acedophin

Below is the formalities that is required for personal allowance when returning back to Singapore. No AVA Licence is required but CITES import & export permit, a must. Import permit is about $60 from AVA. ($12/- per species but minimum S$60). And the export CITES permit from the country of origin. CITES Species (Require CITES import & export permits) Types of Ornamental Fish Country from which the product may be imported Personal Allowance (Maximum amount which may be imported without a licence from AVA) Asian Arowana (Dragon fish) Any country One fish in not more than 3 litres of packing water per person per trip, subject to a maximum of 2 pieces in not more than 6 litres of water per car (2 or more persons in the car) Hard/CITES corals/Calcareous algae rocks (larger than palm-size) Any country 5 pieces per person per trip, subject to a maximum of 10 pieces per car (2 or more persons in the car) Seahorse Any country 5 pieces per person per trip, subject to a maximum of 10 pieces per car (2 or more persons in the car) Giant clams Any country 5 pieces per person per trip, subject to a maximum of 10 pieces per car (2 or more persons in the car)

Hi, I don't try spoil someone sales, else you would have seen me posting tread on every sales tread. My advice is to fatten up the SH before you sell it, it is neglected and the health is in bad shape, if you have sold it and it went to 'fasting' mode, the SH is gone case. I started my hobby when tigertail was $3 a piece and there was hundreds to choose from. I have bred barbouri, tigertail, kuda and reidi before. Reidi was the easiest I would say. If this is the first time you kept a SH, you will not be able to tell the difference. And when I see bidding sales on SH, it get on my nerve because it show that the bidding price is more important than the so call "well-being" of the SH. Can you have both cake and eat it?

Hi The abdominal looks kind of sunken(rather concave). Not a very good sign of the health status. Hope I don't get flame on this comment.

Hi, One will never understand the true meaning of life until you have seen death of someone close and you will stop and pause to reflect on yourself. I would say that Singapore gives a better living standard than many country around. It is just that we are to used to material gain. Why buy landed property which cost millions which you slog like hell just to purchase it and hand it over to your children who might just sell it for a quick gain in future. A 3 room or 4 room flat would be sufficient. For transport wise, get a van instead of a car as it is cheaper to purchase and low operating cost. Diesel, flat rate road tax. If you are concious about image, than pay the price for it. Anyway who bother about what car you drive anyway, and I can't believe that people tell me that car have scrap value and not van. Where does your scrap value come from? From the 120% taxes you paid. Van only attracts 5% tax. I never appreciate my country until I am was station oversea for business on a regular basis. I bought a new Wagon R for S$12,000 which is mine for next 15 years and paid S$200+ for life time roadtax in the state I am in. Back home(S'pore),you willl always see me washing my van every few days. Here in India, I don't even wash my car because road is dusty so I don't really bother about washing. But in S'pore, why am I so concious about washing even though our road is good and not dusty?? Maybe because it cost near to 3 times the price here and I became am a slave to my van. Daily wages here is around S$2-$4. People can still live on it, the don't have the necessary luxuary thing that we enjoy back home but you always see smiles on their faces. They basically live from day-to-day. Government is corrupted to the core over here. Only the rich get things done in their own way. Few days back, there was a heavy flood on the road just outside my apartment, can you imagine children swimming on the road?? For fun, of course. So I really treasure the time I spent with my family once I get back home each time after touchdown in Changi airport. Spend more time with your family because it is not going to be there forever, you and I will be an orphan at a particular stage of life, just that don't neglect your loves ones and treasure every moment.

Hi, Actually there is no way to avoid disease even with UV. Previously, I only dip them in freshwater for 5 mins to get rid of parasite. Can see alot of organism dropping off the SH. I would advice to get a chiller if you can afford it (2nd hand, if possible). First, there is not much salinity fluctuaction(lesser top up) and disease is less likely to occur at lower temp(24°c-25°c). Seahorse was cheap(about $3/-) when I first started out but not now. So do serious thinking before commit. SH was also the first marine fish I started on. But sometimes food(hard to buy) and medication(hard to find, most of the time from website) really makes you want to give up. Focus on your landscape and hopefully it will grow like a jungle then move on to SH. Take a step by step approach, no use rush, else you are throwing $$ away. Read up on http://forum.seahorse.org/ for more info. Jump-start your experience, not learn it the hard way.

