I used to leave it off during the day and turn it on at night until I read to switch it around. Which makes sense, I guess fish need night time too. So I had it at like a 12/12 and froggy ( I think) told me that although my fish probably appreciated it, that was really only necessary for plants, so I figured that they must like the light so I just continued it that way. Plus I had those live plants I was trying to grow.
I think I have ich, what do I do?
- Thread starter Shaunna
- Start date
Good for you, Shaunna, getting the tank clean down to the glass. 
I was basing my suggestions on your comment that you did weekly wc and vac-ed every other week. Now you have to keep it up. Maybe change your aquascaping to make maintaining it a bit easier. The feeding suggestion isn't set in stone but clarifies how little you want to feed at every meal. I've taught that to everyone who may 'help' watch my fish as I travel so they don't get overfed. Remember, their bellies are exceptionally small -- figure the size of their eyes.
You still really should get the test kits -- at the very least, ammonia, nitrite and nitrate -- consider them fish insurance. Absolutely, get the reagent ones (with the droppers), they're cheaper in the long run and much more accurate.
I would rethink the gouramis. I've had as many as seven in one tank before but you need to be careful about aggression. Gouramis can be major bullies and, if they don't like each other, they REALLY don't like each other. You also have to consider the size of your tank and that gouramis mainly prefer the top of the tank -- a space also occupied by your butterfly. It's going to get very crowded in the top half of your tank with several large fish.
You have plenty of time to dream about what to do with your tank. With the ABF and gouramis, you already have some special circumstances to consider and work around. With all the upset in your tank this week, you're probably starting your cycle over virtually from the beginning. How are the fish doing?
I was basing my suggestions on your comment that you did weekly wc and vac-ed every other week. Now you have to keep it up. Maybe change your aquascaping to make maintaining it a bit easier. The feeding suggestion isn't set in stone but clarifies how little you want to feed at every meal. I've taught that to everyone who may 'help' watch my fish as I travel so they don't get overfed. Remember, their bellies are exceptionally small -- figure the size of their eyes.You still really should get the test kits -- at the very least, ammonia, nitrite and nitrate -- consider them fish insurance. Absolutely, get the reagent ones (with the droppers), they're cheaper in the long run and much more accurate.
I would rethink the gouramis. I've had as many as seven in one tank before but you need to be careful about aggression. Gouramis can be major bullies and, if they don't like each other, they REALLY don't like each other. You also have to consider the size of your tank and that gouramis mainly prefer the top of the tank -- a space also occupied by your butterfly. It's going to get very crowded in the top half of your tank with several large fish.
You have plenty of time to dream about what to do with your tank. With the ABF and gouramis, you already have some special circumstances to consider and work around. With all the upset in your tank this week, you're probably starting your cycle over virtually from the beginning. How are the fish doing?
They are all doing great now. Even Henry is swimming around again. He has gotten his bright orange color back and my last black skirt's "skirt" has returned to SUPER black!! About the Gouramis staying at the top, mins prefer the middle and actually spend alot of their time rummaging through the gravel and picking things off the plants. Is this not normal behavior?
Edit... just as a side note here. If I decided against the gouramis could I do kribs? I have heard so many people talk about them and they seem like great fish. Plus I thought I could use the fry for my butterfly. I have a 10g I could move the fry to after they were born. I am just wondering. If that sounds like a better idea than I can go ahead and start cycling my 10g and by the time I had fry to put in, it would be good and ready. That is of course it you guys all think this sounds like a good idea. Btw, my ABF loves flake food and is eating very well but I like the idea of breeding and raising food for it. I love that fish. Anyway, at least if things didn't go so well at first I would still have my flakes to fall back on. Let me know what you think. Of course I still won't be adding the kribs for a good while either.
