Ok, did like a 15-20% water change. Hard to gauge exactly how much I removed, but I figure it's enough for now... the temperature dipped a little, as the new water was colder, but I think it'll be back up soon...
I am still worried the tank may have ICH, but water changes are probably good for that anyway... I can't tell if the spots I see on her are true ich or just particles from the tank that stick... the ich on the tetras is much bigger and more visible...
Also, should I add stress coat? I use spring water for my fish tanks, not tap, so there's no chlorine/chloramine normally, but I do add conditioner with the changes.
Last edited by Shawnie; October 22nd, 2009 at 08:43 PM.
Reason: Please use the edit button for back to back posts TY
Ok, did like a 15-20% water change. Hard to gauge exactly how much I removed, but I figure it's enough for now... the temperature dipped a little, as the new water was colder, but I think it'll be back up soon...
I am still worried the tank may have ich, but water changes are probably good for that anyway... I can't tell if the spots I see on her are true ich or just particles from the tank that stick... the ich on the tetras is much bigger and more visible...
Also, should I add stress coat? I use spring water for my fish tanks, not tap, so there's no chlorine/chloramine normally, but I do add conditioner with the changes.
you need to use some warm water to keep the temps the same hooxeii..at 84 for 2 weeks for the ich as others have mentioned...you cant let it drop below.....temp changes will stress them even more and they do not need that....yes you use stress coat for their coat irritation not just for water conditioner... you can use your tap water with prime or stress coat+ no need for spring water....
I apologize if I seem like a total idiot here, just worried...
There's no reason to apologize even if you are an idiot. I Hope you know that was a joke.
We don't think you're an idiot at all.
We know you want what's best for your fish, as do we. It's best to ask questions and do research than follow any advice blindly.
Agreed. I meant that I'm just not thinking at my normal levels... stress affects us too, obviously. I am uploading a video showing her itching behavior to see if you guys think it looks like ich-y-ness...
She starts "itching" around 0:33. You can hear my roomate in the background, she's playing a computer game :/
The corydora and the oto are both fine, ironic since it was the cory who was flashing first :/ He hasn't since last night, and the oto never did.
that doesnt look ike ich to me she just swam in between the plant
EDIT: after i kept watching she does seem to rub against parts of the plants. Though when i had ich the fish only rubbed against the gravel and rocks its not so much as brushing, but actually scratching...
Last edited by Tony G.; October 22nd, 2009 at 09:19 PM.
Really? She's had that all the time I've had her, even when the water's perfect, etc. I thought it was a marking of some kind... it really doesn't go away...
I looked at my previous videos of her, and she has the stripe then too... so unless she's been stressed since the day I got her... I dunno...
She's ALWAYS at the front pane of glass these days... she does go explore parts of the tank, but she tends to stay near the front, especially if I'm in the room. She can probably see me from the chair I'm sitting in now... is this affecting her?
Last edited by hooxeii; October 22nd, 2009 at 11:58 PM.
"unless its a wild betta variety, horizontal stripes are a stressed out girl...vertical stripes is a girl looking for a boyfriend" Shawnie
This statement was posted in your other thread titled "Stripes"
Best wishes!
Ken
that current needs to be slowed down for her also...maybe find some filter floss ?
is this a wild betta type? what are her colors suppose to be?
shes showing clamped fins also but cant tell if that is from too much current and her struggling to swim of if shes just not feeling good from everything going on
Sorry you're having trouble. <hugs>
I don't have much to add but your girl looks almost exactly like my girl mama coloring and all. When I first got mama everything seemed to trigger her stress lines. However since she got her own tank I haven't seen them in a long time. Just something to think about.
Hope you figure out what's going on.
Thanks for the advice... the current is too strong? Hmmm... I will definitely adjust that!
About to go get her water tested. If there is nothing wrong, I may consider moving the oto and cory cat to see if it helps.
Edit: I lowered the current, will upload video later to show. She is still swimming around very actively, but stays mainly at the front pane of glass (she wasn't by it when I wasn't in the room). Her appetite has not decreased, and I still think I see ich spots on her :/
Should I keep up with the water changes daily, shawnie? I am worried that the salt may still be aggravating her, but with her as stressed as she is, I don't want to add to things...
The tank temp is now around 84. The other two fish and the shrimp are neither showing spots nor acting abnormally.
Last edited by hooxeii; October 23rd, 2009 at 09:14 AM.
Ok, update, got the water tested. Granted, the LFS uses the strip tests and not the liquid-indicator ones, so things may be a bit off.
The pH is between 7.6-8.0, probably around 7.8. alkalinity is at 180, hardness at 120. 0 nitrites or nitrates, there IS a little ammonia, less than 0.25 PPM. That, to me, is a big red flag because ammonia is more toxic at high ph. However... none of the other fish are acting sick or irritated, so...
Assuming the ammonia is the issue, along with perhaps excess salt, would water changes be prudent? Or would that make the ammonia problem worse? Should I be adding more stress coat?
Red: There are small, semi-transparent white spots near her face and on some of her fins.
Ok, update, got the water tested. Granted, the lfs uses the strip tests and not the liquid-indicator ones, so things may be a bit off.
The ph is between 7.6-8.0, probably around 7.8. Alkalinity is at 180, hardness at 120. 0 nitrites or nitrates, there IS a little ammonia, less than 0.25 ppm. That, to me, is a big red flag because ammonia is more toxic at high ph. However... none of the other fish are acting sick or irritated, so...
Assuming the ammonia is the issue, along with perhaps excess salt, would water changes be prudent? Or would that make the ammonia problem worse? Should I be adding more stress coat?
Red: There are small, semi-transparent white spots near her face and on some of her fins.
its so hard to know if there really is ammonia as the strips just arent reliable....id think about getting your own kit but either way, lets assume there is ....and theres also no nitrates so thats not good either ...but again, test strips..so lets go with the 84f for 2 weeks, daily partial water changes with prime or amquel+ , and 2 gravel vacs a week for the 2 weeks of ich treatment...the daily changes will help with the ammonia (assuming there is some) and getting rid of the salt...you got to keep the water at the same 84 temps tho coming from the tap..use a thermometor if you have too slowing down the current im sure will help too....she did look like it was blowing her around...she will hang at the front of the tank any time she sees humans as they are her food source and shes no fool....I dont think the other fish are bothering her as you havent mentioned that shes paid any attention to them....but as long as its only those 2 bottom feeders, they should be ok...
Stress Coat will work fine. The reason Shawnie mentioned Prime was because it'll detox ammonia for 24hrs which typically is when your need it if you're doing daily water changes.
I Hope you know that was a joke.
she just swam in between the plant
