Gailey!!! Need fish help!

[omieluv]

Date: 7/16/2009 7:25:02 PM
Author: MC
Yikes as far as the: the fish haver and the fish keeper. . .not sure which category I''m in.

I''m also trying to find a good local reputable fish store to assist me rather than go back to a standard pet store.

You are too new to the hobby to know if you are a Haver or a Keeper. In fact, I would argue that Keeper''s have found themselves engaging in Haver behavior from time to time

If you can find a local fish store (LFS) that is good, that will be a huge help to you!

 

[Gailey]

Date: 7/16/2009 7:39:23 PM
Author: Dancing Fire
MC
you need to kill enough fishes to be an expert Fish Keeper.

Never a true-r word spoken, that''s for sure!

 

[omieluv]

Date: 7/16/2009 8:41:39 PM
Author: MC

Than I hope I never earn that title!!! lol I fed the guppy a bloodworm. He looks like he spits his food out. Is it that he''s only taking tiny bites and so it appears that he''s spitting it out or his he actually gaining some sort of food nutrition?

My husband wants to give it some beer

So much obsession over a tiny 3/4'' creature!

Fish will spit food out sometimes when it is too big for them to eat. Your huband is a funny guy...beer...

Speaking of obsession...OMG, it will not subside until your tank has matured.

 

[Gailey]

Date: 7/16/2009 11:30:54 PM
Author: omieluv

Date: 7/16/2009 10:30:48 PM
Author: Gailey
By putting a thick layer of gravel on top. I''ve tried to copy my photos to the gallery, but there''s a glitch, so I''ll just post one or two until it''s sorted

Good idea! I have talked with plant enthusiasts who do not put a layer of gravel down & they are always complaining about how messy their tank can get when they are preening or transplanting.

So, I am guessing the plant gathers its nutrients from the mud via its roots & then the gravel layer secures the mud?

Yep! You got it.

There are other options for substrates for planted tanks, most of aquarium stuff is expensive if you have a big tank. My 100 gallon has Turface MVP in the bottom. Plants thrive in that.

One thing about the soil tank. Never had any algae problems at all, not so much a spot of it anywhere.

MC - How''s guppy today? What''s his name by the way?

 

[Gailey]

Omieluv, you might want to suggest The Aquatic Plants Digest to your friends. It''s an excellent forum for aquatic plant lovers.

 

[MichelleCarmen]

Date: 7/16/2009 11:40:20 PM
Author: Gailey

Date: 7/16/2009 11:30:54 PM
Author: omieluv

Date: 7/16/2009 10:30:48 PM
Author: Gailey
By putting a thick layer of gravel on top. I've tried to copy my photos to the gallery, but there's a glitch, so I'll just post one or two until it's sorted

Good idea! I have talked with plant enthusiasts who do not put a layer of gravel down & they are always complaining about how messy their tank can get when they are preening or transplanting.

So, I am guessing the plant gathers its nutrients from the mud via its roots & then the gravel layer secures the mud?

Yep! You got it.

There are other options for substrates for planted tanks, most of aquarium stuff is expensive if you have a big tank. My 100 gallon has Turface MVP in the bottom. Plants thrive in that.

One thing about the soil tank. Never had any algae problems at all, not so much a spot of it anywhere.

MC - How's guppy today? What's his name by the way?

Gailey - Sam the guppy has been doing well today. In the morning, he was hanging low around the bottom of the tank and I tested the ammonia level and that came back at around .50, so I did a 1/8th tank water change and that seemed to help as he was soon up and about after the water had filtered through for a bit of time.

I'm planning each morning to keep checking and changing out his water a bit (1/8 tank) per day to try preventing a less bumpy ride for him. My goal is to keep him happy and alive. If he doesn't make it, we'll take things from there. I keep changing my mind (every other hour) as to whether to get a beta or try a fish free tank cyclinging. . .Maybe get a second tank for a beta so the kids can enjoy right now and do the fishless cycle in the 3 gallon that I can put a couple guppies in once that's complete. For some reason, I've always been attacted to guppies and their fluffy little tails! I've never been into exciotic pets and so having two domesticated cats and a few "poplular" guppies makes my home complete!

