Community > Posts By > ladycrotalus

 
ladycrotalus's photo
Thu 01/14/10 07:38 AM

Then what should I get? I know technically I shouldn't get anymore fish, the six Giant Danios I have is the rule of thumb limit, but I'm sure I can get a little more without causing too much harm.

I have a very playful cat, and a two year old in the house, so skittish fish are probably not a good idea.


Since the danios hang out at the middle and top layer, get something for the bottom. Like 5-6 cory catfish.
Or if you want something with color maybe a small school of cherry barbs.

ladycrotalus's photo
Wed 01/13/10 05:51 PM



One of my Giant Danios has popeye in both eyes. Will he be OK? Will he go blind? Will he lose his eyes? I'm very worried about him.


I wouldn't recommend saturating your fish with chemicals unless they have an evident problem. Make sure you monitor the pH, alkalinity, hardness, metals, temperature, etc and get them near the fishes ideal enviroment. I would recommend cleaning your water and tank completely every 2 weeks, and change 2/3 water once or twice a week to reduce fecal matter in water and debris from old food, etc. I know that the filters purpose is that, but no system is 100%, gravel and rocks tend to prevent filter from doing a great job too. I actually have many fish, one amphibian, one reptile, 4 crabs, some shrimp, and a snail, so if you have any questions feel free to ask. I found using less chemicals prevented death of my fish. They can be very sensitive to chemical changes in water.


You know, I've been thinking about getting a snail to help keep the bottomw of my tank clean. I know they have a funny way of multiplying and can take over a tank. I don't want anything like that to happen, I hear it can be pretty hard to get rid of them. I know pond snails are bad for an aquarium. I would like to get live plants, two bala sharks, and one or two algae eaters. What kind of snail would work best in that enviorment and what kinds of plants should I get? I'm thinking maybe one or two plants will work. I don't want to overcrowd the tank too much.


No bala sharks, your tank isnt big enough. They need to be in groups of 5 or more, they get 14 inches and are very active and skittish fish. This was about 8 inches when he was dumped off at the store and he spazzed and bashed his face on the cover of the 33 gallon he was in.


ladycrotalus's photo
Tue 01/12/10 07:29 AM

On a serious note though, would it be ok to do another water change? I did one when I made this topic, but the water is really cloudy now, and the fish are looking dull and their eyes are swollen still. They go up and down, looking good and then bad. Would doing a 5 gal. water change now hurt anything?


I would do at least a third of the tank.

ladycrotalus's photo
Sun 01/10/10 08:18 PM

Common Goldfish The common goldfish is the hardiest of all goldfish varieties. It features a slender, long body with a single tail fin. It is easily kept outside in ponds as well as indoors. It's lifespan is between 5 and 10 years. This is a great goldfish for beginners.

Interesting Facts about Goldfish

Some of the interesting facts about goldfish are as follows:
Goldfish are cold-blooded and their metabolism rate depends upon water temperature. These hardy freshwater fish belong to the species Carassius auratus.
Goldfish is a small member of the carp family. There are more than 500 species of goldfish found throughout the world. Some major varieties of goldfish are Bubble Eye, Calico, Black Moor, Shubunkin, Raukin, Panda Moor, etc.
Goldfish require subtropical to tropical climate. They live in the freshwater bodies with a pH of 6.0-8.0, preferably 7.5. They need a temperature range of about 40-90°F. Goldfish is about 3-6 inches in length. The largest goldfish can be 12-16 inches in size and about 3 kg in weight. Its appearance depends upon location, temperature, food and other factors. It has a paired pectoral and pelvic fins with one dorsal, anal and caudal fin. An average lifespan of a goldfish is about 5-10 years.


Goldfish are horrible for beginners. They are dirty, they get large and aren't as hardy as people think. Beginners dont know enough to provide the correct size aquarium or pond for the poor goldfish. And 5-10 is an age that a fish that is being abused and neglected might make it to if its lucky. I know lots of people who have goldfish into their 20s.
I have personally seen 14 inch black moors. I can post a picture of a 15 inch oranda that made it to 16 inches.

ladycrotalus's photo
Sun 01/10/10 08:12 PM


I have no clue... I kill fish! ohwell We do have a beta though... only had him a week or so... I am surprised that he is still alive!


Just do not put any other fish with the Beta, they are very aggressive. They are good starter fish from what I hear, and they can jump.


