My Fish Ramblings

[dixaisy930]

Last night all of the kuhlis were out and about. This is the first time I've seen the two black ones really active (like my original kuhli). Then this morning I saw one out in plain sight! Way to go, little guy! Big step for ya!

Quarentine molly isn't very happy...no female mollys to try and impregnate. I already see an improvement in the ick...I wonder if it's really ick then?

The new betta is hiding alot...I think I'll move him further away from Ferdinan...he just keeps wiggling at the new guy. I think I might get him a girl to put next to him....someone he can flirt with.

Nermal isn't doing any better...she eats...a little. I can't find anything that resembles her "boils". I'll just keep doing water changes. I added some Pimafix to her water....I didn't think that could hurt anything.

Saw all of the cories running around together...all nine of them! What a site! Invasion of the cories! Only time my krib has swam away from anything.

I keep looking at my tank, and saying I need to get a bunch more plants...the back is just so bare. It's hard to find plants that are big enough. But next week I'm planning a trip to my fav lfs of all time (45 minutes aways, but well worth it). They have the best fish, and a huge selection of plants. I'm getting tingly just thinking about it.


*Thanks, fufanu....I can't remember where I heard that, but I've always loved it. So true!

 

[cat.fish]

i really like the idea of a thread like this. i also like your sig a LOT. it is really funny.

i will be poping in and out of this thread.

 

[candy]

wow ur so good at telling us about whats been happing..i love it..keep the storys coming i injoyed ever moment of reading.

hope ur platy gets better soon and ur little gold fish.....my friends goldfish has weird boil type things but they have never gone away and shes had the 3 of then for 4 years now .....

keep the storys coming

love candy

wish i could get black kuhli loches

 

[Never2Bknown]

Where on the goldfish are these "boils"? I think I may know what they are.

And dixaisy--about that ich. Ich has cycles--it forms cysts just underneath the epidermic layer where you can't get at it without killing the fish; these are the white spots that you see. Next stage, it lives in the aquarium gravel for a while; that's when you can kill it. Heat speeds this cycle up, which is why it is recommended for treating fish. Right now, the ich is probably leaving your molly. After it's all gone, you can put him back--you won't have to worry about recurring infections because there is no ich in your other tank. UNLESS you keep the tank at too cold of a temperature which will lower your fish's defense systems. This is usually one of the biggest things that causes ich.

Good luck!

 

[dixaisy930]

The boils on Nermal...she has two near her tail and the other one is closer to her gills.

The "ick" almost completely disappeared after a day in the quarentine tank, but the temp is just slightly cooler (maybe a degree or two) than my main tank because the quarentine tank has no heater, unfortunately. Thank you for the help!

And thanks for all of the positive feedback!

Momma platy still has not dropped fry yet. I don't think her poor belly can get any bigger without actually exploding.

The new betta (still nameless) has yet to eat (even tried brine shrimp today). Not worried yet...he's still active (although he does like hiding in the terra cotta pot alot). I had a betta that didn't eat for a month, so I'll just keep trying to bribe him. Ferdinan, however, ate from my hand this morning! He's really become Mr. Personality...much different from the pouting, lethargic betta he was in the lfs.

As I'm typing, I'm noticing one of my angels is just kind of hanging out in the corner. When I went over there she swam over to where I was, but now she's back. Hopefully she's just "recovering" from her big meal (they just got brine shrimp). Her belly's full, so I know she ate. She's also right by the baby mollies (in the breeder)...maybe she's just trying to figure out a way to try and eat them.

All of the kuhlis were out and about today! Even before I fed them....playing follow the leader (my original kuhli, of course, leading). I was worried I would never see them, but they are turning out to be active just like my other one. He usually takes a few trips around the tank each day...up and down the glass...back and forth....I think it helps that there are so many hiding spot in my tank. At the lfs they just buried themselves in the gravel. Atleast I have sand if they ever feel the need to go tunneling.

 

[dixaisy930]

I'm so thrilled! I called a few lfs (one not so local) to see if they had any kuhlis, marbled hatchets, and freshwater shrimp. One has about 12 marbles (I think I'll get 4 or 6 more to go with my current two) which I'll be checking out tomorrow. And another (of course the not so local one) has singapore shrimp, crystal red, and bumblebee shrimp!!!! I'm going Sunday to check those out (this place also has black kuhlis). I can't wait to get more shrimp!!! I love the little buggers! Right now I have amano and ghost. YAH!

 

[dixaisy930]

YAH! Live brine shrimp today! Everyone got some today, and everyone ate...even the new stubborn betta. All of the 60 gallon tank occupants were stuffing themselves...little piggies!

Got 5 new marbled hatchers today!!! Woohoo!! Nice little school of seven now.