 

[MichelleCarmen]

Date: 7/16/2009 11:37:01 PM
Author: omieluv

Fish will spit food out sometimes when it is too big for them to eat. Your huband is a funny guy...beer...

Speaking of obsession...OMG, it will not subside until your tank has matured.

I had attempted to break down the food as much as possible, chopping the bloodworms with the side of a spoon. . .tomorrow, I''ll work on that more! My friend was able to provide me with some bloodworms at no cost, which was quite the timing as I felt my guppy needed then, but yet, I had promised to watch two seperate children today and wouldn''t have time to shop around.

Eh - the obession = My dr. may need to up my meds!

 

[MichelleCarmen]

Such cute looking clowns, Gailey. How old are they? What size tank are they in?

Are the plants in the aquarium real or a mixture of real and synthetic?

 

[Gailey]

Date: 7/17/2009 1:19:31 AM
Author: MC
Such cute looking clowns, Gailey. How old are they? What size tank are they in?

Are the plants in the aquarium real or a mixture of real and synthetic?

MC, the clowns were in a 33 gallon tank. I''m afraid I lost them a while ago now. We were away and my elderly neighbour was looking after my fish. Don''t know what happened exactly, but I came home and they had all died. I guess I''d probably had them for best part of a year. I only have one now that I''ve had several years. He seems perfectly happy hanging out with my 3 yo-yo loaches.

Andrey is trying to figure out why I can''t post my photos in the gallery, so hopefully I will be able to show you a bunch of photos.

I read your earlier post about being satisfied with a couple of guppies and your cat. I will warrant a guess and say that in a year''s time, you will either have more fish and a bigger tank, maybe more tanks or no fish at all!

Fish are a bit like gems. Difficult to stop at one or two!

 

[Gailey]

Folks, Andrey just posted my aquarium shots in the Gallery if you want a look.

MC, how is Sam today?

 

[MichelleCarmen]

Date: 7/18/2009 10:03:04 AM
Author: Gailey
Folks, Andrey just posted my aquarium shots in the Gallery if you want a look.

MC, how is Sam today?

Gailey - very impressive. Look at that plant life! What kind of fish is in Shot 11?

Sam is doing well. I checked my tap water to see if it has ammonia in it and it looks like it''s possibly .25 (it''s kind of hard to tell), so I''m purchasing some Amquel (as suggested on a fish forum) later today and also going to get some beneficial bacteria for him. He has no fear of us and when I put my finger in the water, he contemplates swimming up to it!

Question: When I decide to get a second guppy, would you advise that I adopt one from the same store?

 

[diamondgirl4382]

My only advice on buying a new guppy is to make sure you get another male! The females are very often pregnant and you probably don''t want to deal with babies especially with such a small tank.

I''ve never worried about getting fish from the same store, although I can see where some people might. I shop around and buy whatever seems the healthiest (active, no white spots, clamped fins, or dead fish in the tank). I like to buy fish the day before the shipments come in--although the selection might not be as good, I know they have lived at least a week at the store (not that that means they are healthy for sure, it just tends to make me feel like the chances are better).

Also, I have noticed that one store in my area puts aquarium salt in ALL of their tanks. I don''t use salt in any of my tanks so I tend not to buy from that store because it''s that much more difficult for the fish to adjust.

 

[Gailey]

Date: 7/18/2009 12:43:30 PM
Author: MC

Date: 7/18/2009 10:03:04 AM
Author: Gailey
Folks, Andrey just posted my aquarium shots in the Gallery if you want a look.

MC, how is Sam today?

Gailey - very impressive. Look at that plant life! What kind of fish is in Shot 11?

Sam is doing well. I checked my tap water to see if it has ammonia in it and it looks like it''s possibly .25 (it''s kind of hard to tell), so I''m purchasing some Amquel (as suggested on a fish forum) later today and also going to get some beneficial bacteria for him. He has no fear of us and when I put my finger in the water, he contemplates swimming up to it!

Question: When I decide to get a second guppy, would you advise that I adopt one from the same store?