Not true. Bettas are only aggressive to themselves and to fish that look like them such as male fancy guppies.
The tank has to be at least 5 gallons because they can be territorial in anything under that.
Bowls are for candy or flowers, not fish. Bettas being tropical should be provided with a tank of at least 2-5 gallons with a filter and a heater. People who use the excuse "they come from puddles" are really idiots. They come from ponds, streams, and rice paddies. Rice paddies are expansive bodies of water with other fish, plants, and insects....a whole ecosystem.
I had a betta in a 5.5 with neon tetras. They can be housed with platies, bloodfin tetras, dwarf frogs, female fancy guppies, white cloud mountain minnows, cory cats, and others i cant remember off the top of my head. Fish that are too nippy such as semi aggressives tend to shred a bettas fins. Gouramis are from the same family as bettas and tend to win the fight.

ladycrotalus's photo
Sat 01/09/10 07:24 PM
Edited by ladycrotalus on Sat 01/09/10 07:25 PM


its always best to have more than one tank.. and to seperate when this is noticed.. also to treat both tanks.. i havent had fish for years... i miss the saltwater tank most of all.. but wow it was a dissapointment when a 50 dollar fish dies... fish arent easy to take care of either like most think... golffish are the easiest to care for.. i had one live 8 yrs lol..


Yeah, I'm going to convert this new tank to saltwater eventually (not anytime soon). I've heard goldfish can be hard, and they like to dig and can be dirty.

I got these Giant Danios because they say they are some of the most hardy fish and can tolerate NTS pretty well, but my older fish don't seem to be doing too well in their new home. my younger ones seem to be doing fine though. I figure if my older ones don't make it, atleast they had a good six months or so. ohwell Besides, if they go, I would get some zebras to replace them.


Cycling with fish weakens them, if not outright killing them. So if you used these danios to cycle your 14 gallon, they probably arent going to surive this cycle.
When i first got into fish, i cycled my 30 gallon with 6 zebra danios. As i did more research, i realize its best to do a fishless cycle. Im doing a fishless cycle on my 5.5 and 2.5 gallon. Im using live plants, bacterial additives, and a bit of rotten fish food.

8 yrs is too young for a goldfish to die. Properly cared for they can live over 20 yrs. The oldest goldfish died at the age of 43 and it was just a feeder fish that was won at a fair.

ladycrotalus's photo
Sat 01/09/10 07:48 AM



The thing is the tank is new, so I can't clean it or add any medicine yet. I did turn the heater up a bit, so hopefully that helps. The temp. is at 74C now.
did you let the tank cycle before you put them in? I used to have the same fish an the pet store told me that you had to let the tank cycle before you put any fish in there.


I couldn't let it stabilize for 24hours because I only had a 1 gal bowl to keep them in. But, the Melafix and salt seem to be working. I think it was more from stress and trauma than the water. When I put them in the bowl, one jumped out onto the floor, and I think that's the one with popeye now. He's doing much better. He's chasing the other fish around and seems to be feeling much better. The swelling has go done a little as well. His eyes are still pretty swollen though.


It takes atleast 4-6 weeks for a tank to stabilize.
http://www.bestfish.com/newtank3.html

ladycrotalus's photo
Fri 01/08/10 07:30 AM

The water change and tempertature bump seemed to help a little. I got some melafix and aquarium salt and put the full recommended dose of melafix in the tank and only half of the recommened amount of salt to error on the safe side. Of course I took the carbon filters out of both filters and just have them running with the bio filters in. Everything seems to be ok now. I hope this works.


Have you tested your water parameters?

ladycrotalus's photo
Thu 01/07/10 07:31 AM
Its not the bubble bars.
Do an immediate partial water change, make sure not to let the water drop below 50 percent. Add aquarium salt 1 tablespoon per 5 gallons. And get some Maracyn-2. Ive never had issues with Maracyn killing the nitrifying bacteria so it should be fine to add.

ladycrotalus's photo
Tue 01/05/10 05:00 PM

Yeah, I told him goldfish wouldn't be a good idea. I used a little of the old water to help speed up the cycling in my tank. It's starting to get a little cloudy now. It's that white cloudiness.


White is good
Just watch the fish for any signs of stress like redness around the gills and fins, or gasping at the surface, or sitting on the bottom gasping, or clamped fins, lethargy, or itching themselves on rocks and decorations. Do an immediate partial water change to alleviate stress. But continue with small weekly partial water changes.

ladycrotalus's photo
Mon 01/04/10 11:51 AM

Well, I got a bigger tank today. I now have a 29 gallon tank for my three Giant Danios. It came with a better heater and filter system. I also kept the Whisper in the new tank. The water is crystal clear and the fish seem to love it so far. I might keep things like this for now and just get a bigger bubble curtain.

I gave my old tank with everything to a friend. He got some goldfish for it. They seem to be doing well so far.

This new tank is monsterous, and me, my fish, and my cat all love the new setup!

I'm going to get three more Giant Danios on my next day off. I'm also going to get some algae eaters and maybe some other tank mates.


Its clear now but wont be when the tank starts cycling. Did you use the water in the 14 gallon?
You should wait 6 weeks before getting any algae eaters. In my experience they cant really handle the ammonia spike and the nitrite spike.

Goldfish are a bad choice for that 14 gallon. The rule is 10 gallons per goldfish and that's only temporary since all goldfish grow large.

ladycrotalus's photo
Sat 01/02/10 05:30 PM

I took my UV sterilizer out. I don't think it was doing anything. I haven't noticed any difference in the water.