Edit... just as a side note here. If I decided against the gouramis could I do kribs? I have heard so many people talk about them and they seem like great fish. Plus I thought I could use the fry for my butterfly. I have a 10g I could move the fry to after they were born. I am just wondering. If that sounds like a better idea than I can go ahead and start cycling my 10g and by the time I had fry to put in, it would be good and ready. That is of course it you guys all think this sounds like a good idea. Btw, my ABF loves flake food and is eating very well but I like the idea of breeding and raising food for it. I love that fish. Anyway, at least if things didn't go so well at first I would still have my flakes to fall back on. Let me know what you think. Of course I still won't be adding the kribs for a good while either.
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Henry isn't doing too well. I don't know if he is just stressed to the max or what. My other two Gouramis keep picking on him and I don't know why, they never did this before. I know I can't add anything else but is there anyway possible I could add a danio or two just to give them something to chase after so Henry can relax? I read that zebras are very fast and hard to catch and are very hardy, that is why I am asking. I just need to let Henry relax a little after this fiasco. If not just say so and I won't buy them. I just don't want anything to happen to Henry.
Or may this just as a temp tank http://www.walmart.com/catalog/product.do?product_id=3635102
Edit: You could just put him in the 10 gallon for a week or so.
Then do a fishless cycle in it.
Edit: You could just put him in the 10 gallon for a week or so.
Then do a fishless cycle in it.
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So you think I should buy a bottle of ammonia and clean the 10 gallon really good with it and then put Henry in there? Just regular ammonia or the ammonia for a fishless cycle?
I guess I will be waiting on my Krib project then.
Edit... I just remembered, I don't have a heater for the 10 gallon. She kept goldfish in it.
I guess I will be waiting on my Krib project then.
Edit... I just remembered, I don't have a heater for the 10 gallon. She kept goldfish in it.
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Other fish aren't likely to distract the gouramis from Henry -- gouramis can be aggressive to conspecifics (fish like them). If they have decided to be bullies, a few danios aren't likely to help and may very well hurt what you're trying to do. It is possible, with the removal of your live plants, sightlines may be more open, leaving Henry with nothing to duck behind so the other two can't see him. If you can move him to another tank, that would bail him out.
Why not scrub out the 10 gallon, using bleach or straight ammonia (no additives of any kind), fill it with water and see what temperature it will maintain throughout the day and evening without a heater. If you can pick up a heater, even better. Then you can consider moving him there as an option. So long as you have a filter, you don't need gravel or anything else for the immediate time being (tho he'd appreciate something to swim around/hide behind) Just remember, the same rules apply to Henry's 10 gallon as the larger tank -- it is cycling and needs *VERY* regular water changes and no new fish until things are settled.
Why not scrub out the 10 gallon, using bleach or straight ammonia (no additives of any kind), fill it with water and see what temperature it will maintain throughout the day and evening without a heater. If you can pick up a heater, even better. Then you can consider moving him there as an option. So long as you have a filter, you don't need gravel or anything else for the immediate time being (tho he'd appreciate something to swim around/hide behind) Just remember, the same rules apply to Henry's 10 gallon as the larger tank -- it is cycling and needs *VERY* regular water changes and no new fish until things are settled.
oh, ok. Well I did take my live plants out but I still ahve plenty of fakes, however, if Henry would move he would probably be just fine. He is just sitting in one spot at the top of the tank taking in breaths of air every couple od seconds. Now my other two are acting "different" not so much like Henry but rather just hanging out at the bottom of the tank. Unlike them, I wonder though if maybe they have staked their territories and are now just enjoying them or if they are all about to spin me into a damn cyclone again. Id on't know what is about to happen but I have a feeling I will probably be starting afresh in the near future. Unfortunately at the expense of some very pretty, healthy, hand picked fish whom we thouroghly enjoyed.
Is Henry in the first stages of dropsy?