And got a partial impulse buy...a pair of gardenier (?? not sure if that's how you spell it) killies. The male was doing a little dance infront of the misses at the lfs...so cute. And as I was giving the 60 gallon their brine shrimp, I was floating the new guys, and I thought Mr. Killie was going to break through the bag trying to get to them. So I gave him (and her) a few brine shrimp of their own, and he ate ever single one. What a pig. Didn't even save one for his lady.

Then the babies were banging against their breeder trying to get to the brine shrimp, so I put a few in their with them. The fry aren't much bigger than the brine shrimp, but they managed to eat 2 between the four of them. Poor things were just picked to death.

I'm counting the hours until I can go get my new shrimp!!!!

 

[dixaisy930]

Unfortunately I dicovered that one of the angels has a clamped fin...although my water tested out fine, I moved about 13 inches of fish (I had about 70 inches in my 60 gallon). She's being medicated now, and doing partial water everyday.

But before I found the clamped fin, I got four bumblebee shrimp....and I love them!! They really look like little bumblebee's! At first I thought they were bumblebee gobies. I got four of them at $4 a piece (a little more than I wanted yo pay, but SO CUTE!). However, I've only seen 1 since last night. I hope some fish did not have $4 snacks.

I also came home with (what I think is) a pair of honey gouramis. I'm pretty sure one's a female and ones a male. I was affraid I had gotten two females (I told the guy to get one female and one male) since the male was just looking silver (a pretty silve, but still, when you want amber, silve doesn't cut it). However, now the amber color is finally showing up.

I also came home with ANOTHER betta (and another tank to accomidate him). I just couldn't resist....the lfs guy said the batch was pretty young. He looks young...his fins are pretty short. A gorgeous metallic purple...I don't think this batch was just "mutts". I also think he has a double (or is it split) tail. His tail is split right down the middle....have to do some investigating to see if I can find any pics to compare to him. He's also a very shy boy....finally came up to the top this evening (and ate....YAH!!!). But went right back into his terra cotta pot. I wonder if the air stone is bothering him...I might turn it off tommorrow.

 

[dixaisy930]

Did a 20 gallon water change today on the 65 gallon tank, and did a big algae scrape. And it looks like everyone survived it.

Fed the bunch bloodworms before I did the PWC, and somehow one of the baby peppered cories got a worm stuck in it's gills!! Luckily Mr. Yo-yo loach came right over and ate the worm right up....just sucked it out of the poor cory's gill. Cory os fortunately no worse for wear.

Saw two bumblebee shrimp this morning, but haven't seen any since.

My black kuhlis were actually out in the open today, in the middle of the afternoon, with no sign of food, for a good 10-15 minutes!! Becoming very active now.

Midas finally got a little hiding spot in his tank. Flaring at it...of course.

The poor newest guy...he was covered in fungus or bacteria this morning. 100% water change, colodial silver and some salt. Not looking good though

Both of my gold mystery snails have been laying eggs like crazy. I'm such they will all get eaten though.

 

[dixaisy930]

Unfortunately I lost both new bettas to fungus. It's so frustrating!

So I rinsed everything in extremely hot tap water, so hopefully, any remaining fungus or bacteria is gone.

Found another betta today at Wal-Mart, and the poor guy sure has had a rough start. I had his cup in the front seat of my car, propped against the back of the seat, to make sure it couldn't tip over. I ran into Petco real quick and came out with a new goldfish. I got into the car and noticed that the betta's cup was upside down, and no water!!!! (one of my dogs must have jumped in the front seat, which they usually never do, of course) Poor Finnely (that's his name). I opened up the goldfish bag (good thing I had come out with a fish), and gave the betta just enough water, and made sure the goldfish still had enough water (usually they give me a ton of water, but I just got a "feeder" so of course they skimped me this time). OH! But before I got the water in there, I accidently dropped the cup (lid off) when I was trying to fill it, and Finnely fell between the seat and door....AHHH!!!! This poor fish....Anyway, got him home and filled the cup up with tank water, with just a granual or two of aquarium salt (partly because of my recent fungus problem, and I thought that might help with stress), with a couple of drops of BettaFix. I waited quite awhile to put him in his tank, just to give him some time between stressful events.

He looks ok (the top of his head is a little red though...that's concerning me). I'm not sure yet if he'll be ok or not. He has a little BettaFix and a smidge of salt in a 2 gallon. Keeping my fingers crossed for the little guy.

I was on here about an hour ago about ready to start typing this when the power went out. If was off for about an hour and a half. Trying to keep all of the filter wet, and trying to keep the water surface moving. No one seemed to even notice the filter being off.