Funny, he seems to blame everyone except himself. He was given a year to prepare himself for IPPT. Just need to aim for pass will do. If fail 1 static station(except 2.4km) can retake again what. Normally just talk to PTI if you fail the station again, most likely they will give chance

hi, I would not be too optimistic if I were you. I had tender for a number of project (food-related biz) and lesson learn from it is that even though the tender looks transparent enough, it is not so. First, they do not disclose the tender bid of individual company. Next, if your company is new(just incorporated), they won't have much faith in it. The only way to clinch or have a head start in it is to know someone inside. That is the true fact(open secret). Because they will always be able to justify their selection. Don't believe? Do you recall a tender that was report in the strait Time(many months back) that was reporting on a group of NTU guys bidding for a canteen and was awarded instead even wiith 30-40 tenderers(some even major player). The reason given is that the management is willing to give their student a try. I did not bid then but I feel that injustic is done to the rest of the tender. They have to go for a briefing and on top of that, invest $ and time on the proposal. If you are one of the tenderer, I don't really know how you would feel? Just to share my experience with you guys. Pls dun flame.

Rocks had been reserved.

Hi, I am clearing the above rocks (abt 15+kg) for $60. Add $5 if you need delivery. Reason is that I am going oversea for work, therefore have to give up this hobby for the time being. Please PM me if interested.

Hi, Believe that we need to verify this source for all necessary formalities. Chinmo, I was waiting for the news on reidi from my supplier but apparently the Tsunami came and there was no further contact after that. FYI, the source is in Sri Lanka. That's why we can purchase it so cheap. Was quoted US$21 that time. I will try to link up with other supplier again. Real, It is a great opportunity if it can be imported. Pricewise, it is reasonable. But I believe a minimum tank size of 6 feet is the requirement. I have a pair of reidi(Male and female) to be release for sale. Both feeding on frozen. As I just incorporated a company in India, I will be station there permanently till everything stabilised. That's why it pains me to release these two gems. Anyway, I will check out the species available within my area. Conclusion of my personal assessment on seahorse breeding. It is always interesting to breed Sh irregardless of the species. Food requirement varies from pony to pony. Unless one goes full time into this hobby, we might see some result, else it will always be frustration when problem crops up(very often). I always wanted to setup a farm for seahorse, but the cost involve doing it in Singapore doesn't permit. By the time the pony is rasied to adulthood, what's your true cost and selling price? There was a news on sh breeding farm in singapore but I really wonder how long it can substain it the long run. the farm will always be at the mercy of oil/chemical spill from tankers with our busy seaport status. Further more, we are going to built a few desalination plant, water salinity is definitely going to go up as salt are discard back into the sea. In future, will there really be corals and fishes left in our local water? So it is a highly risky business to be in. Anyway, for those who decided to start on seahorses, read up from past issues to jump start and prevent repeated mistakes. It is much expensive and difficult to purchase compare to the past. Happy New Year! regards, acedophin

Hi, Just came across a notice of sale of captive raised weedy sea dragon from Australia. Price quoted is US$350 (cost only exclude freight and paperwork cost). Those experience guys wanting to try can gather a pool order to save on freight. Email is oceanreef@aanet.com.au Maybe you guys can request for some photos to be posted here and verify this source. If LFS is going to bring it in, expect to pay around S$1000+.

