How Can You Help?

[Zerologist]

Hello guys! This thread is for us members to know who are the ones specialised in a particular matter (e.g. medication, aquarium maintenance, IDing, breeding, etc.). It could be freshwater, brackish, or saltwater... Or all!

You should reply in this format:
[Name] - (Freshwater, Brackish, Saltwater)
1. [Specialisation1]
2. [Specialisation2]

For example:
John Apple - (Freshwater and Brackish)
1. Breeding Sparkling Gourami
2. IDing Cichlids
3. Suggesting stocking
4. Identifying fish disease

I am doing this so that when someone needs help, we can tag them for that particular matter...
Thanks guys!

 

[wem21]

huh, innovative idea

wem21 -(freshwater)

1. explaing the cycle
2. Sorrorities

 

[ashenwelt]

Ashenwelt - Freshwater
1. Aquatic gardening
2. Nano fish
3. Live food - food issues
4. Traditional freshwater species
5. General aquaria
6. Finding answers

 

[tokiodreamy]

Tokiodreamy - (freshwater tropical fish & basic goldfish knowledge)

1. Nitrogen cycle & water testing (fishless and fish cycling, TSS+ & prime/stability, unstalling a cycle, etc.)
2. Neon tetras, RCS, platties, BN pleco, snails (stocking, general care, etc.) & basic freshwater fish ID and knowledge
3. Basic disease ID and treatment (Master of curing ich trying to learn more about diseases every day)
4. Beginner to Medium level live plants

It seems that I'm decent at a bit of a lot of things instead of specializing in only a couple things. I think this is a wonderful idea!

 

[AngelTheGypsy]

AngeltheGypsy - fresh water

-cycling, especially fishless
-tank design, aquascaping, planting
-stocking suggestions (smaller tanks, community)
-betta care, setups, meds

I in know way think of myself as an expert in any part of fishkeeping, but if I can help, I’ll try, and if I can’t, I can try to point you to the right person!

 

[Lchi87]

Lchi87 - freshwater

-plants (low-med tech setups, no CO2)
-scaping/hardscape design
-invert care
-betta care
-cichlid breeding and general fry/juvie care
-community stocking
-general cycling questions
-photography tips

....not a super expert by any means but always willing to help and pow wow with others.

 

[Natalya]

I usually try to help with some very beginner level questions that you guys are already probably tired with...I don't have a lot of expertise, but trying to help with stuff I've already been through

 

[bizaliz3]

bizaliz3 (freshwater)

1. Angelfish (their aggression, their pairing, raising them, stocking them, IDing them, and sexing them *under the right conditions)

2. Breeding: Specifically angelfish and Bristlenose plecos. (And some past experience breeding dwarf crayfish.)

Those would be my two "specialties". But I can also help with live plants, managing multiple tanks, stocking suggestions and decorating.

 

[Fanatic]

Fanatic (Freshwater, Terrestrial)

1) Bettas (their requirements, health care, feeding, sicknesses and diseases, and ID)

2) Aquascaping (arrangements, inspirations, style theming)

3) Hermit Crabs (their general care, habitat setup, feedings, species ID, and requirements)

These are my three best professions, and I can help you with anything you might need! (I don't have one specific fish that I am good at, except bettas)

 

[Zerologist]

Good job guys! Thread is going well! So far, we have 10... Thanks guys! Hope this will help to assist others...

 

[tyguy7760]

tyguy7760 (freshwater)

1) Capitalizing on forum member's typos
2) Admiring bizaliz3 and Lchi87 Blood Parrots
3) Being the best ever at being humble. Seriously. Ask anyone and they'll tell you. I'm amazing

Though in all seriousness, I can't claI'm to be an expert or specialist in anything. My knowledge in the field may seem superior to some but I can almost guarantee that it's far inferior to many.

 

[Mike]

Great idea! Stickied the thread at the top of the General Discussion forum.

Thanks,
Mike

 

[KinsKicks]

KinsKicks (Freshwater, Brackish, Saltwater)

1) Angelfish: general behavior, care, breeding, ID, general health/treatments

2) Discus: general behavior, care, breeding, ID, general health/treatments

3) Bettas: general behavior, care, breeding, ID, health/ treatments. Have experience with sororities as well

4) Monster fish "^...^", compatibility, diet, and size!! Especially size haha

5) Koi. "^...^". Some of my favorites . Don't see them too much around here tho

6) Saltwater fish and brackish fish/invert stockings. Includes things like coral/anemone compatibility+knowledge and welfare. (Some FW, but there are definitely much better and more common Freshwater stockers than I)

7) General disease/health and treatments both fresh and salt + salty intruding pests if you've got 'em

8) Plant/algae care, ID, troubleshooting and a bit of aquascaping.