This morning I looked in the fry nursery and a hatchet had gotten in there Goofball....luckily it wasn't any other fish in there, or I would be fry-less. All the fry were still in there, happy as could be. Phew.

Haven't seen any bumblebee shrimp today...little disappointed.

 

[dixaisy930]

Finnley is hanging in there. He sits on the bottom quite a bit, but comes to the top when he sees me (probably wants to lunge at my throat for his traumatic trip home). He swims ok, and he tried to eat a betta pellet, but had a tough time eating it. Not sure if he was ever able to....just followed the bloodworm around the tank, but never tried to eat it. I'm wondering if that red spot on the top of his head is some indication of internal damage.

Came home with ANOTHER betta (Mervin). Very unusual color...sort of a purple/burgandy color with some silver-blue undertones. Uneventful ride home (thankfully). Right now is soaking in new tank water in the cup. A pinch of salt and a little BettaFix (crossing fingers that this is the way to prevent the fungus).

My male honet gourami is finally exploring more of the tank (rather than just sticking behind the filter output). Actually tried to eat some bloodworm today.

The new goldfish seems to enjoy the big 20 gallon all for herself. I often wonder if she can tell the difference between this, and what is was like in the store. Well, even if she can't, I know she's got a better life now.

 

[dixaisy930]

I shouldn't be allowed to keep bettas........

Found, yes, ANOTHER betta today, and AGAIN had the dogs in the car with me. This time I put the cup in a cup holder in the front of the car. No possible way the dogs could knock it over OR SO I THOUGHT!

Came back to the car and somehow the cup was in the drivers seat, lid off and betta laying on the seat. AHHHHHHH!!!!! And no fish in any bags for a water source! AHHHHHHH!!! Luckily, I had some water in my water bottle ( a few days old) so I dropped the poor betta in there (his cup was crushed). Poor Trooper (the newest guy's name) was covered in dog hair. It's been about six hours since the ordeal and you would have never thought anything happened to the poor guy. Even ate some glassworms this evening.

No more dogs being unsupervised around the bettas. I'm still puzzled as to how the betta got over in my seat, since the cup holder is in front of the seats, not between them.

Got a pleco today, but not sure what kind. The lfs guy said it was a baby bushy nosed pleco. It's brown with yellow/gold spots. Have to do some investigating.

Finnely is doing o.k. Not very active though...spends alot of time laying on the bottom or in his pot. Keeping a close eye to make sure he doesn't develope any fungus or bacteria problem. Keep your fingers crossed for him.

 

[dixaisy930]

I unfortunately lost Finnely. Everyone else is doing great, however. (knock on wood) *comically taps on head* *waits for laughter* ----> wind whistleing,
* * * * <----- tumbleweeds rolling by


Trooper is doing really well, considering his start.

Oh, that's right...ANOTHER NEW BETTA! This time no dogs in the car. Very hansome young man....very dark purple fins with a very irredescent light purple body (Name : Hummfrey). He is in the tank that had such a bad time with fungus. Cleaned it with clorox, and rinsed extremely well.....seems to have finally got rid of it.

 

[dixaisy930]

I'm back........

Been real busy lately, and unfortunately had a big deadly accident in my 65 gallon tank. Somehow, while I was away, a full container of flake food dumped into my tank AND the power had gone off!!! Lost 4 of the 6 hatchetfish, one angel, three fry, two panda cories, and one danio. Luckily, after many large water changes everything seems ok.

I have two new recue bettas...both looked really pitiful (one has a large part of his tail missing). The other was brown when I got him (now more of a cranberry color)...which I'm a little disappointed since I love brown bettas.

I'm going to try and post some pics of the survivors tonight....new digital camera!! Now I'm going to go crazy with the fish pics.

 

[SnowyzMom]

Dixaisy I've just had an enjoyable time reading your continuing journal here. I was giving your dogs some thought. They have a unique hunting instinct, going after Bettas. There are "bird dogs" out there. Maybe you've got "fish dogs"? You could probably sell puppies from them for a good price!

By the way I love your sig too, it's very funny and soooo true. Never thought of it until you mentioned it either. Good one!

p.s. I am amazed what Bettas can survive. I have heard of them jumping from a tank, getting covered in rug lint and pet hair and after a quick rinsing off being just fine. They are wayyy tougher than they look, though I learned real quickly not to keep any sharpish plastic plants in with mine as he likes to push through the tiniest spaces and would snag his long fins. Now he's got live plants and a silk one and he's having a blast. I originally never planned to have a Betta, I thought they all looked so hoity toity and stuck up ....then I was passing a tank at the lfs, did a literal about turn and fell in love with Jack and brought him straight home. I am a sucker for a cute male of any species!