Hey MC, sorry - only just getting back to you. The fish in photo #11 is a Siamese Algae Eater, often confused with the Flying Fox. Poking his head out of the coconut cave is one of my clown loaches.

Glad to hear Sam is doing well. It''s good that you are checking your ammonia levels, but you should really start checking your nitrite levels. By now your amonia levels should be starting to drop and the nitrite should be on the rise. Once you see this spike and the levels starting to come down, then I would consider adding a new fish.

Good advice from Diamondgirl. Always look for fish that have been in the store for a while to max your chances of getting a healthy fish. I also avoid stores that have a central water system where all the tanks are interlinked.

 

[MichelleCarmen]

Date: 7/20/2009 12:21:03 AM
Author: Gailey

Date: 7/18/2009 12:43:30 PM
Author: MC

Date: 7/18/2009 10:03:04 AM
Author: Gailey
Folks, Andrey just posted my aquarium shots in the Gallery if you want a look.

MC, how is Sam today?

Gailey - very impressive. Look at that plant life! What kind of fish is in Shot 11?

Sam is doing well. I checked my tap water to see if it has ammonia in it and it looks like it''s possibly .25 (it''s kind of hard to tell), so I''m purchasing some Amquel (as suggested on a fish forum) later today and also going to get some beneficial bacteria for him. He has no fear of us and when I put my finger in the water, he contemplates swimming up to it!

Question: When I decide to get a second guppy, would you advise that I adopt one from the same store?

Hey MC, sorry - only just getting back to you. The fish in photo #11 is a Siamese Algae Eater, often confused with the Flying Fox. Poking his head out of the coconut cave is one of my clown loaches.

Glad to hear Sam is doing well. It''s good that you are checking your ammonia levels, but you should really start checking your nitrite levels. By now your amonia levels should be starting to drop and the nitrite should be on the rise. Once you see this spike and the levels starting to come down, then I would consider adding a new fish.

Good advice from Diamondgirl. Always look for fish that have been in the store for a while to max your chances of getting a healthy fish. I also avoid stores that have a central water system where all the tanks are interlinked.

They do look alike! Very cute and sleek!

About an hour ago, I checked the nitrite levels and it''s coming back as none. On Friday I also had checked and the results came back negative (I''m using a test that has drops put into a 5 mL tube - not using test strips). Is this a bad sign, then? We brought Sam home on Wednesday and I''ve changed out 1/8th of the water every morning. (haven''t purchased the Nitrate test yet to see what''s happening with that.)

Oh, and this is weird, but my son pointed out a slimy thing in the bottom of the tank. It''s a extremely thin 1.5" long clearish strand with little red spots all over it. Does that sound like it could be the beneficial bateria I poured into the tank? It''s just sitting there. It seems like it would have disolved???

 

[MichelleCarmen]

Date: 7/19/2009 10:29:26 PM
Author: diamondgirl4382

Also, I have noticed that one store in my area puts aquarium salt in ALL of their tanks. I don''t use salt in any of my tanks so I tend not to buy from that store because it''s that much more difficult for the fish to adjust.

Thanks for mentioning the salt additive. I''ll be sure to call around on pet stores. I didn''t realize it was that big of a deal compared to the ammonia leveling out.

One thing I''m finding is that Sam sits behind that Olmec head we put in the aquarium nearly all day and basically hovers just above the rocks. When we come by and he notices movement, he swims up around us. It seems like he''s not as active as I had expected him to be. Is this normal?

 

[Dancing Fire]

Date: 7/20/2009 12:49:17 AM
Author: MC

Date: 7/19/2009 10:29:26 PM
Author: diamondgirl4382

Also, I have noticed that one store in my area puts aquarium salt in ALL of their tanks. I don''t use salt in any of my tanks so I tend not to buy from that store because it''s that much more difficult for the fish to adjust.

Thanks for mentioning the salt additive. I''ll be sure to call around on pet stores. I didn''t realize it was that big of a deal compared to the ammonia leveling out.

One thing I''m finding is that Sam sits behind that Olmec head we put in the aquarium nearly all day and basically hovers just above the rocks. When we come by and he notices movement, he swims up around us. It seems like he''s not as active as I had expected him to be. Is this normal?

