Fish are Friends!
Despite being only native locally (Brisbane, Australia) so many people don't know about this amazing fish living in their own backyards (or pretty close to it!). The Australian lungfish is an incredible animal, virtually unchanged for over 100 million years (yes, really), intelligent, longlived and eventually, huge!
For years I dreamed about being able to own my own lungfish and I'm now lucky enough to be able to say that I own two of these amazing creatures. It wasn't a responsibility that I took lightly and I feel that part of that responsibily is also to their wild brothers and sisters who are sadly facing the very real threat of extinction.
While there's not a whole lot that I can do directly, one thing I can do is raise awareness. I would love nothing more than to put Tadpole, who is the larger and calmer of my two, into the Brisbane Royal Exhibition show this year.
Why, and how you are helping...
The Brisbane Show (otherwise known as EKKA) was started way back in 1875 and now draws in around half a MILLION people each August. Hundreds of thousands of people are likely to view the Pisceculture exhibit and vote for their 'Most Popular Exhibit of Show'.
The max size fishtank that can be entered into the show is 120cm long and 45cm wide. Tadpole, as of writing this pitch, is already 42 cm long and growing fast! This year will be the ONLY year that he will fit into the show and I want him there as a representative of his amazing 'family'.
Because of his size and the specific size requirements for the show tanks I will need to order a custom made tank especially for him. This tank will be 120cm long, 45cm wide and 35cm deep with full solid lids and plumbing built into the tank to ensure that Tadpole will be safe, happy and healthy for the duration of the show. A new custom tank also gives me the ability to design it exactly how I want it and have a fantastic display to show him off in all his glory.
My tank builder (the wonderful Dennison Seeto of Mary Anne's Aquariums in Brisbane, QLD) has quoted me a wonderful price for the tank and an included free 2ft tank so that I can put some other small Australian native fish in the show. I'd hate for all the exotics to get the glory! Dennison has previously built the tank that Tadpole and Toad live in now, a wonderful 5x2x2ft tank and filtration system that has exceeded all expectations.
Your support will help make all this possible by:
- Helping to cover the cost of this custom tank as well as the cost of a filter and all plumbing supplies to finalize the tank for the show.
- Petrol costs to get to and from the show for tank setup, bringing Tadpole to the show, judging and awards nights as well as pickup of Tadpole at the end of the show.
- Cost of tank 'aquascaping', such as sands and gravels, ornamental rocks and designing the tank in the most aesthetically pleasing way. The prettier the tank, the more people look and the more people who get to ask, "What's that fish?!".
- Help cover the costs of the supplies to provide the 'perks' for this fundraiser. This will be silicone for moulds, resin and pigments for the casts, keychain fobs, packaging supplies and postal costs.
*Individual costs will be listed in the updates section as I get more specific prices gathered (or receipts as I purchase items).
But that's not all!
I don't want to be selfish, and if this fundraiser meets my goal of $500 to cover costs I will donate ALL OTHER funds raised directly to lungfish research. There are a few museums and sanctuaries with captive lungfish and I've emailed a few Universities requesting any information regarding students or researchers who are working directly with lungfish and their conservation.
All funds over $500 will go directly to a research and conservation group through a university or sanctuary if at all possible. If I am unable to find anyone directly working with lungfish in their field then the funds will be divided up evenly and donated to:
Currumbin Sanctuary, QLD
Macquarie University Department of Biological Sciences, Sydney, NSW
And any other worthwhile cause to further the conservation of the Australian lungfish. I will update this pitch to include more information as my research continues.
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But what's in it for you?
The perks!
One of my hobbies is making resin keychains. So far I've been making Siamese fighters (bettas) and Arowanas and selling online on Etsy and to local fish shops.
I've created a new keychain design just for this occasion; a lungfish of course. Once this fundraising is complete I will be selling the lungfish on my Etsy page but your keychains through IndieGoGo will come with a small photo card of Tadpole with his current 'stats' and a little information about the Australian lungfish. Each keychain will also come with a little 'certificate' card, numbered and with thanks for helping make this a possibility!
I've made a prototype mould already for the keychains but to complete this project I will need a few more moulds (they don't last too long with resin), new colours to make more realistic lungfish and of course, people to send them to! These keychains will take a little while to make once funds are collected but I expect everyone to have received their's by the end of June at the absolute latest.
I'm also slowly working on a big project which will be an Australian Native fish themed colouring book! This in a long project in the works but I want to share with you one of the pages which is, of course, the Australian lungfish.
This perk will be offered as a digital download emailed to supporters who earn this perk with their support.
No matter what I want to thank you all even for just having a look at this page. Feel free to share the link, pass it around and remember, fish are friends!