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Australian Aquarists Visit STAMPS
Photos & Text by Paul Barrow

Harry Charles& his son, David Charles, from Perth Australia, got our club's email address from Practical Fishkeeping website and wrote asking if they could visit the club during their stay in the North East. We replied they would be more than welcome to visit at any time. At our first meeting in September, Harry & David came to the Marsden Inn, recognising club members from our website pictures, and introduced themselves.
During the judging of the table Show, the pair were quizzed by members, and quizzed us about the fish keeping scene in the North East. 
Harry Charles discuses Rainbowfish with John Douthwaite, Bede Kerrigan & Robbie Kirkup

Harry, originally from Sunderland, emigrated about 25 years ago. His son, a true Aussie, has just left school and is an apprentice cabinet maker. Both are avid fish keepers and have a house full of large tanks. They are members of the Perth Cichlid Society and, like the majority of members, keep rift valley cichlids. Other tanks house Discus, about $200, £100 for a 50-75mm (2-3 inch) specimen, marines and community fish. 



Ken Scott talks to David Charles about his marine set-up

David showed pictures of their tanks and fish to club members, the marine tanks being of special interest to our Chairman, Ken Scott. David told Ken that all-coral tanks were more popular than coral & fish or fish only, and, because of summer temperatures, tropical marine tanks require a chiller to maintain their optimum temperature. Fish house pose similar problems in the summer months as reach 50C, 122F, and have to be insulated against this. The excessive heat of the summer cause most deaths of fish occur at this time.




Their club has about 120 members, but, because of the large area it covers, only 20-30 attending meetings. Their website, www.perthcichlid.com.au keeps members up to date with the latest happenings. They say their area is well covered with aquarium shops and the selection & quality of fish is good. Their favourite fish, rifts, are particularly well represents. People in the Perth area are lucky in one respect as they have access to bore water, which has a pH of 7 to8 necessary to keep these cichlids.
The quality of their fish in Harry & David's aquaria are first rate, with some rare and unusual Rift Valley Cichlids present. David was rightly proud of his breeding pair of Angelfish, which were well coloured and big!
We think we have restriction on importing fish, In Australia it is illegal to cross state boundaries with fish and plants. Tasmania requires aquarists to have a licence before breeding fish and the ban on the import of a long list of fish and fish eggs is strictly enforced.
Harry & David intend going to either Wasps or the TTAA show to see how we do thing in this country. If they do turn up, please show them a good time, as they are really well informed, nice people.

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