MC
don''t buy them salt at a pet store. the stuff they call "aquarium salt" is the same salt that you can buy at Home Depot or at the grocery store AKA "rock salt" for a lot less.

 

[Gailey]

Good Morning MC

I''ve no idea what the slimy thing could be. Does it look something you tipped out of the bottle? Can you get a shot of it? Maybe someone else will chime in.

I suspect the reason that you have no nitrite in your tank is because of your fastidious water changes, but I may be wrong. Have you ever seen Nitrite in the tank? Your cycling process may well take longer (which will be easier on the fish) with daily water changes.

If you continue to see low or no nitrite and Sam doesn''t appear to be un-healthy, then I would give him a playmate in another week or so. But then watch your levels like a hawk.

I think someone said that if you get healthy fish you don''t need to use melafix when you add new fish to a tank. The trouble with a sick fish is that by the time you notice a fish is sick it may well be too late. I always add a precautionary dose of Melafix unless I am using a quarrantine tank.

I''ve never added salt to my any of my tanks because the plants don''t like it. I''ve got fish I''ve had for years with no ill effects. That said, maybe it is a good idea to add it in a new tank. More salt knowledgeable people will have to advise you there.

 

[MichelleCarmen]

Date: 7/20/2009 10:31:10 AM
Author: Gailey

If you continue to see low or no nitrite and Sam doesn't appear to be un-healthy, then I would give him a playmate in another week or so. But then watch your levels like a hawk.

I think someone said that if you get healthy fish you don't need to use melafix when you add new fish to a tank. The trouble with a sick fish is that by the time you notice a fish is sick it may well be too late. I always add a precautionary dose of Melafix unless I am using a quarrantine tank.

I've never added salt to my any of my tanks because the plants don't like it. I've got fish I've had for years with no ill effects. That said, maybe it is a good idea to add it in a new tank. More salt knowledgeable people will have to advise you there.

Thanks! I was hoping not to have to deal with the salt, so hopefully the pet store I'll be going to doesn't use it. . .they are one who do not have a central water system.

As of yet, there hasn't been any nitrite in the water. I'm going to switch to changing the water every other day and see what happens this week. Then if all is good, I'll bring in a "playmate." My husband is already bugging me about getting another fish because he thinks Sam is bored. Actually, he just calls him, "the fish." "The fish needs a friend." "The fish looks hungry." "Do you think the fish likes bacon?" "Just give the fish some beer."

(I'm going to syphen the slimy thing out and then add more benefical bacteria and see if another slime shows up! lol)

Thanks again for all your help, Gailey!

 

[Dancing Fire]

MC
if i were you i wouldn''t mess around with salt b/c as water evaporates the salt will remain in the water and since you don''t have a "salt meter" to measure the salt content ,wellll... you get the idea.

 

[MichelleCarmen]

Date: 7/20/2009 8:11:15 PM
Author: Dancing Fire
MC
if i were you i wouldn''t mess around with salt b/c as water evaporates the salt will remain in the water and since you don''t have a ''salt meter'' to measure the salt content ,wellll... you get the idea.

Okay, thanks!

 

[diamondgirl4382]

Hey MC, I wasn''t suggesting you add salt either. I don''t think it''s necessary unless you keep brackish fish (not guppies). Just wanted to mention that I avoid that pet store since I know they use salt and it''s harder for the fish to adjust to my (unsalted) water.

Hope Sam is still doing well! Sounds like you are doing all the right things.

 

[MichelleCarmen]

Date: 7/20/2009 10:12:49 PM
Author: diamondgirl4382
Hey MC, I wasn''t suggesting you add salt either. I don''t think it''s necessary unless you keep brackish fish (not guppies). Just wanted to mention that I avoid that pet store since I know they use salt and it''s harder for the fish to adjust to my (unsalted) water.

Hope Sam is still doing well! Sounds like you are doing all the right things.

Hi, yeah, I know

I''m really glad you pointed out that some pet stores do add salt because it hadn''t occured to me that they might!