the new species details

[helen nightingale]

ive just been looking through the new species descriptions forum. its looking great.

thanks to everyone working so hard to make it.

Emma that last picture of the hymenophysa is quite amazing. it looks like there is gold speckles over that fish

[Emma Turner]

It's great to get such positive feedback. Martin and Shari seem to be doing a lot of the hard work though. I've got to try and find more time!!!

Emma

[Martin Thoene]

Thanks Helen. Yes, it takes some time. Some stuff gets generic because how many ways are you going to tell people to keep certain similar species? However, the whole concept of the profiles is to act as a means of identifying fish and finding what their requirements are.
Having clear pictures helps a lot and in some cases previously we didn't have particularly good photos of many species, even common ones.
Certainly what I'm trying to do is create something that's user-friendly for the future. Hence, you'll see <(LINK) appear occasionally. My annotation to show we'll need a link to other species that are similar. There's an operational one on Gastromyzon scitulus for instance. We're not making them all operative now because it will make life more difficult at the upload stage because URLs will be different.

Right now, Shari and Dan have created an excellent list with links. Remember that the Forum is just a temporary construction zone. It allows us a really easy way of getting the info and pictures together while allowing others to see that we're truly working on updating this site to truly become the one-stop place for loach information.

To enable that to continue, Shari is looking into ways that Jeff might be able to create a Species Index that is Moderater updateable. Like a controlled Wiki. This would allow us to keep it current without hassling Jeff to input the changes.
The concept of the lists that she's developed are that the "pretty" one will eventually become an interactive linked list to the individual profiles.

These profiles are the first and most important part of the whole site update we've felt for a long time is required. We want to unravel the multi-layered nature of the info that's here and make it more logically accessible. I bet there's pages you've never even seen and there's ones I know of that I've forgotten how to access. It's a jungle that needs some serious machette action

We also have a desire to make the place more visually appealing too.

Right now, I have some time available to do this. Others are busy, so it takes time. Shari particularly today has other more important things on her mind and she's not doing profiles anyway....... because she thinks profiling is too right-wing Fun - nee...........

Martin.

[helen nightingale]

its all looking good so far, even though you do say its only temporary Martin. its still much clearer than the old species index. you are right about it being a bit of a jungle. there are many pages i probably havent seen

whats wrong with having some generic stuff? it can put across the picture quite well that some fish have very similar needs to other closely related species, and it is nice and clear.

something i had wondered is, would it be feasable for you to make a list of suitable and non-suitable non loach species? eg danios, barbs and rasboras are likely to be ok with say striata, but a skunk will probably try and take on a shark and expect to win, so someone's neon tetras may suffer? and no lake cichlids with loaches. lots of people seem to ask things like this.

We also have a desire to make the place more visually appealing too.

now i'm very sad, but i found the mouse pointer on this site quite fun, and i had to think of Emma

http://www.fbas.freeserve.co.uk/contacts.htm

thank you all for what you are doing. it is certainly appreciated

[Martin Thoene]

Helen, you'll find there's a discussion going on right at the top of that forum as regards kind of general guidelines for keeping certain species, plus how we use the database that's being created as a tool to enable users to find the information they require.

You're only a bit sad I think that it's quite cute, but falls down because the Clowns are in little white boxes. There's a Corydoras site where these cute little cartoon Cory family follow your cursor around....I love it!

Oh here! Found it!

http://www.nettaigyo.com/ Too cute!

Martin.

[helen nightingale]

that is very cute at least im not the only saddo that likes that sort of thing

[Graeme Robson]

Adding Compatibility: will only increase a debate on the particular species. I think it's best left to the forums for discussions.

[shari2]

In many of the descriptions there are already comments to the effect:
should be kept with other equally robust species...
and comments on the more placid species include some mention of like tankmates, etc.

Since individual mileage may vary depending on tank setups, I agree with Graeme on this one.

Helen, would you like to write up a little something on 'dithers' for peaceful/agressive loaches? Something that includes species which share similar requirements and can cohabitate in relative security? Or give some suggestions? Could go in the 'articles' section...would be useful...could be linked to the database ...

[helen nightingale]

i see what you mean. what is right for someone could be wrong for someone else.

i suppose i was thinking that, although i enjoy looking at the species descriptions some people wouldnt bother and prefer to have information given to them without having to bother to look it up.

Shari maybe i could write a little summary article with basic guidelines? i could pull togther some info for people that arent quite as obsessive as some of us are. as my knowledge is way lower than than other people's, i may make mistakes, so as long as no-one minds checking and correcting anything for me, i will give it a go. i am quite happy for someone to say dont bother though. i dont want to interfere with the good work you are doing.

[Martin Thoene]

Yes Helen. We need more articles and don't worry about reviewing and editing. We've got pretty used to that and add bits and pieces to profiles started by other people. That's the whole concept of why we're doing this rehash out in the open on this new Forum. It allows us Mods easy access to update and modify stuff.

An idea I had based on another site is to group the articles we have already onto a page linked from the homepage. At present, they're all over the place and get missed. we definitely need some more and that sort of article would be great.

Martin.

[helen nightingale]

ok. if no-one minds, i will get typing. do you want me to insert any pictures? you have seen my standard of photography so i would definately have to borrow photos - credited of course and with permission

that sounds like a good idea about grouping articles together. as you say, there are probably some that dont get seen, although the home page at the moment show where to find stuff ok.

[Martin Thoene]

I would say write your stuff and we'll find the pictures.

IMO the various links to stuff on the current Homepage are too small. I'm looking more at going to a big graphic you click on that then takes you to a nice list.

Martin.

[helen nightingale]

that sounds much better

will there also be a bit saying "and now buy the book?"

[Martin Thoene]

What book?

Martin.

[helen nightingale]

the Interpet Guide to Aquarium Basics, of course