dechlorinator
- #1
I could use some suggestions, but before I dive into this know a few things.
First, I did not knowingly buy 2 males and 1 female gudgeon - my LFS insisted I was buying three females and in their defense all three fish had and still have the black band on their analfins. Even the male that is presently sitting on eggs is giving our rules the finger! When I brought them home they all looked enough alike in head shape to further defend the LFS --- it's obvious now by head alone, that 2 are male.
Second, I know that my lone female is stressed; with the presence of fin damage and her general behavior, I know I need to get her moved (or one of the males). She does not show signs of lethargy, but does spend a bit of time hiding on the bottom under my crypt. lucens. She eats, and does not show any signs of illness - she makes an appearance at the glass when I'm there checking on things.
Third, perhaps it's a good thing that they only found one "adequate" spawning site and the bigger male has laid claim to it. This doesn't stop the other male from chasing the female and I assume he nips sometimes (or she's damaged fins on something in the tank). Sadly, I cannot remove this "site" without really mucking up the tank -- seems my Malaysian driftwood had a wide enough split that they called it a cave and -- given that when I put the wood in the tank I buried a good portion into the substrate --- err. This also means I cannot pull eggs from the spawn - I'm rooting for the little ones.
Fourth, her fin damage is mostly to the pectoral fins -- a bit ragged on the edges and a little "whitish-ness" to them. I've been treating with melafix and pimafix for the last (almost 14 days). The other day I noticed she was missing a piece of her leading dorsal fin --- clearly nipped. So, it is becoming super critical that I find a retreat --- I really don't want to loose any of the gudgeons.
Problem-
While I have a couple fully cycled aquariums neither are larger than 6 gallons and one is home to a male Betta Splendens. This leaves the Edge, which is home to 2 Nerite Snails, 2 large cherry shrimp (frankly I'm not convinced either of these are Neocaridina (but they are red)), and 6 wild green neon tetras.
Options -
1. Move 1 male or the female into another tank (see problem above) . . . . I worry that putting her in the 6 gallon means a serious over-stock situation . . . [the wild green neons are smaller kin to neon tetras, about a half-inch fully grown].
2. Obtain another pair of females and add to the tank, so as to seriously reduce stress on the lone female and give her time to heal.
3. I have a 5.5 gallon tank that I could have setup for her in a few days (first I need to sterilize it as I had been using it for a plant quarantine and found Hydrazoans in it) --- I was glad I quarantined those plants! I am worried that a new *uncycled* tank would be bad for her (or one of the males)
Finally-
I would like serious compassionate suggestions. I am totally smitten by this species and I do not want to bring any more harm to the fish than has already happened. It's really too bad that my LFS couldn't tell the difference -- I'm not blaming them. Male gudgeons are supposed to have a red band on their analfin . . . mine do not. The attached shows all three --- the closest and blurred fish in the female.
First, I did not knowingly buy 2 males and 1 female gudgeon - my LFS insisted I was buying three females and in their defense all three fish had and still have the black band on their analfins. Even the male that is presently sitting on eggs is giving our rules the finger! When I brought them home they all looked enough alike in head shape to further defend the LFS --- it's obvious now by head alone, that 2 are male.
Second, I know that my lone female is stressed; with the presence of fin damage and her general behavior, I know I need to get her moved (or one of the males). She does not show signs of lethargy, but does spend a bit of time hiding on the bottom under my crypt. lucens. She eats, and does not show any signs of illness - she makes an appearance at the glass when I'm there checking on things.
Third, perhaps it's a good thing that they only found one "adequate" spawning site and the bigger male has laid claim to it. This doesn't stop the other male from chasing the female and I assume he nips sometimes (or she's damaged fins on something in the tank). Sadly, I cannot remove this "site" without really mucking up the tank -- seems my Malaysian driftwood had a wide enough split that they called it a cave and -- given that when I put the wood in the tank I buried a good portion into the substrate --- err. This also means I cannot pull eggs from the spawn - I'm rooting for the little ones.
Fourth, her fin damage is mostly to the pectoral fins -- a bit ragged on the edges and a little "whitish-ness" to them. I've been treating with melafix and pimafix for the last (almost 14 days). The other day I noticed she was missing a piece of her leading dorsal fin --- clearly nipped. So, it is becoming super critical that I find a retreat --- I really don't want to loose any of the gudgeons.
Problem-
While I have a couple fully cycled aquariums neither are larger than 6 gallons and one is home to a male Betta Splendens. This leaves the Edge, which is home to 2 Nerite Snails, 2 large cherry shrimp (frankly I'm not convinced either of these are Neocaridina (but they are red)), and 6 wild green neon tetras.
Options -
1. Move 1 male or the female into another tank (see problem above) . . . . I worry that putting her in the 6 gallon means a serious over-stock situation . . . [the wild green neons are smaller kin to neon tetras, about a half-inch fully grown].
2. Obtain another pair of females and add to the tank, so as to seriously reduce stress on the lone female and give her time to heal.
3. I have a 5.5 gallon tank that I could have setup for her in a few days (first I need to sterilize it as I had been using it for a plant quarantine and found Hydrazoans in it) --- I was glad I quarantined those plants! I am worried that a new *uncycled* tank would be bad for her (or one of the males)
Finally-
I would like serious compassionate suggestions. I am totally smitten by this species and I do not want to bring any more harm to the fish than has already happened. It's really too bad that my LFS couldn't tell the difference -- I'm not blaming them. Male gudgeons are supposed to have a red band on their analfin . . . mine do not. The attached shows all three --- the closest and blurred fish in the female.