Isolating Sick Fish.

Okay, I just came up with this idea, and am wondering what you guys think of it. Why couldn't we use a fish bagger to quarantine our fish? We could put tank water in the container and hook it over the inside of the tank. That way, we wouldn't need a separate Q tank and the water would be kept at the right temperature. We could use a turkey baster to suck up the bad waste at the bottom and remove 25-50% of the water daily. The regular size holds 32 ounces of water and the large holds 74 ounces of water.

Here is a link:

CherryRose

 

Interesting idea, but would a container like that allow for proper water circulation and aeration? It reminds me of one of those breeder boxes in a way and looks like it would be stressful to the fish. ???

 

Without water circulation the ammonia levels would build up pretty fast in there. A large breeder box would be better because it has holes and allows circulation but that would only work if the fish was so sick it didn't want to swim around at all and if you are medicating the whole tank like if you have a fish with swim bladder disease and he is sinking and needs to be kept close to the surface a breeder box or net would work. A separate hospital tank is best for anything else.

 

I agree with the fact that the fish bagger would need a filter and moving water. There are, in fact, small filters that would fit into the fish bagger. You would have to put them in horizontally since other wise they would be too tall. These filters would not only keep the water clean, they would keep the water moving so it would not become stagnant.

By using the bagger inside a warm fish tank the problem of heating the water to an appropriate temperature, without cooking the fish, would be resolved. You could even have some live plants, like hornwort, in it for the betta to hide in and the plants would also help keep the ammonia and nitrites down. The live plants would have to be watched closely for decay, and any decay found would have to be removed immediately.

A large breeder box, or net, would not work because the entire tank would have to be medicated since the water moves freely throughout the breeder and the rest of the tank. Certainly, we would not want our betas or other fish to become stressed, but if we have not been able to successfully treat them in a larger tank, I feel that it would be worth a try to see if they could be successfully treated in the bagger.

The large bagger would hold 74 ounces of water, which is 10 ounces more than ½ gallon. Unless there are more concerns, I am planning on trying the bagger for one of my bettas that is afflicted by fin rot.

I have been unsuccessfully treating Boston in a 5 gallon Q tank for quite some time. I have tried a full course of a variety of medications and he appears to be getting worse instead of better. There have been signs of improvement, and then the fin rot attacks again. Barney is also still struggling with fin rot, although his gill is looking normal again.

CherryRose

 

One of the reasons that a hospital tank is suggested in the first place is to have a smaller area to use to medicate. It saves on the amount of medication needed to treat the fish and the expense of doing so.

I do not see a problem doing this with the fish bagger if you are doing a water change often but it is going to interfere with any medication you are using if you choose to use one. I am wondering if you do daily water changes and keep the water super clean and the tanklet clean and aerated with an airstone and warm from the rest of the tank so he is in the best possible environment if he would not do better than if he were in medication and do okay with just pure clean water with a good gentle conditioner like StressCoat or NovAqua+ that do not contain much in the way of chemicals. Another thing that may stimulate new regrowth is vitamins like VitaChem.

Let me know if I can help at all and please feel free to contact me at any time. I am sorry that I have not been getting every post answered right away. I am still working at getting back to normal and I have to get with it here.

Rose
:

 

One of the reasons that a hospital tank is suggested in the first place is to have a smaller area to use to medicate. It saves on the amount of medication needed to treat the fish and the expense of doing so.

Oh Rose, I wish I would have read that yesterday and saved myself a little (well big) meltdown....that makes perfect sense...& never crossed my mind. So my guilt at temporary quarters was all for nothing! Oh well, live and learn! Val

 

I forgot to say thank you to Phloxface and FLBetta couple for their earlier answers to my question. I want to thank you very much. Your advice was well taken and I did change my plans somewhat after reading your advice.

I also thank-you, Rose. I will try your suggestion and not use medication for a while. The warm, super-clean water may be the best treatment for them and me. I think we all need a break from meds. What about using my small filter? I can go ahead and filter the water with it can’t I? It doesn’t cause any more water movement than the air stone and doesn’t take up much space.

I am sending an order to Drsfosterandsmith for VitaChem and NovAqua+ tomorrow. I also have a number of other things I am ordering and wanted to get my order finalized before I send it in. I am currently using AquaSafe to condition my water. Is it a good product? The principal ingredients are sodium hydroxymethane sulfinate, chelating compounds, polyvinyl pyrollidones, seaweed biopolymers, and organic hydrocolloids.

CherryRose ;D

 

Believe it or not I woke up this morning and the first thought was of a small filter that Butterfly told me about and I used for a tiny tank I had and it is excellent as it does not go into the tank, does a fantastic job and does not cut into their swimming room which in a tank that small is important. It has a carbon filter and a sponge filter and you can use both or only the sponge if you do decide to medicate later. The sponge can be rinsed and reused as it is the biological filter. I loved mine but when I stopped using my small tank had to move to a larger filter. It is the Azoo Palm Filter and here is the link to it at Drs. Foster and Smith.

