divakeeks

Ok, this may be too soon to be thinking about this but oh well.

Since the vase Lilex is in is not filtered, I would like to move him to the 5 gallon that is.

I am not sure how to go about this. Do I need to fully clean the tank to get rid of any virus or sickness? What do I do with the otos?


Just answer when you get a chance .... no biggie.

Thanks.
Kelly

SunnShadow

I would definitely clean the tank fully, just to be safe. Could you use a bucket as a temporary home for the otos as Rose has done? Or go out and get a small tank with an under-gravel filter for temporary use? Of course, then you go back to needing to cycle the tank......
Maybe, if the otos don't show any symptoms after a few days or weeks, you could acclimate Lilex into the tank as it is, with maybe a partial water change. Sorry, I really don't know for sure, but would love to help if I could.
(by the way..... I don't think it is too soon. When Dante passed, I couldn't stand to see his tank standing there without the presence of a betta. Just be careful that the move doesn't stress out Lilex.)

S.

chickadee

When you clean a Hex 5 you do not have to tear it all the way down. The Otos are already in the water with the medication that was in there for Raspy and they are in quarantine so to speak. I would leave them in there with a good water change and a new filter cartridge for the rest of their quarantine period. I know you would like to see a Betta in the 5 gallon but the Otos have really not been in quarantine and should be for two weeks so since they need to be just leave them where they are to finish that out and if there are any problems in that tank the filter and the water changes are going to take care of it. You can vacuum the gravel to get more of the toxins out of the tank but I truly do not think he was sick so much as just plugged up and could not get unplugged. with him not being able to eat it sounds like it. It was a problem with him before and they do get the problem over again very easily.

If you really want to take the tank down, all you have to do is get new gravel and remove all the water. The otos can stay in a small container that is only a quart or so big for an afternoon (that is all it will take) Dump everything out of the tank and make a very weak solution of bleach water. (1/4 cup of bleach in 1 gallon of warm water) and wash the inside of the tank and wipe down the outside of the decorations and stuff that are NOT made of wood or stone. (stone, wood, or gravel cannot have bleach used on them) then rinse, rinse, rinse in the shower and the last rinse use dechlored water with double the amount of treatment to get rid of the bleach. Then put the tank back together and put water back in with double the amount of dechlor in the water to make sure all the chlorine is gone. put in a new filter cartridge and put the bio-wheel back in. Do not wash the bio-wheel or the upper part of the filter area where the cartridge is. Rinse the new gravel and put it in the tank and put in the cleaned and rinsed decorations and such. Let the tank run for a couple of hours and then add your fish. While the tank is running those two hours run the airstone as hard as it will go the stir any left over possible chlorine out. Then put the Otos back. If you are a little squeamish about it you can put a couple extra teaspoons of chlorine remover in the tank but I have done this after I lost Azul and after Noel and never had a problem with my Otos. The secret is to rinse well and to use the dechlor and not too strong a bleach water.

Rose


Lilex can go in after this if you really want him to but I would really give some thought to doing the quarantine on the Otos.

divakeeks

Ok. I'll give all that some thought. Thank you both, Sara and Rose, for your suggestions!

I'm sure Lilex can wait a couple weeks for that tank. He certainly doesn't appear unhappy.


Couple questions though. Why is it that Otos need to be quarantined? Is this true for all new fish or Otos in particular?


Thanks.
Kelly

poefox

Otos and the other small catfish species are kind of touchy about water, and also you want to be wary of adding new fish before observing them for a bit to make sure they aren't sick with something.

chickadee

This should be a rule for all new fish as they can always bring in some disease process from the tanks they came from at the LFS or if they have not been there for long even from the breeder they came from. You do not know what kind of situation they came from so they need to be kept away from the others for at least two weeks.

Rose