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Post by plantsamber on Oct 22, 2009 21:48:18 GMT -6
Hey everyone. I am new to this and I have a few questions. How do I know if my fish has bloat? He is not eating and hasn't in about three weeks. He (it) doesn't look sick he just hangs out by himself. It is getting thinner and I am starting to worry. We have had him for about three months and he was eating just fine and had alot more energy now he just is kinda lazy like. We have him in a 29 gallon tank with with three other fish. I am not to good with the names of them but I know I have a red tail zebra, an albino red tail zebra, one that looks like a cow with orange on the fins and he is purple and blue spotted with orange spots on his fin. The are all pretty young. He is only about 2.5 inches. Does anyone have any suggestions? Also, does anyone know what kind of fish these could be? I am worried. BTW the water has 0 nitrates and ammonia the Ph is at 7.8. It is at 78-80 degrees.  |
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angel
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My Husband's A Birdbrain
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Post by angel on Oct 22, 2009 21:59:29 GMT -6
Thanks for the parameters. That is usually the first place we start. Since you've eliminated nitrates and ammonia, and the temp is pretty good the only thing is with Africans they love their Ph high, so you might want to add some holey rock or crushed coral, maybe some shells. That boosts it up some. What about nitrites? Are those at 0 too? Do you have hiding places for them in case they get stressed? What foods are you feeding them? Any chance you can post a picture of the fish so we might be able to identify them?
As for bloat, not eating is one sign, and they usually keep to themselves so that's another. But he could just be stressed too. How about his poop? What color is it lately? And what does it look like?
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Post by plantsamber on Oct 22, 2009 22:11:41 GMT -6
Thanks for your reply.
We haven't seen him eating so we were amazed when he pooped but it was a whiteish clear color. I have three peices of pvc pipes in the tank and a few rocks for them to hide behind. I had the water checked two weeks ago and they told me the water was perfect all was that the Ph was kinda high. I put coral I bought from the Critter in right around the same time he stoped eating. I feed them Veggie flakes(HBH brand) and ocassionaly BBS. I have a video on you tube of the fish. I couldn't figure out how to post it on here. I was going to ask what kind of figh they were a few weeks ago and couldn't figure it out. I will post a link to the video at the bottom. He is the one that is scared of the camera. You see him at the very end.
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Post by plantsamber on Oct 22, 2009 22:18:22 GMT -6
I was thinking about buying texas holy rock. What do you think about that. I have got a new thirty gallon tank that i have just acquired and am wanting to get it perfect before I add fish. I was thinking of black sand and texas holy rock. The only problem with the holy rock is it is $4 a lb. That is kind of high to me but I want my tanks to look good and my fish to be happy. You guys are much more experianced at this than me. What do you suggest.
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Post by jon carman on Oct 22, 2009 22:29:24 GMT -6
The fish seem to have bloat. I have some meds I will give you, and I sell holey rock for $2.25 a lb. I live in Mt.Juliet/ Old Hickory and if you are anywhere close you need to come by and get some. If it is bloat all your fish will die if left untreated.
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angel
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My Husband's A Birdbrain
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Post by angel on Oct 22, 2009 22:37:39 GMT -6
Dang bloat! If they do all die, don't get discouraged. We all get our turn with it. But the meds do help if caught in time. Jon's got lots of fish and you could pick out more, but you'd want to get the bloat out of the tank first. And maybe you can get there and give the meds and not lose any. Going to watch your video now.
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angel
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My Husband's A Birdbrain
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Post by angel on Oct 22, 2009 22:40:05 GMT -6
Looks like a cobwe(cobue) and a livingstoni maybe.
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Post by plantsamber on Oct 22, 2009 22:44:46 GMT -6
Thanks guys!! You were a big help . I wish I would have asked sooner.
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Post by jon carman on Oct 22, 2009 22:45:14 GMT -6
I think it is a red top zebra(fairly crazy) an albino zebra and a nimbo livingstoni(they get 12-14"). The zebras will be fine together, but the nimbo will out grow your tank quick. I would put a few more zebra in and get rid of the nimbo livingstoni, they need a 90gal tank at least.
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angel
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My Husband's A Birdbrain
Posts: 40
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Post by angel on Oct 22, 2009 22:46:10 GMT -6
No problem. You did ask and now you can get the help for these fish, and ask anything you like. Where are you?
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Post by plantsamber on Oct 22, 2009 22:57:38 GMT -6
I am in Antioch by Hickory Hollow mall.
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Post by oneyoda on Oct 23, 2009 15:04:08 GMT -6
Hi Amber! Welcome. Are things getting any better? And were you able to see Jon and get some help?
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Post by plantsamber on Oct 24, 2009 0:18:11 GMT -6
This morning the fish I was worried about died. I did go get the medicine Jon suggested for me and treated the tank this afternoon. I also was given some medicated flakes to try and help the situation. tomorrow I am going to do a partial water change and treat again. I was also told to put some epson salt in the tank every day for a week. Has anyone heard of that? It is supposed to clean out their systems.
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angel
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My Husband's A Birdbrain
Posts: 40
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Post by angel on Oct 24, 2009 6:11:41 GMT -6
Yes epsom salt helps them poop and that way if it's in their systems they might get it out faster. Thought the one fish would die but hopefully you've caught it in time to save the rest or at least some of them.
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Post by jon carman on Oct 24, 2009 7:18:33 GMT -6
I would add epsom salt all the time. Sir knight has a good formula on here. I think it is one tbs of aquarium(marine) salt per and one of epsom salt too. You can tweak it for yourself, the epsom salt helps with hardness which africans like. Our water here is already pretty hard, but a little extra won't hurt, and it will help with their bowels.
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