Great to hear that everyone are doing better and stopped flashing. A magnifying glass is always a plus to have when keeping fish.
More tank pics, updated
- Thread starter FINWIN
- Start date
Hilarious updates and descriptions as usual!Days away from year 2 anniversary for the fish.
Right now my lil' goon Pepper (rainbow cichlid) is sporting a nice beauty mark on his head...he and the syno catfishes go back and forth over the branch cave. He gets chased out then flies back in and pops the catfishes in the head. Its so ridiculous they roll over sideways when Pepper gets close. They get especially nervous when he's near their eyes. Pepper is getting chunky.
Since pissing off my Oscar Brick weeks ago (he took a shot at the oscar in the side.) Bobo has paid the price. If he creeps across the tank too far he gets chased and pressed in the corner. Brick will run him into his house then sit there in the sand, daring Bobo to come out (he doesn't). He's pretty much under house arrest. My oscar forgets nothing. Brick will grab his tail if he doesn't move fast enough. Bobo's lucky the oscar isn't violent. But he will bully as the mood strikes. He either ignores Bobo or hassles him for the **** of it.
Status quo for the parrots. Kong is seeing 'monsters' again when I wear a black top. So she wouldn't come out and eat until I covered it up with a jacket. Tango is huge, a big fat coin shape. Boss is a big ass ball. He grows vertically and sideways. Patch cranks out eggs like a chicken factory. But she's gotten a lot better at clean up (grateful me).
The QT crew
My jumbo male acara Nemo is playful, goofy as hell and oblivious. I could blow a trumpet at the tank and he will still race across the front glass for hours like nothing is going on. Mostly silvery with blue head patches and flowing fins. Gets along well with the HRP, unlike my other acaras who squabbled with smaller fish after a while. So far I haven't needed a divider.
Pip is the honduran redpoint. He's growing amazingly fast. I feed heavily and give 80% wc every 2 days. Sometimes he's dark and sometimes he's boldly striped. Fearless. Reminds me of a water sprite. Seems to have the attitude of a convict. The few times Nemo moves at him he comes right back. Pip comes up to the top to snatch food from my fingers, something even Pepper didn't do.
Brick is breaking out his black...his chin is black sometimes. He has lots of black across the top of his back. Looks like I rolled him in pepper. And yeah, white scales with black dots too. What he'll look like in the next year or two is anybody's guess. His parents must have had one helluva night.
Lots of pics in the works. Just sayin'.
More improvement. Actually saw a couple of spots fall off Bobo this morning. He seems more alert (hard to tell with a chocolate, lol). Amazingly he has no problem with me checking him out up close. If I come up to the glass to get a good look he will turn that side! ?
Treatments are staggered each day. I move the time up half an hour each afternoon. Thinking about doing the Ich-x until this weekend then finishing up with salt. Don't know why sacks of salt pellets are 28 bucks on amazon (up to $60!)
Will look at home depot. Tank would take around 7lbs each treatment.
Treatments are staggered each day. I move the time up half an hour each afternoon. Thinking about doing the Ich-x until this weekend then finishing up with salt. Don't know why sacks of salt pellets are 28 bucks on amazon (up to $60!)
Will look at home depot. Tank would take around 7lbs each treatment.
Just a thought... try the less popular home improvement stores or farm supply stores. I’ve have had great luck with the salt prices there. Not sure if that’s an option where you are.
Unfortunately this time of year anyone else who might have salt has closed shop temporarily in my area.
Update.
The spots on Bobo are stubborn. They are so tiny you can't see them without a magnifying glass. None are on his fins. They are spaced widely apart. This evening I saw a couple slough off into the current. For the most part he seems perfectly normal but will flash one time (I think its a territory thing because its only on his house). Then he swims normally and comes up to say hi. Brick will also flash one time on Bobo's house like a "f you" message. This often happens when Bobo is chased (or intimidated) away.
Temp generally stays at 80. Don't really want to increase temp with this med, that got me in trouble with Patch (BP) last year, with oxygen depletion issues. Plus, some of the fish are sporting sizeable scratches that are healing. So I'm trying to avoid secondary infections.
May switch to salt this weekend (should arrive friday). Does there need to be a wc every day with the salt? All these w/cs are wearing me out because of the main tank treatment. I feel like I have 8 tanks instead of 4.