Well I did take my live plants out but I still ahve plenty of fakes, however, if Henry would move he would probably be just fine. He is just sitting in one spot at the top of the tank taking in breaths of air every couple od seconds. Now my other two are acting "different" not so much like Henry but rather just hanging out at the bottom of the tank. Unlike them, I wonder though if maybe they have staked their territories and are now just enjoying them or if they are all about to spin me into a damn cyclone again. Id on't know what is about to happen but I have a feeling I will probably be starting afresh in the near future. Unfortunately at the expense of some very pretty, healthy, hand picked fish whom we thouroghly enjoyed. Is Henry in the first stages of dropsy?
Now, I know that you are probably going to jump down my throat with this, but something really irks me.
It seems that if someone does not follow your instructions to the T, or maybe misses a few things, or does not come back raving about your advice, you posts convey that you get upset with a person, and belittle them, in front of everybody.
You, however, cover your tracks, by saying things like, "I don't explain things that well".
I think that you do not see yourself coming off as rude, but you are the first to PM someone when they say something that YOU percieve as rude.
Yes, I could have PM'd this to you, but you would have ignored it like the others I have sent to you in the past regarding the same exact issue. You calling me rude when I didn't make a response fluffy and candy-coted.
Shaunna said:
oh, ok. Well I did take my live plants out but I still ahve plenty of fakes, however, if Henry would move he would probably be just fine. He is just sitting in one spot at the top of the tank taking in breaths of air every couple od seconds. Now my other two are acting "different" not so much like Henry but rather just hanging out at the bottom of the tank. Unlike them, I wonder though if maybe they have staked their territories and are now just enjoying them or if they are all about to spin me into a damn cyclone again. Id on't know what is about to happen but I have a feeling I will probably be starting afresh in the near future. Unfortunately at the expense of some very pretty, healthy, hand picked fish whom we thouroghly enjoyed.
Is Henry in the first stages of dropsy?
Well I did take my live plants out but I still ahve plenty of fakes, however, if Henry would move he would probably be just fine. He is just sitting in one spot at the top of the tank taking in breaths of air every couple od seconds. Now my other two are acting "different" not so much like Henry but rather just hanging out at the bottom of the tank. Unlike them, I wonder though if maybe they have staked their territories and are now just enjoying them or if they are all about to spin me into a damn cyclone again. Id on't know what is about to happen but I have a feeling I will probably be starting afresh in the near future. Unfortunately at the expense of some very pretty, healthy, hand picked fish whom we thouroghly enjoyed. Is Henry in the first stages of dropsy?
I am guessing by media you mean the carbon one right? Not the wheel. I am not supposed to mess with the wheel, correct? Am I supposed to be rinsing the carbon part every time I do a water change? (I rinsed it a couple of changes ago. Which btw, I think everything is going to be ok. The 3 spots are doing fine they even ate some peas for me. (they loved them) Henry is obviously feeling good enough to kick the other gourami out from under my log because that is where he has been the last couple of days. He will peep his little head out every once in a while when I walk by. I still haven't seen him eat but as Pure said in the other post, he is obviously eating something or else he wouldn't be poo'ing. So time will tell but everything seems to be going good. I did not move Henry into the breeder net as was planned because right after the discussion is when he took up residency under the log so I have let him be. Everything seems fine as of right now. Thanks for the reply though, Seleya.
Oh, I do about a 10-15% water change about every other day. I think this will be better then a 25% once a week until I get my feeding schedule figured out and established. I feed every other day now but it is so hard to tell if I am feeding them enough. But I figure if they eat something it is probably enough. They are just little piggies.
Oh, I do about a 10-15% water change about every other day. I think this will be better then a 25% once a week until I get my feeding schedule figured out and established. I feed every other day now but it is so hard to tell if I am feeding them enough. But I figure if they eat something it is probably enough. They are just little piggies.
Shaunna said:
Oh, I do about a 10-15% water change about every other day. I think this will be better then a 25% once a week until I get my feeding schedule figured out and established. I feed every other day now but it is so hard to tell if I am feeding them enough. But I figure if they eat something it is probably enough. They are just little piggies.
Also, I was wondering if you still had the Red-Tail Shark?