capekate

Well, today I put up the divider in the 55g and put Casper on that side and out of the breeder net. I did a partial water change as well. He seems very skittish and jumps and darts at the littliest thing. Poor guy... I put a smaller discus his size in with him so that he wont be alone on that side of the tank. I would use some salt but need to find out if iodinized salt is ok for them, or do I need the salt that does not have iodine in it.
Any suggestions?
thanks, kate

mlinden84

Ok so it just about took me an hour to find this thread... I'm gonna be that person and say that I don't like the new changes (bah humbug... lol i don't do well with change... plus my computer is slow so this takes SOOO much longer to load!)
ANYWAYS.... I hear ya on the hospital tank! Mine is currently housing my african cichlid fry. Good think the only ones who really get sick are my bettas (knock on wood) but since they are alone I can treat them in their own tanks.
I'm so glad Casper is still hanging in there. Can't say I blame him for the way he's acting.... It probably scared the little guy! I think the divided tank is a great idea. Best of luck with him!

voiceless_kat

Kate, I am so happy to hear that Casper is still hanging in. Perhaps this will be the change he needs to heal. Watch for PM.

Next thing, I am curious about the stress coat info you got. Are you still using it?? We will chat, since I use stuff with aloe in all the time.

Regarding the salt, I am pretty sure you have to use aquarium salt, and not iodized salt.

Keep us posted.

Mlinden.............I am with you, I don't like the new changes either.

Good thoughts coming Casper's ( & your) way!!!

Val

capekate

I got up this am to find Casper swimming around today, so far, so good. He still seems to be having a problem eating.He goes up to the brine shrimp but still cannot seem to take it in his mouth. The discoloring under his chin has gone away. He must be feeling a little better since I observed him trying to chase the other little guy away from some food in the gravel. Still keeping my fingers crossed that he will come out of this fine.

Val, thanks for the advice, I will find some aquarium salt when I go to Petsmart tomorrow.
:-)

nicole

Hi Kate,
I've done some checking around for you and non iodised salt is preferable..basically any salt thats not iodised..rock salt ect...hope this helps.

capekate

Hi Nicole
Thanks so much for checking that out for me. I ended up buying Plain Salt ( non iodine) But the ingredients read: salt and sodium silicoaluminate. so I googled it and its an anti-caking additive. So I cant use that. So will get some aquarium salt tomorrow. Im hoping that the cardinal tetras will be able to tolerate the salt too. I hope so..
tonight Casper seems to be doing pretty good, swimming around all day with no laying down on his side. :-) Im still keeping him on the other side of the divider tho, since where he is has no running water from the filter, and I think he can use the calmer water right now til he regains his strength.
thanks again.. ~ kate

MrWaxhead

Sorry to hear about your fish, I hope all works out. I know my cardinals do not like salt at all, I had to treat a 29g for ICH about a year back and i had to use half strength doses as it is not good for any amazon river basin fish. Which is also unfortunately where casper would be from too.
I would be careful on the strength of the dose, I did some browsing and found this.

1. Although NaCl is not composed of any truly "hard" ions (laundering ions of Mg or Ca, which produce the hard water stains on your tank and are the only ions that count in true carbonate hardness), it does raise the total dissolved solids in the water... these add up to raise general hardness, or GH. This is not well tolerated by a number of fish, especially true softwater fish from places like the Amazon river basin, where there are very few electrolytes of any kind in the water. These fish include (but are not limited to) neon tetras, cardinal tetras, rummy nose tetras, hatchetfish, elephantnoses, and discus... in addition, most live plants will not tolerate it either. DO NOT USE SALT WITH ANY OF THESE FISH, AS SOME HAVE RATHER STRINGENT pH/KH/GH REQUIREMENTS, AND COULD DIE AS A RESULT OF THIS ADDITION. There are other Amazonian fish such as angelfish which will not particularly prefer salt, but may possibly tolerate it because they are hardier. Salt can also have an unpredictable effect on other fish, since there are no bodies of water in Nature which are naturally saline (high in NaCl) but very low in "true" hardness ion concentration (Mg, Ca, etc)... Rift African species, for example, need more than just ordinary "aquarium salt" (NaCl alone).