9) Fresh, Brackish, Salt husbandry, set-ups, etc

Lol, I feel very conceited rn haha ops: Don't consider myself an expert by any means, but I have crammed a lot of experience into my life haha

 

[Dave125g]

Dave125g (fresh water)

I don't consider myself an expert, but I have been keeping fish for 38 years.
Can help with...
Aquarium set up .
Aquarium equipment
DIY stands, CO2,and lighting
Routine maintenance
Breeding of common species.
Raising fry
Basic plant care.

tyguy7760 (freshwater)

1) Capitalizing on forum member's typos
2) Admiring bizaliz3 and Lchi87 Blood Parrots
3) Being the best ever at being humble. Seriously. Ask anyone and they'll tell you. I'm amazing

Though in all seriousness, I can't claI'm to be an expert or specialist in anything. My knowledge in the field may seem superior to some but I can almost guarantee that it's far inferior to many.

Your also very good with stocking questions.

 

[Lchi87]

Dave125g and tyguy7760 are also good with DIY, like stands and lids etc.

 

[Dave125g]

Dave125g and tyguy7760 are also good with DIY, like stands and lids etc.

Thanks, and did you put aquascaping for 1 of your specialties?

 

[Lchi87]

Thanks, and did you put aquascaping for 1 of your specialties?

Lol, sure did.

 

[Lucy]

Lucy
1) Banning spammers

 

[Platylover]

Lucy
1) Banning spammers

Oh yeah, you be the best! Lol Your really good with ADF’s too.

 

[Zerologist]

Great idea! Stickied the thread at the top of the General Discussion forum.

Thanks,
Mike

Thanks Mike! Didn't expect that my idea would be that great! Anyways, just glad to help!

 

[Anders247]

Anders247
1) Stocking questions
2) Rainbow cichlids
3) Gouramis in general (not all of them)
4) Rocks (whether they are safe to use or not)

Stocking would be the only thing I focus on, fish ID to a lesser extent, chromedome52 and is way better at it.
I'm weak in the areas of plants, disease, and marine, obviously.
I don't answer other questions often (water chemistry or set-up advice) but I'm not bad at those.

 

[Zerologist]

Tagging chromedome52 then!

 

[Betta Obsessed]

I've held a LOT of bettas, I know about most of their diseases and all their needs.
Cycling aquariums
Gouramis
Apple snails

I have a 20 gallon community tank with
2 dwarf gouramis
2 gypsy gouramis
3 apple snails
5 dwarf corydoras

I have a 10 gallon tank with a male betta and 2 apple snails

And I have a 5 gallon with a male betta and 1 apple snail.

 

[chromedome52]

While it is interesting to see what people think they know, I don't think it really helps. So I decline to participate.

 

[Zerologist]

Sorry but this is for the assistance of the others who face questions they don't know how to answer. They can go and look up here who are the ones they can ask for help for a particular question/matter.

I'm just trying to help

 

[chromedome52]

A new person here isn't going to look up who can help them, they're just going to post a question. The people who think they can help will answer. Been working fine for several years now.

 

[Betta Obsessed]

Still, it's a good resource, he had good intentions and a good idea starting it. If it just gets well known, and easily accessible, then it will be a very good resource for new people!

 

[Lchi87]

Boo! What a shame chromedome52. Your knowledge would be such a blessing for new hobbyists. Heck, even more seasoned ones lol. I thought of tagging you myself but I thought you might have this type of reaction.

 

[NavigatorBlack]

I actually get a lot of private messages here, and very often they are on things that don't interest me much. I can see what chromedome52 is saying, very well. But if this saves the test kit cycle or the goldfish, flowerhorn and parrot queries (almost all from newish posters with minimal contributions), I'm glad. They can save their energy and go for the people who are working on those groups of fish, issues or interests. If they see a thread like this, it can save them time. Sometimes people think they have dumb questions so they go private with them, but they don't know who to target. This thread doesn't guarantee expertise, but it at least shows who cares about that subject.

 

[Dave125g]

Boo! What a shame chromedome52. Your knowledge would be such a blessing for new hobbyists. Heck, even more seasoned ones lol. I thought of tagging you myself but I thought you might have this type of reaction.

He's just too humble. I bust his chops a lot when it comes to fish ID. That's 1 thing I know he's good at. I'm quite sure there's much more he can help newbies with.
I also think this thread is a good idea, a lot of us forget to check the unreads. Getting tagged will at least get our attention.

 

[tyguy7760]

Honestly though...I agree which is why I took the funny approach to not participating. I see plenty of folks on here giving out what I think is faulty or downright terrible advice...so if one of these folks claims to be an "expert" on something and some newbie comes to see it and sends them a message instead of posting a thread, I think it would probably be a bad thing. I would encourage newbies to post a thread like chromedome52 has mentioned. Which makes me wonder if there are people out there with the experience of chromedome52 or more seeing my advice thinking "what is that guy smoking?" much like I do on this forum sometimes. This makes me hesitant to call myself an expert or specialist on anything. I'd rather just help the folks on subjects I want to help on in an open forum so if I do say something stupid then someone can correct me No judgments here though. I like to see what people are posting about themselves.