I'm thinking of getting a new filter. Anyone know anything about this one?

http://www.aquariumguys.com/penguin100b.html


I have heard good things about the bio wheel in it, but i have never used that brand. I have whisper filters on mine.

ladycrotalus's photo
Wed 12/30/09 07:41 AM

Well, you change your water too much every 6-7 months is better, and only change 1/2 when you do change it. You need chemicals and keep the tank out of the direct sunlight. Get a plecostomus, algea eater, he will clean the glass. You also need a variety of fish. Check the water for an imbalance of chemicals. Feeding once a day is too much, every other day is better.


Water parameters change when you dont change the water often. Your pH drops, water becomes acidic, and nitrate levels rise. Then when you do your big water change ever 6-7 months, you shock the crap out of your fish because the parameters in your water source are drastically different.

Small, frequent water changes are healthier for the fish, less work, easy, and keep the algae levels down. An algae eater needs more then what grows in your tank to survive and they also add to the problem because they are dirty fish. A variety of fish isnt needed, it is better to under stock an aquarium then to overstock it.
The only chemical that is truly needed is a water conditioner that removes chlorine and chloramines.

ladycrotalus's photo
Tue 12/29/09 06:10 PM


I'll try the blanket thing and stop using the EasyBalance for now and see if that helps any. I'm thinking the EasyBalance may be the problem, not sure though. I have two windows in my room but I keep the blinds closed to help keep light out. I've been wanting to get some blackout curtains because I sleep during the day sometimes, and I think it would help with the fish.

Thanks for the articles, I'll check them out.


All of my fish tanks are near windows and get sunlight hitting them through out the day. Ive never had green water. It could be your water source.

ladycrotalus's photo
Mon 12/28/09 06:29 PM

Yeah I want a 55gal. but don't have the room. The stand I have now can hold up to a 29 gal. which I've been wanting to get. I just don't know what I'm going to do with the old one if I get a new tank. I don't have any space to keep it.


Wrought Iron stands usually have space underneath them for a second tank. I have a 20 inch iron stand with a 10 gallon tank on top with a gecko in it and a 10 gallon on the bottom part with a couple of baby snakes in it. Same with a 48x18" stand with a 75 gallon on top and a 55 gallon on the bottom. O and a 24" stand with a 20 high on the bottom and a 20 long on top which overhangs 3 inches on each side but its ok since i just have snakes in them. 3 of my fish tanks are on wooden cabinet stands because i store my supplies underneath. My other 2 tanks are small tanks on my night stand.

ladycrotalus's photo
Mon 12/28/09 06:13 PM
Edited by ladycrotalus on Mon 12/28/09 06:24 PM

When I do a water change I change 25 - 50% of the water. EasyBalance is a PH and KH stabilizer it's suppose to keep the water stabilized for up to six monthes without the need of a water change.

I did some strip tests just now:

Nitrate @ 20
Nitrite @ .5
Hardness @ 150
KH @ 120
PH @ 7.8
Ammonia @ 3.0

I did a 25% change and changed the carbon filter either last night or the night before.


Test strips are not accurate. Liquid tests are more accurate.
You should be doing small partial water changes weekly. I would ditch the Easy Balance. Regular partial water changes will keep your parameters stable. On a tank that has been set up as long as yours, should have no ammonia and no nitrites. Frequent partials will control your nitrates. You should invest in some live plants, they will add oxygen and out compete algae for food by consuming the nitrates.
If the cloudiness is green its algae spores. You can try covering the fish tank with a blanket for 4 days. No light and dont feed the fish. The darkness will kill the algae spores. Or you can do it the chemical way and add in a tiny bit of Tetra Pond Water Clarifyer. It will clump the algae together and clear the tank in 2 days. Now its not a permanent fix, whatever is causing the bloom will make the algae spores come back. It could be too much light, sunlight hitting the tank, excess phosphates in your water source, or not enough tank maintenance.
If the cloudiness is white, then it is just a bacterial bloom. Something killed off a bunch of nitrifying bacteria and they are reestablishing themselves. Adding something like Biozyme will help or you could just wait it out.
If you are going to add an algae eater i would wait until your parameters are perfect because they can be sensitive. Especially plecos. Also since you have only a 14 gallon, you should get a small species. Algae eaters may eat some types of algae but they need supplementation of algae wafers, cucumber, zucchini, aquatic plants, and driftwood. They will not survive long on what grows in your tank. Common plecos can get 24 inches, gibbicep aka sailfin plecos can get 18 inches. For a 14 gallon you could get away with a bushynose pleco or clown pleco. They only grow 3-5 inches. I have a bushynose in one of my tanks, hes my fave. I have a 9 inch common pleco in another one of my tanks, he is cool but he defecates ALOT.

Here are some decent articles.
http://www.bestfish.com/breakin.html
http://www.bestfish.com/wtrchang.html
http://www.bestfish.com/oldtank.html