator — Fri, 30 Nov 2007 13:05:45 GMT

Hey Fishkeepers!

Starting Saturday December 1st the new Beauty Below the Surface monthly contest starts anew. December's winner will receive a Tetra Water Wonders Aquarium Kit. This is a 16 gallon glass aquarium, that offers clear, undistorted viewing of your fish. A super quiet Whisper Filter is included, along with 50-watt heater, AquaSafe water conditioner, and TetraMin Tropical Flake Food. Free TetraCare Online and Toll-Free Assistance program is also inside the kit, making it an all-inclusive set-up.

So go get your camera, take your best pic, and upload it to our Beauty Below the Surface contest running December 1 - 31.

Good Luck!

F.M.

Congratulations

FishChannel Moderator — Tue, 29 Jan 2008 14:54:01 GMT

Special Milestones:

Congrats to princessotfu for being bumped up to a Senior Member.

Congrats to Hailey for her 10,000th post!!!

Do any of you think we should have a new level beyond Advanced Member for Hailey and her 10,000? Maybe Super-Advanced...

Congrats!

F.M.

Valentine's Fish eCards

FishChannel Moderator — Wed, 13 Feb 2008 15:37:13 GMT

Happy Valentine's Day Everyone!

Don't forget to send one of our FREE Valentine's Day eCards.

F.M.

Message Board Will Be Offline

Fish Mod — Wed, 13 Feb 2008 13:17:20 GMT

Hi everyone,

The message board will be offline for routine maintenance tonight, 2/13, from 9 PM PST to 10 PM PST. Thanks for your cooperation and patience!

Fish Mod

Thread Hijacking

FishChannel Moderator — Mon, 11 Feb 2008 09:50:06 GMT

Hello,

We'd like to remind everyone to stay on topic and not hijack threads. Staying on topic is actually very important and is one of our rules (#8).

To stay on topic and not hijack mean: To keep the original poster's question in mind when you are replying to a post.

Posts are too commonly getting way off topic from the initial topic. Please start a new topic if your post has little or nothing to do with the original post.

This is beneficial to all of us, as often great information can become buried in a post thats title now has nothing to do with the conversation.

Thanks,

F.M.

New Moderator?

ILuvMyGoldBarb — Tue, 05 Feb 2008 17:36:59 GMT

Do we have another new moderator here?

Abusing Private Messaging

FishChannel Moderator — Wed, 30 May 2007 14:47:26 GMT

We've received a few reports of several people using the private messaging system to recruit members to another forum. This is strictly prohibited and those caught doing this may be BANNED.

Because of privacy laws, messages sent through the private messaging system cannot be tracked. To help crack down on those abusing the message board, we're asking that if you receive a private message that solicits another message board or website, please report this to us.

You can use the report button located on each post to alert the moderators, or go to the FishChannel Moderator's profile and send a PM or e-mail. We want everyone to have an enjoyable experience here and those abusing the forum only hinder on your positive experience.

Thanks for your support,

F.M.

Forum Question

FishChannel Moderator — Tue, 11 Dec 2007 10:37:34 GMT

Hi everyone,

We have been looking at the organization of the forums lately and wanted to know what your opinions are. Do you think there are too many forums? Do you think there are not enough forums? Are there pinned topics that should be removed? Should we remove a forum or put it higher towards the top of the page or lower?

Any ideas or feedback are welcome. If you don't feel comfortable posting your ideas then PM the FishChannel Moderator. We really want to know what you think, because this is your community and we want you to be happy. Lets make this what you've always thought it should be.

F.M.

FishChannel Contests!

FishChannel Moderator — Wed, 02 Jan 2008 11:56:48 GMT

Hi everyone,

We have two contests that just started. We just started the January Beauty Below the Surface contest. Enter now to win a TETRA 16-gallon complete aquarium ensemble.

Also on the contest page is the Aquarium Fish International 20th Anniversary Contest. This one is big! The grand prize is valued at $4,000!

Enjoy,

F.M.

Fish Skull on Mars

rohnds — Sun, 02 Dec 2007 01:44:06 GMT

I have not posted on this forum for a while now. But I thought I should share what our group have found. This might interest fish enthusiasts. (if this topic is inappropriate or irrelevant mods are welcome to delete this thread)

A couple of years ago we founded the Project Pegasus in order to analyze and study images from various probes that NASA sent to Mars. Our intention was to find evidence of present or past life or evidence of a past civilization as we have theorized.