In the QT tank it looks about time to use the divider. Pip (HRP) is growing so fast Nemo (acara ) is starting to go after him a bit. Nothing serious yet but could get there. Nemo is starting to arrange the tank.
Brick (O) has scratched himself multiple times recently, forcing his big @ss into stuff while chasing Bobo. I've cleared a bit of decor while preserving his space. Fortunately he's a quick healer. Bobo (Choc) also has scratches (and a slightly chewed lip again). Boss (BP) has a scuffed up nose. Pepper (Rainbow) just healed the beauty mark on his head. Thug life tank. ?
Because of all this the year two anniversary pics and profiles will be on hold. Measurement updates will be included. It will take me days to get a clear number on Brick since every time I get the ruler he bends his body into an "S".
Drama queen has become a red football with fins.
The spots on Bobo are stubborn. They are so tiny you can't see them without a magnifying glass. None are on his fins. They are spaced widely apart. This evening I saw a couple slough off into the current. For the most part he seems perfectly normal but will flash one time (I think its a territory thing because its only on his house). Then he swims normally and comes up to say hi. Brick will also flash one time on Bobo's house like a "f you" message. This often happens when Bobo is chased (or intimidated) away.
Temp generally stays at 80. Don't really want to increase temp with this med, that got me in trouble with Patch (BP) last year, with oxygen depletion issues. Plus, some of the fish are sporting sizeable scratches that are healing. So I'm trying to avoid secondary infections.
May switch to salt this weekend (should arrive friday). Does there need to be a wc every day with the salt? All these w/cs are wearing me out because of the main tank treatment. I feel like I have 8 tanks instead of 4.
In the QT tank it looks about time to use the divider. Pip (HRP) is growing so fast Nemo (acara ) is starting to go after him a bit. Nothing serious yet but could get there. Nemo is starting to arrange the tank.
Brick (O) has scratched himself multiple times recently, forcing his big @ss into stuff while chasing Bobo. I've cleared a bit of decor while preserving his space. Fortunately he's a quick healer. Bobo (Choc) also has scratches (and a slightly chewed lip again). Boss (BP) has a scuffed up nose. Pepper (Rainbow) just healed the beauty mark on his head. Thug life tank. ?
Because of all this the year two anniversary pics and profiles will be on hold. Measurement updates will be included. It will take me days to get a clear number on Brick since every time I get the ruler he bends his body into an "S".
Drama queen has become a red football with fins.
The worse before the better.
This afternoon Bobo had a significant increase in spots. So the routine remains the same. Daily 30 percent w/c, fresh filter floss, sand siphon and ich-x. There's instructions for a dip (2 tsps per gallon for 30 minutes). I decided against that for now and went with a concentrated salt dip. I was amazed at how big and heavy Bobo has gotten up close. He feels (and looks) like a boulder. So I literally dipped him and removed him immediately. Held him near the surface in both hands and swished him around in the tank to prevent shock. Brick came up to watch me closely. I used a salt dip to speed Patch's progress when she had ick last year.
So far Bobo is the only fish showing spots (knock on wood). He does have some lesions on his lower body where it looks like cysts may have dropped off. His color conceals it sort of at a distance. One of his front fins looks a bit tatty. But he's been eating normally (garlic soaked pellets). His color looked a bit darker after the dip but currently he's hiding.
On day 5 of treatment. This is beginning to look like a two week gig.
This afternoon Bobo had a significant increase in spots. So the routine remains the same. Daily 30 percent w/c, fresh filter floss, sand siphon and ich-x. There's instructions for a dip (2 tsps per gallon for 30 minutes). I decided against that for now and went with a concentrated salt dip. I was amazed at how big and heavy Bobo has gotten up close. He feels (and looks) like a boulder. So I literally dipped him and removed him immediately. Held him near the surface in both hands and swished him around in the tank to prevent shock. Brick came up to watch me closely. I used a salt dip to speed Patch's progress when she had ick last year.
So far Bobo is the only fish showing spots (knock on wood). He does have some lesions on his lower body where it looks like cysts may have dropped off. His color conceals it sort of at a distance. One of his front fins looks a bit tatty. But he's been eating normally (garlic soaked pellets). His color looked a bit darker after the dip but currently he's hiding.
On day 5 of treatment. This is beginning to look like a two week gig.
Ok, weird developments. One week of treatment for ich is done.
