RTC and TSN Information

[JLad10687]

I test for:
Hardness
PH
Nitrates
Nitrite
Temp

I dont have the readings now but I did months of research before buying this cat and when I compared my parameters to everything I read that he would want, it was all in line.

Could it be that he just doesnt have enough room in the 60 gallon and that's making him depressed? At the LFS I got him at, he was in a 10 gallon with a RTCxTSN hybrid and they were both hiding behind the filter. When the guy lifted the filter, he freaked out a little bit but then stopped moving. In fact, when the guy went to put the filter down, he wouldn't even move out of the way. He shows no physical signs of ill health and eats regularly.

 

[TLkmDN]

hes just insecure...give him time to grow in terms of size and EGO! he should be fine after a few months...dw RTC babies r usually a bit skittish...

 

[basslover34]

I test for:
Hardness
PH
Nitrates
Nitrite
Temp

What about Amonia?

 

[JLad10687]

I dont actually have the test kit for the ammonia but I had my LFS test it once before I bought the RTC and after about a week of owning it and it was good both times. I need to buy more test strips soon so I'll pick up an ammonia test kit too but in the mean time I was just having petsmart or my LFS test it for me.

 

[basslover34]

You can't get lazy or cheap about testing for Amo... it's such a fast moving thing that 1 day your good and it's at 0 then a few hours later WHAM it's spiking on you, RTC's are Amo machines, they eat alot and their dookie is full of rotting food and they do it alot!!!

Get a good supply of tests and keep an eye on the quantity you have on hand, if you see that your getting low you need to get more... Your Water params are your first sign of trouble in your tank and you need to watch that instead of waiting for symptoms in the fish, I'd do some 50% water changes every day for the next 3 or 4 days and see if you notice a difference in the behaviour. If your going to own an RTC you really should invest into a Master Test Kit that has all the tests, it's a larger investment but I bet you will see that your water really isn't as good as you think it is... I know I was surprised when I first started doing all the tests... surprised my fish were still alive!!! LOL

 

[JLad10687]

Like I said, I only have about 8 more test strips left so I'll be getting more this week and I'll pick up the ammonia test kit too. It was my understanding that if the ammonia spiked, that I would then see an increase in the nitriteswhich are more harmful and I have not seen any increase in these. I keep up with my weekly water changes and I take out any left over food daily or every other day at the latest. I'll def check that ammonia though and get back to you guys and see what that looks like.

 

[JLad10687]

Ammonia, nitrates, and nitrites are all 0. He still is just a bump on a rock to me at this point. Could it be that hes scared of the other fish? He was breathing hard on Saturday but then returned to normal Sunday and today. He has not once come up for food, just eats off the bottom.

 

[JLad10687]

Do you guys think he is OK and just not an active RTC or is there something else I should be looking for?

 

[yohan]

RTC masters help! ok, i got this 3" RTC earlier and just 10 minutes ago i notice hes breathing fast... looking at its gills pumping so fast i panic! so i took all the feeders off and put a stress out liquid thing but until now hes gills pump so fast is it normal? whats wrong with him.

 

[basslover34]

RTC masters help! ok, i got this 3" RTC earlier and just 10 minutes ago i notice hes breathing fast... looking at its gills pumping so fast i panic! so i took all the feeders off and put a stress out liquid thing but until now hes gills pump so fast is it normal? whats wrong with him.

OK well they will breath hard when small sometimes but there is something else you need to look at, what are your water paramaters like, could be that he's having a hard time breathing, ammonia burn will cause this just as will having your tank water to warm to name a few things... could also just be because he's stressed if it's not long that he's in the tank....More details on the situation will get you better answers