AusBonsai

id like to know how toxic the sap from ficus is?, say to a large native aquarium fish??. anyone have experience/ knowledge regarding? cheers!
i would have normally thrown caution to the wind but i really dont want to inadvertently kill my dear pet sooty! ((especially not over a bonsai experiment gone wrong!!!.
thanks
luke

What exactly is it that your doing with your fig? Growing it in the fish tank?

or gowing your goldfish on a fig mmm

apparently this is the chemical group of the active irritant compounds in most Ficus -
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Furanocoumarin
Something about dermatitis in mammals, nothing on fish in particular though.
What have you done?

it shouldnt hurt the fish unless it is one of the species that is difficult to keep, i would just try and clean it up as much as possible, and yea im curious to, what is a fig doing in your fish tank? its not the one your doingthe experiment with? where have you kept the fish?

Hi Luke,
I don't know about ficus sap but.....
If you keep fish you should be careful if you use pyrethrum insecticide.

Gerard

Regan wrote:What exactly is it that your doing with your fig? Growing it in the fish tank?

yes something crazy just like that!!
(although not quite yet ) im worried about the effects on my sooty grunter first and foremost!

Jamie wrote:it shouldnt hurt the fish unless it is one of the species that is difficult to keep, i would just try and clean it up as much as possible, and yea im curious to, what is a fig doing in your fish tank? its not the one your doingthe experiment with? where have you kept the fish?

"difficult to keep" equates to? im thinking sap is bad!! and if too much gets into the water and the filtration is poor, fish in trouble! if the filter is running prime and the tree is protected from damage.... i mite be ok? A second opinion would be
luke
P.S.. ill post pics of the progression so far!, just because i love it when others do the same!

PJ fig, pure sphag mix, heated fishtank, fluro growth light and aquarium plant food. ...plus a big adorable female soot! luke

bonscythe wrote:apparently this is the chemical group of the active irritant compounds in most Ficus -
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Furanocoumarin
Something about dermatitis in mammals, nothing on fish in particular though.

cheers man

Gerard wrote:Hi Luke,
I don't know about ficus sap but.....
If you keep fish you should be careful if you use pyrethrum insecticide.
Gerard

thanks gerard!! iv been using condofor-spelling , for the past couple weeks!, though not on my figs, still be reading the contents label for pyrethum tomorrow! cheers for the heads up!
luke

wont work luke, you will sign a death warrant for the fig if you ubmerged it in water, to get the effect you want get a fighting fish cube, put that in the tank but keep the top above water level then sit the fig in the fighting fish cube no water in the cube = live tree, no cube and fug submerged = dead fig

Hi Luke, I think bonsai and fish tanks should be separate hobbies.
Craig

I don't know Craig, I have always thought that one of those turtle tanks, with the glass ledge would be cool. Have archer fish inthe bottom, and a tree growing above. Then put the odd cricket on the branch to give them something to shoot at!

That's an awesome idea Jarrod!
I have thought about doing a similar thing but with reptiles, although with these tanks fish, reptiles and bonsai are possible.
http://www.exo-terra.com/en/products/gl ... rarium.php
You can set partitions, fill up to the windows with water for the fish, substrate/habitat for the reptile(s) and bonsai for the backdrop.
There was a great display at the Sydney Reptile Show a few weeks ago with this fake fig background that flared out (3D style) and looked remarkably real, I want one!!

How would you go about feeding the tree?

I saw at my local nursery this awesome bonsai water feature. There were several trees growing out of an artificial stalactite, and the water running down it into a large pot which was filled with water and had fish in it. I've kept it in mind to try myself one day. But I don't see how you'd be able to feed the trees without it getting in the water and potentially harming the fish?