Hi Real, They posted me some photos of their pony about 10-14cm but I lost the pic when my hard disk crash I need to pay them a visit before i make any purchase, this is to ensure that the source is a reliable one. For this visit, I may add extra $4.5-$5 per horse if the pool order goes through as I need to cover my flight expense. I am not making any profit at all for this order as I feel that the market for seahorse is overprice by local retailer. I don't believe those local seahorse on sales are import by proper channel else, how come the quantity are so little? It doesn't justify the trouble and cost for apply CITIES. So I guess they are making about 5-15 time profit. My intention right now is to reduce any speculation of prices by local retailer and proper education to the SH keeper that if you can't commit a SH only-tank, forget about buying SH. I need a volunteer who can provide a large tank to acclimate the SH when it arrives. I have sources for live mysis. And priority is to get it feeding before release to its prospective owner or the best is to get it feeding on frozen before release. I will try to get frozen mysis and distribute it to the rest. This mysis is not the usual Hiraki type. When defost, it whole body of mysis stays intact. That's why I have some reservation when I suggest this pool order. All proper conditions must be thought out before, because I am not a retailer(not profit driven) but a SH hobbyist. That's all.

Hi, I may have lobang to bring in reidi but order is at least 100pcs. The best part is the price, IT"S US$24 each without shipping cost and clearance permit. I am not sure how many of you are interested. I am currently outstation and won't be back till end next month. I might pay the farm a visit to take photos and learn more about it's breeding method. I also hope that they allow me to personally choose the ###### required for the pool order(if any), at least everyone gets what they want. From what I know, they can provide CITES document.

Hi, No problem to join it parallel, your fan will still have 12V supply to each fan. Dun join in series because each fan will have only 6V with current being 1.5A. If you want to use 1 fan only, to counter the current, just put a resistor will solve the problem. After your DIY fan, I am pretty sure you will ask for DIY water top up because your tank water will evaporate much faster with the 2 fans blowing.

Hi flubberina13, paiseh, I just terminate my nano and rotifier production last sunday. Very busy with work lately. So right now, I would offer to gallardo sale of nano setup and a bottle of nano, with fertilizer at only $20. Hopefully he can set it up and sell it to fellow reefer at a low cost. My 1.5L use to sell at $10 with delivery, my goodness how reefer sell nowaday. $4 for 200ml. Daylight robbery. flubberina13, if you are interest to produce low cost nano for benefit of all reefers, let me know as well. I will transfer culture knowledge and super low cost material used to culture at zero cost. I have been culturing nano for 18mths since I started.

Hi, Any abnormalities with the male reidi, eg slightly bloated body? Beside BS, any other food you feed like mysis? If sole diet is on brine shrimp, your reidi could be heading towards nutritions deficiency. Did you feed any fresh water grass shrimp? Feeding grass shrimp requires some process like breaking away the sharp blade on its forehead and the tail before feeding. I ever had reidi dying for no reason just after feeding live grass shrimp. Reason could be the sharp edges damaging the seahorse internal organs during feeding, resulting in hunger strike and death next.

Hi, I have a 2 mth old Schuran Jet skim 100 which I kept in in my storeroom for a year plus. Because of fine bubbles it creates, my seahorse keeps getting GBD when I start out this hobby. It's recommended for tank up to 500L. Gives very good thick brown protein residue. Retails price for new is around $450. So I am looking for chiller > 250L capacity and topping up is not a problem for higher capacity.

Hi, I think it's better to identify the species that gave birth first before we jump into any conclusion. If unsure of species, photo or description would be more appropriate. Dun jump into conclusion that bbs is the solution food, if it's that good, seahorse won't be in the CITES list on 15/05. I have seen pony eating bbs but if you look at their poops properly, bbs is passed out alive meaning that it is not digested. After 3-5 days, most likely it will pass away after finishing its yolk reserve that it carries upon birth. If it is barbouri fry eating bbs, still got chance.