 

[Dave125g]

Agree. I thought this was if a newbie started a thread and we would get tagged in on it. If I were to get a pm I'd advise starting a thread. The truth is fish keeping is not an exact science, so there is no real experts. On a specific thread "2 heads are better then 1"

 

[NavigatorBlack]

With due respect to everyone, chromedome52 is the most knowledgeable poster here.

On one level, this forum is no better than any other. There is a good community, but there is a lot of robotic wrong advice and a lot of misinformation. That's okay by me because people are talking and trying. It is a beginner's forum.
There are not many experts here. But there are a lot of people with varying levels of expertise. There are people who have experimented, read, observed and learned. Sure, there are people who declare themselves experts after 3 weeks with a blood parrot, but they never stick around. Why should they when they already know everything? There are many more who are learning and sharing.
People on this thread are offering their interest as expertise. Good things can come of that.
It's the lack of sharing that worries me. Frankly, I know a lot of aquarists with expertise in various subjects. There are experts in this hobby, and there are scientifically grounded answers to many questions. I discuss with people I consider experts on other venues. They won't join forums. There isn't much nastiness and one upmanship on this one, but it doesn't take many run-ins with those creatures who live under bridges to make you want to avoid wasting your time.

They keep their information to themselves, and that hurts the hobby. In my opinion, our hobby is in an awful decline. We are up against killing market forces, but keeping it afloat is worth a try. We have declining choices, and misinformation. I'd rather blather on here and maybe get other people interested in raising the bar than keep even half baked ideas to myself. Chromedome52 or others with expertise'll catch me out when I err, and I appreciate that.

 

[Natalya]

Probably 40% of my posted threads as a novice went unanswered. Some threads I was desperate to get an advice on I had to post 2 or 3 times. If I only new who I could tag, it would make it so much easier. If you tag 2 or 3 people and they reply, it's pretty obvious if they. Know what they are talking about. Myself, I have very limited experience, so I always say something like: v I had ich in a tank with guppies and platies, and it responded very well to heat treatment" or "I had bacterial bloom, and two of my fish died"

 

[Zerologist]

Hellooooo! Anyone else wants to be tagged on some matters?

 

[ashenwelt]

With due respect to everyone, chromedome52 is the most knowledgeable poster here.

On one level, this forum is no better than any other. There is a good community, but there is a lot of robotic wrong advice and a lot of misinformation. That's okay by me because people are talking and trying. It is a beginner's forum.
There are not many experts here. But there are a lot of people with varying levels of expertise. There are people who have experimented, read, observed and learned. Sure, there are people who declare themselves experts after 3 weeks with a blood parrot, but they never stick around. Why should they when they already know everything? There are many more who are learning and sharing.
People on this thread are offering their interest as expertise. Good things can come of that.
It's the lack of sharing that worries me. Frankly, I know a lot of aquarists with expertise in various subjects. There are experts in this hobby, and there are scientifically grounded answers to many questions. I discuss with people I consider experts on other venues. They won't join forums. There isn't much nastiness and one upmanship on this one, but it doesn't take many run-ins with those creatures who live under bridges to make you want to avoid wasting your time.

They keep their information to themselves, and that hurts the hobby. In my opinion, our hobby is in an awful decline. We are up against killing market forces, but keeping it afloat is worth a try. We have declining choices, and misinformation. I'd rather blather on here and maybe get other people interested in raising the bar than keep even half baked ideas to myself. Chromedome52 or others with expertise'll catch me out when I err, and I appreciate that.

while some of you statements here I agree with... not all. chromedome52 does have some solid skills and knowledge that I am more than happy to leverage... but he is not nearly the only. Nor do we always agree. Which is fine. Many of us here have over 20 years of diverse fishkeeping here. I would rather see people ask and tag people for help... but in the end this post literally stopped adds to this list. And this list is a place for people to start. I don't think that was your purpose at all... but this list was a good idea in my opinion and people responded by stopping.

Probably 40% of my posted threads as a novice went unanswered. Some threads I was desperate to get an advice on I had to post 2 or 3 times. If I only new who I could tag, it would make it so much easier. If you tag 2 or 3 people and they reply, it's pretty obvious if they. Know what they are talking about. Myself, I have very limited experience, so I always say something like: v I had ich in a tank with guppies and platies, and it responded very well to heat treatment" or "I had bacterial bloom, and two of my fish died"

That sucks. I try and pick those kinds of posts up when I have time (which honestly, varies).

 

[Lchi87]

I can see both sides of this but I do agree that this is a good idea!

