Mad Max the GATF and Chicxulub's other ATF

[RampageRR]

Nice! Looking forward to seeing some big BATF in the hobby, looks like we've got a few on the forums now.

I still like my goliath's big fancy tail in comparison to all the rest of the species

 

[Chicxulub]

Nice Rob! Now I have to make sure my Baki stays bigger and prettier than Billy.

Serious congratulations though. Can wait to read about Billy's adventures. Perhaps you should start with the story where he somehow wounded you.


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I'm comin' for ya, John! Billy says he wants that crown from Baki!

Nice! Looking forward to seeing some big BATF in the hobby, looks like we've got a few on the forums now.

I still like my goliath's big fancy tail in comparison to all the rest of the species

Hey, Billy is gonna have an unusually fancy tail for a brevis, just you wait and see. I might just have a card or two up my sleeve taht I haven't played yet. I know how to MAKE them grow hooks.

Look at the pic from Billy's intro where I compared him directly to Max at the same size. Max was always famous for having an amazing tail. Billy's is already off to a better start...



In other news, got a nice shot of a Billy Belly tonight after he had stuffed himself on a bunch of earth worms. The current tank setup I have plays hell with the light from my flash; it likes to bounce off of the walls in such a way that it blows out the picture and it prevents me from being able to get that just-right amount of glare on the teeth to make them look really nice. I'm gonna add some substrate and maybe a background and that should really help to control the bounce of the light.

On the plus side, I've finally gotten the exposure and white balance right, so the color on this image is much closer to how he actually looks. He's bronzy on his top half and silvery white on the bottom. The stripes are actually really dark brown, not black, but I've not succeeded in capturing that yet.

Here's tonight's Billy Belly:

EDIT- Also notice how his stripes are starting to fade away into the blurred stripes that are visible on adult BATF as pictured on page 44. I can't wait until they really fade out to have that characteristic BATF blur and bronze coloration.

 

[DayumDanny]

He's starting to look great Rob. Glad this guy turned out to be a Brevis cause i can finally get to look at well documented batf.

 

[RampageRR]

I'm just messing with you on the tail part.

I'd honestly love having any of the ATF species in my tank, and brevis do intrigue me just due to the fact that they like to amputate larger prey rather than always swallowing whole. Billy looks great, and your photography skills are impressive. Definitely a pain in the butt just to get a small ATF in focus, let alone an actual good shot.

 

[JungleJim]

Kmmo


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[djaalix]

Already love Billy man ... i also like Brevis tigers a lot, i've just given up on ever being able to get one to the appropriate size to house with my other boys ... very exciting to see how this guy grows and develops into a monster ... as far as not taking pellets, thats probably the most annoying thing to me as far as fish keeping ... i've taken a vow that i will never buy another datnoid unless it eats pellets ... i've lost so many because i cant break them off frozen, or in some cases even live ... the fact that he's eating worms is great since they can be squeezed out, then a pellet snuck in, so i figure you'll get him on pellets pretty soon ... sorry that he's been such a difficult fish to keep, but sometimes that only makes you love them more ... congrats on the new move, and best of luck with Billy my friend

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[Chicxulub]

He's starting to look great Rob. Glad this guy turned out to be a Brevis cause i can finally get to look at well documented batf.

Thanks Danny! I'll definitely be documenting this guy quite thoroughly. I'm glad he's a brevis too! They're my favorite.

I'm just messing with you on the tail part.

I'd honestly love having any of the ATF species in my tank, and brevis do intrigue me just due to the fact that they like to amputate larger prey rather than always swallowing whole. Billy looks great, and your photography skills are impressive. Definitely a pain in the butt just to get a small ATF in focus, let alone an actual good shot.

The predatory aggression of this guy is ridiculous. He lives up to the reputation. He's the first ATF that I've ever had to not tolerate his tinfoil barbs. He BIT THROUGH the bone in the poor barb's dorsal fin! I get a kick out of his temperament, but I'm rather worried about what it might mean when I try to put tankmates with him later...

Kmmo


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Huh?

Already love Billy man ... i also like Brevis tigers a lot, i've just given up on ever being able to get one to the appropriate size to house with my other boys ... very exciting to see how this guy grows and develops into a monster ... as far as not taking pellets, thats probably the most annoying thing to me as far as fish keeping ... i've taken a vow that i will never buy another datnoid unless it eats pellets ... i've lost so many because i cant break them off frozen, or in some cases even live ... the fact that he's eating worms is great since they can be squeezed out, then a pellet snuck in, so i figure you'll get him on pellets pretty soon ... sorry that he's been such a difficult fish to keep, but sometimes that only makes you love them more ... congrats on the new move, and best of luck with Billy my friend

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Thanks man! Billy has been a tough nut to crack, but you're right; it does make me love him more. He's a very personable fish. I do hope he starts with pellets again soon! Digging earthworms is getting to be a PITA, though he is growing wonderfully on them.

 

[Aweshade9]

Thanks Danny! I'll definitely be documenting this guy quite thoroughly. I'm glad he's a brevis too! They're my favorite.




The predatory aggression of this guy is ridiculous. He lives up to the reputation. He's the first ATF that I've ever had to not tolerate his tinfoil barbs. He BIT THROUGH the bone in the poor barb's dorsal fin! I get a kick out of his temperament, but I'm rather worried about what it might mean when I try to put tankmates with him later...




Huh?




Thanks man! Billy has been a tough nut to crack, but you're right; it does make me love him more. He's a very personable fish. I do hope he starts with pellets again soon! Digging earthworms is getting to be a PITA, though he is growing wonderfully on them.

Digging earthworms? Dude you need to start a vermiculture. Much easier and safer.

 

[Chicxulub]

Digging earthworms? Dude you need to start a vermiculture. Much easier and safer.

To be honest, that's essentially what I have. Getting a couple dozen worms only takes about five minutes. I have a patch of really rich earth that's high enough to consistently not be flooded. I feed it Purina Worm Chow and I always have big, fat healthy worms. I just don't care for the process of digging them out and maintaining their soil.

 

[Aweshade9]

To be honest, that's essentially what I have. Getting a couple dozen worms only takes about five minutes. I have a patch of really rich earth that's high enough to consistently not be flooded. I feed it Purina Worm Chow and I always have big, fat healthy worms. I just don't care for the process of digging them out and maintaining their soil.

ok, I just thought you were doing it the old fashioned way.