I will keep digging as well and see if I can see anything that may be of help as well. Positive thoughts from this end, hope all goes well for the little guy.

mlinden84

I agree with you going for the aquarium salt. Don't want to take any chances... plus it's probably one of the cheaper things you'll have to get for your fish!
How's the little guy doing?
I went to a new fish store today that I didn't even know existed. They had the most beautiful discus fish.... I thought of you and your fish. I've never seen that many in person before... my usual fish store has only the same 2 wild caught discus since i started going there in feb. Kinda made me want to get another tank and buy some! Now I know why you were so drawn to them!

capekate

Thanks so much for doing that research for me. I have been hesitant on using the salt in the tank with the cardinal tetras. Another site that is solely for Discus have recommended the salt at 1tsp per 10gal water. You are right that they are not salt water fish but it seems that the salt has been a method of treating sick fish. So far, Casper is doing much better and I will hold off using the salt, as the other Discus in the tank with him are doing fine.
~ kate

capekate

Hi Mlinden,
Casper is doing much better, not out of the woods yet.. but it looks like he will make it.He just has to start eating again.
I would love to walk into a fish store and see a bunch of Discus in the tank! The place where I get mine, they order them for me, so I really do not get to see them before they come in, tho I can request a certain type or color. This particular store usually has at least two or three at all times. Yes, they are fantastic fish to have and so graceful in the water and I really love these fish. :-)
Im getting ready to do some serious research on the dwarf cichlids for my 29g tank soon. I will order what I kinds I want when Im done with the research. I cant wait!
~ kate

armadillo

That is so good to hear. I am really glad he's eating now!

capekate

Casper Update:
I am so happy to report that Casper is doing fine once again! yeaaa...
I took down the divider yesterday during the water change and he is swimming around like his old self again. I can safely say that he is now out of the woods and doing great! Crisis is over..
I never ended up using any salt and just did more water changes than usual.
I will continue to do a 25% water change every other day.
thanks for all your support and well wishes for Caspers recovery!
~ kate

mlinden84

What a scary experience! I'm so glad he's ok!

capekate

Thanks Michelle
I appreciate all the advice you gave me during Caspers crisis...
Its nice to be able to count on others here to lend a helping hand when our fish are in need!
~ kate

armadillo

Soooo glad he's out of the woods.

P.S. Kate, who's that fabulous looking betta in your signature?

capekate

awwww.. thank you! thats my female betta, Precious!

armadillo

Wow. She is gorgeous. You do well to have her in your signature. She's so pretty you'd think she's a male.

capekate

thanks!
I do love her... I was told she is a double ray crowntail . And it was an added surprise since when I brought her home she was so small, it wasnt til recently that her crowntail characteristics came out. I agree she almost looks like a male with her long fins. A lucky find from Petsmart!
~ kate

armadillo

Wow, that's cool. I just got a double crowntail female tonight. I really hope that she comes up like yours!

capekate

NICE!! ... can't wait to see photos! what does she look like?
~ kate

armadillo

Very pale. Pink fins (double crowned). Blue eyes. Tiny body. I saw another one I totally fell in love with, but her fins were all tattered, and I just could not take the risk of a 2nd betta with finrot.

capekate

awwww pink fins... and blue eyes! wow.. she must be a real sweetie!
cant wait for photos... are you waiting for her to acclimate to her new surroundings before you take photos?
cant wait to see her!

armadillo

Yeah. I like to give them some calm for a few days after they get in. Plus it takes 50 shots over time to find that really cute one, LOL.

armadillo

Actually, she looks a lot like that: Female Betta