Some people who have been tagged and agreed to help (myself included) may not have decades of experience but I don't think that means that our advice isn't helpful or worth any less than people who have been in the hobby for much longer. If what is being said is inaccurate, I hope to be corrected by those who know better. How else can we learn? There's no manual for this and there's more than one correct way to approach things more often than not; all we have to go on is our own experiences and research and the advice we get from eachother.

The community works better being collaborative so I'd rather not get hung up on who's the real expert and blah blah blah.

 

[AngelTheGypsy]

I think this thread is a good idea. Even if new posters don’t check it, some of us who have been around a little while, while we may not be knowledgeable enough to answer the question, we can say, “let me check the ‘directory’” and find who we can tag to help. We can’t always remember who to tag for what. And then we can also run into issues of only knowing one person to tag. Very early on CindI helped me with new issues, and I knew no one else by name to help others, so she wa the only one I knew to tag, when I’m sure many others could have helped with the same problem. I’ve gotten to know a few others, but when put on the spot, I can’t always remember who, and others I just can’t remember the precise letters/numbers in their user name.
So maybe change the wording to say “areas I am willing to help in” instead of “where I’m an expert”...

 

[grantm91]

I just pretend I know what I'm doing so I'm not playing here, I have a few corner cutting tips up my sleeve but I browse this place a lot so I chime in if I feel I can be of use, other wise I just come for the social and to look at tanks and get ideas and get some tips for my self. WE NEED TO UTILIZE THE PRODUCT REVIEW SECTION PEOPLE ! Review all your filters, lights skimmers, return pumps, wave makers , auto top offs, reactors etc, and include pics and READ AND USE THE REVIEW INSTRUCTIONS, THEY WORK. share links etc, I always go looking on that part but never get what I want. Also update your reviews let us know how stuffs holding up. Sorry for the paragraph I didn't know where to say this I just want this to be seen it will do us all good when we are shopping.

 

[blue acara]

• @ Blue acara freshwater South American cichlid communities

 

[Fanatic]

I think this would be useful!

Fanatic: Freshwater
1) Bettas (Anything About)
2) New Tank Setup
3) Hermit Crabs
4) Tank Maintenance

Updated:
8/14/18

 

[lilabug4545]

lilabug4545- Freshwater
1. Bettas (breeding to keeping as a pet to decor and everything in between)
2. Tanks 20G and under, specifically stocking, but also equipment and plants
3. Most things plants!
4. I'm pretty proficient with meds. I'm not the best at identifying disease, but once I know what the disease is, I can certainly help.
5. I'm interested in becoming an exotic vet, and could possibly help out with topics pertaining to fin losses, tumors, and even surgical procedures
(Such as cosmetic fin cutting, wen overgrowth, etc.)
6. I'm pretty good with schooling fish (especially tetras and danios)

 

[Discus-Tang]

Discus-Tang- Freshwater
Disease- diagnosis, cure, preventatives
The nitrogen cycle
Goldfish
Tank sizes & stocking
pH
Neon tetras
Bettas

 

[wolfdog01]

Gala-freshwater
-bettas (decor, illness, tank, filter, etc)
-DIY decor (polymer clay)
-a little about plants
-Zelda (gotta get some video games in there lol)

 

[Biev]

biev (freshwater)

I can help with:
1) referring people to the right information for cycling issues and answering questions about the nitrogen cycle
2) guppy, convict cichlid and axolotl care, breeding, behavior and health issues
3) aquatic turtle care for beginners
4) diagnosing and treating fish TB, columnaris, saprolegnia, ich, camallanus worms and hole-in-the-head disease
5) sourcing scientific articles on fish health
6) anything related to brine shrimp hatching
7) anything related to poret foam and mattenfilters

 

[emmysjj]

Great Idea!
emmysjj - freshwater
1) BETTAS
2) Nano fish
3) Stocking under 55 gallons
4) IDing diseases (in bettas, mainly)

5) Hamsters (we have a rodent section on here, ok?)

 

[Discus-Tang]

Goldfish

Goldiemom
Gypsy13
Rtessy

Bettas

CanadianFishFan
Fanatic
david1978

Disease Diagnosis/Treatment

Gypsy13

Water Parameters

jdhef

Ram cichlids

coralbandit

Saltwater
stella1979

Snails
Goldie&Yami
ELON MOLLUSK

My list is very incomplete, sorry for all those left out.

 

[75g Discus Tank]

Identification
chromedome52

Stocking
TexasDomer

Nano Stocking
Anders247

Cories
DoubleDutch
Sarah73

 

[CanadianFishFan]

Thanks for updating this thread, I'm really only good at bettas, their tails, M or F, a bit of breeding, safe decor & plants and last fin rot.

 

[Gypsy13]

I’m really good at falling down.