That was when I came across this photo (photo ID: 2P126914648EFF0205P2211L2M1) taken by the rover Spirit using it PANCAM on sol 006. As I a aquarist my eye caught this object on the photo.

Here is the same photo enlarge and enhanced to show the skull.

You can clearly see the eye socket, nostril and teeth. The resemblance to a prehistoric shark is uncanny.

Rohn

EDITE: Add request to Mods.

Signatures

FishChannel Moderator — Thu, 17 Jan 2008 16:27:03 GMT

Hello,

We would like to ask all those with signatures containing ANYTHING other than text to remove them. We have had some problems stemming from signatures and overall they slow down the site and make reading threads difficult.

You have the ability to have lots of things on your Fish eClub page, so you can put everything there and then just a link to your eClub page in your forum signature.

Thanks,

F.M.

my sims aquarium

starlette11 — Tue, 15 Jan 2008 20:23:35 GMT

anyone play?

New FishChannel Exclusive

FishChannel Moderator — Fri, 04 Jan 2008 15:22:32 GMT

Hey fish friends!

We have a new monthly exclusive health column on FishChannel for 2008. It is written by Neale Monks who writes for every major Fish magazine including Aquarium Fish International (cough) TFH and Practical FishKeeping. He also edited the first brackish fish encyclopaedic book 'Brackish-Water Fishes'.

The first article is on freshwater ich and the second installment, due Feb. 1 is on saltwater/marine ick or Cryptocaryon irritans.

The column won't just cover diseases, infections and parasites, but also prevention and care -- HEALTH!

If you have any ideas that you'd like covered in this new column, post them here and we'll run them by Neale.

Thanks,

F.M.

Encouragment to Guests

jfish13 — Thu, 20 Dec 2007 21:17:07 GMT

Encouragement to Guests

I encourage you to join this forum, even if you're a beginner or want to start keeping fish. This forum can provide the answers you want to ask. It can tell you what species of fish are hardy, what size of aquarium to start out with, and even provide you with a list of fish that can live together and fit in a designated amount of water in a tank. So, I encourage all guests to join.

iPond

FishChannel Moderator — Mon, 17 Dec 2007 16:09:47 GMT

We're looking more into this story on FishChannel, and I'm sure we'll have a news piece on this in a next day or so, but I figured I'd show all of you first. Apparently the iPond is selling out all over Australia.

http://blog.washingtonpost.com/offbeat/2007/12/the_ipond_siamese_fighting_fis_1.html

F.M.

Happy Holidays

FishChannel Moderator — Tue, 18 Dec 2007 09:48:36 GMT

Happy Holidays Everyone,

Don't forget to send FREE Fish Holiday eCards to all of your friends and family.

Enjoy,

F.M.

rummy noses!!

starlette11 — Sun, 16 Dec 2007 18:31:11 GMT

i found this video and its so cute.. makes me really want to get a school of rummies!
its a good thing the tanks take so long to cycle .. cause im so undecided and all over the place on what i want to put in there.

lets see if this works
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hLFgFSsv7Cs

most popular tank size and most popular fish

staffordmom — Thu, 18 Oct 2007 17:47:53 GMT

Does anyone happen to know the most popular tank size and the most popular fish according to the APPMA? I would be very interested in knowing this.

staffordmom

Happy Thanksgiving

FishChannel Moderator — Tue, 20 Nov 2007 15:46:21 GMT

Happy Thanksgiving everyone,

Don't forget to send your friends and family one of our free Fish eCards for Thanksgiving.

Have a Safe and Happy Thanksgiving!

F.M.

I need some help with my guppy fry.

Guppy2500 — Sat, 03 Nov 2007 18:25:49 GMT

I have 18 guppy fry. They are 10 weeks old ,but I can't tell males and females apart. And i've raised guppy fry before and by now i could easily tell them apart. I'm wondering if it is possible to have a brood of all females? Please give me suggestions!!!

Happy Halloween!

FishChannel Moderator — Wed, 31 Oct 2007 09:25:41 GMT

Happy Halloween fishkeepers!

Make sure to check out the FREE fish Halloween eCards and send some to your friends.

http://www.fishchannel.com/fish-community/fish-ecards.aspx

F.M.

New eQuarium Fish

FishChannel Moderator — Wed, 29 Aug 2007 16:15:26 GMT

Hi everyone!

We've expanded the eQuarium with four new fish and two new decorations.

Hope you like it!

F.M.