I really would try to get a different conditioner for him during this, I am not familiar with that one and the additives and we want to keep things as simple and soothing as possible. The StressCoat contains Aloe, and the NovAqua+ contains echinacea and vitamins to help in regeneration too. You may find that you like them. I have switched to NovAqua+ entirely. (with the VitaChem)

I am praying for you both and sending good thoughts and wishes.

Rose

 

I have one thing to add. About 2 weeks ago RJ got PO'd at Barney(oto cat). Think he may have gotten in his personal space and RJ didn't like that and he bit his tail. I haven't had any problems with them since, but anyway his tail was about 75% bitten off. When I saw that I put Barney in the hosp. tank immediately. I never used any kind of medication because with oto cat's I wasn't sure what they are sensitive too and what they are fine with as I've never medicated them before. I did post about it on here, but nobody really answered me. So, I just decided to treat it with vitachem everyday. I started it every other day just to make sure he was OK with it and when I saw he was I started doing it everyday. I put half the dosage amount in as the regular amount. His tail was fully grown back in 2 weeks. He never got finrot.

I am also doing that with RJ's tail right now because it got a bit frayed because I slacked a bit on the water change. * Hit's head * : He too does not have finrot and the frayed parts are starting to heal already. I've been putting the vitachem in everyday. He's still in the 5 gallon with Fred and he's doing fine. I also started using Novaqua+ as my conditioner because I've learned through everyone on here that it is better for them, so I'm sure that is also helping. So, there is my 2 cents on the subject. Natalie

 

I have one thing to add. About 2 weeks ago RJ got PO'd at Barney(oto cat). Think he may have gotten in his personal space and RJ didn't like that and he bit his tail. I haven't had any problems with them since, but anyway his tail was about 75% bitten off. When I saw that I put Barney in the hosp. tank immediately. I never used any kind of medication because with oto cat's I wasn't sure what they are sensitive too and what they are fine with as I've never medicated them before. I did post about it on here, but nobody really answered me. So, I just decided to treat it with vitachem everyday. I started it every other day just to make sure he was OK with it and when I saw he was I started doing it everyday. I put half the dosage amount in as the regular amount. His tail was fully grown back in 2 weeks. He never got finrot.

I am also doing that with RJ's tail right now because it got a bit frayed because I slacked a bit on the water change. * Hit's head * : He too does not have finrot and the frayed parts are starting to heal already. I've been putting the vitachem in everyday. He's still in the 5 gallon with Fred and he's doing fine. I also started using Novaqua+ as my conditioner because I've learned through everyone on here that it is better for them, so I'm sure that is also helping. So, there is my 2 cents on the subject. Natalie

come on natalie.. that's worth at least 7 or 8 cents, don't you think?? Great news on your fish and I think Vitachem sounds like a good thing to have in everyone's fish cabinet.

 

I am now using it in the water every day also and NovAqua+ as my conditioner as well. My fish are just more lively and it is worth the money to keep them healthy.

Rose

 

Thanks Natalie and Rose. I just put in my order to Drs Foster and Smith. I am getting the palm filters, NovAqua+ and Vitachem, along with some other things I need. I really appreciate the fact that I can get so much good help and advice from my fellow betta lovers.

I agree with Rose, Natalie. Your comments are worth much more than 2 cents.

I am looking forward to being medicine free. In fact I did some tank cleaning today and my betta boys are now in clean, warm, and unmedicated water. Hopefully I will have good news of their complete recovery soon.

CherryRose ;D

 

Sorry I do agree but I cannot take the credit for saying it. She is definitely worth more than that though.

Rose

 

My shipment from Drs Foster and Smith came in yesterday. I now have Barney and BenjI in the large fish baggers. They are in their own side of the divided tanks that they share with Belle and BambI but will be much easier for me to observe. All my tanks also have been treated with NovAqua and Stress Coat. Vita Chem has been given to all my fish as I also put some in my community tank.

I didn't put any of these products in with my Frog, Alfie. I would think I could though. What do you think?

I would love to make replies to all the posts on here, but simply don't have the time right now. I am trying to keep up with the reading, but am a little behind on that as well.

I would like to welcome any Newbies and their bettas, as well as to say hI to all the older members. I know you are all taking care of your fishie families to the best of your abilities. Good luck to all.

CherryRose ;D

 

Vita Chem will be good for any aquatic life including frogs, snails, or any other things that live in freshwater. There is also a saltwater version for the life that lives in saltwater tanks.

Rose