The lesions on Bobo were/are scratches that are healing. Its a challenge seeing stuff on him because of his color morphing. The spots (actually speckles) are tiny and baffling. He has none on his gills, none on his fins or tail. They seem to be sprinkled on his head and the top half of his body (in the front). These specks are literally so tiny you can't see them with the naked eye, only a magnifying glass. Throughout all this his appetite was unaffected and he swam normally.
The other fish are acting normal and have no spots. I will continue another week of treatment then stop and observe. I don't know if these are maturity or sex pimples, or what. Someone here posted chocolates get random pimples which is why he didn't like them. I'm wondering if that's what's happening here. Bobo has good size on him now.
My acara Nemo is suddenly showing signs of a sunken belly. I've been monitoring that since purchase. At first his belly was a bit on the flat side. Since he's a male I didn't read too much into it. But I never saw any poop even though he would eat (he refused food for the first week). Then he would eat. Now he starts to eat, chews then spits out. Added some epsom salt to the QT tank. Have some pellets soaking in epsom salt I will try to get him to eat later. He does show interest in food, I've been soaking everything in garlic for weeks. Even weirder is that he has high energy, comes up to greet me and never seems to get tired. In fact I would turn the lights off to get him to calm down! The extreme water changes may have helped some too. So far my HRP Pip is okay (divider is up now). I thought I saw a clear string of poop the other day in the water. Size of it points to Nemo.
Focus and Metroplex on the way. ??
Looks like I'll have to get more european nightcrawlers soon...Brick is going through those like a fat kid at the candy store. ?
The lesions on Bobo were/are scratches that are healing. Its a challenge seeing stuff on him because of his color morphing. The spots (actually speckles) are tiny and baffling. He has none on his gills, none on his fins or tail. They seem to be sprinkled on his head and the top half of his body (in the front). These specks are literally so tiny you can't see them with the naked eye, only a magnifying glass. Throughout all this his appetite was unaffected and he swam normally.
The other fish are acting normal and have no spots. I will continue another week of treatment then stop and observe. I don't know if these are maturity or sex pimples, or what. Someone here posted chocolates get random pimples which is why he didn't like them. I'm wondering if that's what's happening here. Bobo has good size on him now.
My acara Nemo is suddenly showing signs of a sunken belly. I've been monitoring that since purchase. At first his belly was a bit on the flat side. Since he's a male I didn't read too much into it. But I never saw any poop even though he would eat (he refused food for the first week). Then he would eat. Now he starts to eat, chews then spits out. Added some epsom salt to the QT tank. Have some pellets soaking in epsom salt I will try to get him to eat later. He does show interest in food, I've been soaking everything in garlic for weeks. Even weirder is that he has high energy, comes up to greet me and never seems to get tired. In fact I would turn the lights off to get him to calm down! The extreme water changes may have helped some too. So far my HRP Pip is okay (divider is up now). I thought I saw a clear string of poop the other day in the water. Size of it points to Nemo.
Focus and Metroplex on the way. ??
Looks like I'll have to get more european nightcrawlers soon...Brick is going through those like a fat kid at the candy store. ?
These fish keep me at attention.
So after two epsom salt treatments and large water changes (including one right now) Nemo's belly is not concave like it was yesterday. He passed some goop small blobs kind of clearish fuzzy/ pale pink? Not a lot just little pieces. He ate one pellet but spat out the next pellet. He still swims around like a hyperactive loon. Medicine should be arriving in the next day or two.
Everyone in the main tank is okay. NOBODY has spots at all. Bobo still has those weird tiny spackle dots. Everyone is still eating normally too. If nothing happens I'm stopping the ich-x treatment next Saturday (would be 2 weeks).
I separated some nightcrawlers in the net to dump in the tank. Bobo was supposed to get one but Brick gulped them all down before the Chocolate could get any. ?
So after two epsom salt treatments and large water changes (including one right now) Nemo's belly is not concave like it was yesterday. He passed some goop small blobs kind of clearish fuzzy/ pale pink? Not a lot just little pieces. He ate one pellet but spat out the next pellet. He still swims around like a hyperactive loon. Medicine should be arriving in the next day or two.
Everyone in the main tank is okay. NOBODY has spots at all. Bobo still has those weird tiny spackle dots. Everyone is still eating normally too. If nothing happens I'm stopping the ich-x treatment next Saturday (would be 2 weeks).
I separated some nightcrawlers in the net to dump in the tank. Bobo was supposed to get one but Brick gulped them all down before the Chocolate could get any. ?