Hi, Just curious, did the yellow strip(species:tigertail) gave birth or Black colour(species:kuda) gave birth? If the yellow strip on gave birth, most likely unable to make it. I have tried rotifier, greenwater before. It doesn't help. I only manage to bring up 2 tigertail out of 1500 frys on bbs to 2mths before(need tons of luck). For the kuda, if you have sufficient rotifier(I mean hundred of thousand of rotifier), your chance would be about 40%, I tried this method a few time with success. But take note, culling have to be done with their ever increasing appetite, you will run out of food in no time. Even for regeneration of rotifier, it is not fast enough. Unless I have a farm, there is no way I can solve the food problem. Good Luck.

Hi, I don't think that LFS is trying to con you, just that they are ignorant in the species . If it is only a seahorse LFS then it's definitely a con shop. But unless I have live mysis on hand, I will not try buying. Reason being, chances of it dying is extremely high without live food. And hence will be wasting precious money instead and shortchanging my current lifestock on SW changes which is more practical.

Hi, I think ML price is on the high side is due to the economy of scale of import and rental fee. He don't import in bulk, so price cannot compare to LFS like reborn. If this is my first LFS I visited, I would think that it is a cut-throat shop. But because of small volume of turnover, I guess to breakeven, price had to be on the high side. Else he won't be around till this day, rite? Livestock business is one of the most risky and dangerous, I would say. Just a change in water chemistry can wipe out the whole shop investment. So you have to put yourself in their position sometimes. Henry is one of the knowledgeable and friendly guy I know so far. So, with his advice, you can avoid certain pit-fall while new in this hobby. Maybe rephrasing the word 'Worst' to 'High pricing' would be more appropriate.

Hi Uncleliew, Why don't you try http://www.vpost.com.sg/ for your freight cost. I am sure it is cheaper that Fedex as your parcel will be delivered to an authorised collection centre in states. They will consolidate the parcel on a weekly basis(i think) and deliver to Singapore in a week time. unless it is frozen food then no choice.

Hi flubberina13, Thanks for jumping to my defence, but no need to take people comment so seriously lah . Forum is for sharing of knowledge and experience so that beginner can jumpstart and avoid pitfall. Didn't know that you record a detail event about me . Maybe my post of only 48 doesn't justified my comment compare to 500+ post. Mine will still most likely hover around the two digit post in months to come. My reply is rather straight forward, that is, post that are not often ask will get reply, those that can be found in back issues and yet the poster is lazy to search, I just pass it unless he/she quote the previous issues and ask question about it. When I started out on SH(2 yrs+ back), I went to the Seahorse.org and start reading the archives from day 1(beginning) onwards.Till this day, I am not an expert though. Chinmo, I know it painful to lose your stock of 10 kuda especially if they are feed on frozen. It's a common mistake to keep on adding SH whenever you can find it during new shipment at LFS or farms. And Kuda are rare to find unlike tigertail. Unless you have a quarantine tank and is willing to wait 2wks before adding to main tank. Why 2 wks? From my experience, 2 wks is the time before the SH start to waste away without feeding, disease/virus will attack it during this time, that where disease spread. FW dip(about 4-5 min) also helps before adding to Q-tank, you will see a number of parasite creature falling off the SH. Hence if you add the newly bought SH to main tank immediately, most likely after a few weeks, you will see the out-break of disease. Isolate suspected SH immediately if you sense any abnormal sight/feature, this will prevent spreading of disease.

Hi flubberina13, Just quitted that lifeless and health-damaging job . A relief for me. How are you so far? Still on coral and fish buying spree?

Hi, Avoid mixing reidi to other species. This is due to diseases which our local SH carries which might spread to it. For example, barbouri( Yellow SH) are prone to pop eye. Tigertail and kuda are prone to flesh erosion and snout rot. Its best to have a tank-only reidi as a reidi cost 10-15 times compare to normal ones. Its better to be safe than sorry. I am sure other SH keeper mixed other SH with reidi with success. But once disease strike, good luck to your investment. IMHO, reidi SH are hardy than local SH. I have two tank, one which house 3 pair of reidi and the other kuda & barbouri.