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From: Mish
Subject: Re: Help please :)
Thanks for your help. I have been to about 6 different fish stores in the past month here in Australia, and I have let the shops know how many and which fish we have and they havent said anything. The tank looks quite big to me and it is very spacy with lots of hiding spots. I might just take some fish back to the stores, because I cant afford to buy a bigger tank, this cost me $150 aussie all together. thanks.

From: cheryl
Subject: Re: Help please :)
Hi, I agree, you are very over stocked....Pet stores, at least many of them dont really care, all they want is to make a sale...Cheryl

From: fire ice
Subject: Re: Help please :)
yeah, most pet shops don't care, although there is the rare ma-and-pa-owned-type shop that really love the animals there. Basically, it's usually ignorance. And I understand, about the expensive tanks. I don't know if they've got them in Astralia, but PETsMART is a great place to get cheap tanks, although it's mainly the 10-gallon ones that are cheap. it seems to go up after that.If you reallly want to keep them all, you could get a big Rubbermade-type storage bin and put all the fish in there, including the heater. not great for observing them when the bubbler's on, but with it off, you'll find you can see quite well. I have this setup with some goldfish, and it's not VERY pretty, but it looks ok, especially if you decorate the outside with bark and leaves glued on.

From: EmBibble
Subject: Re: Help please :)
http://www.thekrib.com/TankHardware/size-chart.html Fish with long tails get picked on quite a bit, The betta is one fish that I would say is best left by itself. I read betta can be shy around other fish.

From: EmBibble
Subject: What Can You Do With A 1/2 Gallon Fish Bowl?
I got some neat ideas from the http://www.petfish.net/1gbowl.htm page but do they really work? Can I keep a small family of guppies in a half gallon - what about platies?

From: Angela
Subject: Re: What Can You Do With A 1/2 Gallon Fish Bowl?
I have successfully kept two male bettas (seperate) each in their own 1/2 gallon fish bowl for about a year and a half. Twice a week I do a complete water change, with declorinated water to which I add some aquarium salt (1 teaspoon to 1 gallon of water). I scrub their bowls and decorations with really hot water and sometimes some aquarium salt. Dry it all and put it back together. The only decoration I have in their bowls is a small ruins that looks like brightly colored columns - found at Petsmart. I have found it hard to find small bowl decorations - but when I find a new one, it's fun to change out their decorations. They seem to like it too. Anyway, the boys are happy and healthy. I feed the Hiraki (spelling?) Betta Bio Gold pellets once a day. Four pellets for each fish. For variety, I sometimes give them blood worms. Each has their own personality, but they both love to swim through their ruins. Hope this helps. Good luck.

From: Karen
Subject: Re: What Can You Do With A 1/2 Gallon Fish Bowl?
Not much, 1/2 gallon is too small even for a betta. I like these little containers however. I put a small plant with a few small rocks and a pond snail. I put this in my kitchen window above the sink and really enjoy it.

From: AJB
Subject: Thought that I would let everyone know....
My guppy gave birth for the second time since I got her. No offense to the people that are having trouble.. Some of the fry are smart enough to actually hide this time. I counted about ten. Also, I netted out 31 baby snails. They came in on the plants, and multiply like crazy.. Any idea what to do with them and how to get rid of the ones still in the tank? AJB

From: Karen
Subject: Re: Thought that I would let everyone know....
If you have room a clown loach will gobble them up. Squishing them works too. Don't use the snail rid, any poisin that kills them can harm fish and plants.

From: TK
Subject: Re: Thought that I would let everyone know....
I USED to have a problem with little snail infestations until I got an Oranda Goldfish and they were pretty much gone the next day ~

From: Lisa
Subject: Re: Thought that I would let everyone know....
i had a prob like that once. i was told that you could squish them against the glass and the fish would eat the insides. it may sound strange, but it worked for me. i guess it's good nutrients for the fishies.

From: AJB
Subject: To Christina...
Did you read the message on 10/10/01 about the questions you had? I was wondering, because you didn't reply. It is not important, just wondering. AJB

From: Lisa
Subject: jd with missing scales...
i just noticed that my jd has a bunch of scales missing on both sides of his dorsal fin. [allot missing] do they grow back? do i need to treat him with something? can he get "infestions" there? please advise...

From: AJB
Subject: Re: jd with missing scales...
Put one tablespoon of aquarium salt in the water per five gallons and look and see if there are any spots or discoloration. Yes, he can get infections there. Is he being picked on by other fish? AJB

From: Lisa
Subject: Re: jd with missing scales...
i didn't try that..i will though. well, as for being picked on, absolutely not. he's the only survivor in my 30. he had a couple "snacks" a few years back and i haven't put anybody back with him. when he did have company, he just hid in his lil rock. but, when i turned out the light, he went "munch munch". so, that elimimates that. when he was with others, he did in fact have all of his scale. i just noticed this about a couple days ago. but, do they grow back like our hair does or are they gone forever?

From: Karen
Subject: Re: jd with missing scales...
Yes they grow back but you want to find out why he lost them. Has anything in the tank changed? Stress? Could he have gotten stuck or rubbed up against something?

From: Lisa
Subject: Re: jd with missing scales...
the only thing that i know for sure is that now and then, he likes to "spaz" out. he zooms from one side to another, kinda knocking himself silly. then he'll do the same thing again, but into the gravel. he's always done this, even when he was a baby. i still haven't figured out why he does it. this would be the only reason or way that the scales are missing. any ideas why the "spazing" takes place? he's the only one in the tank.

From: Karen
Subject: Re: jd with missing scales...
Can;t say why he is doing that. High ammonia can cause it but you have been around this board long enough that you would have checked that I am sure. Boredom? They are pretty intelligent for fish, but I don;t know what you could do for entertaiment. But it could be why he is missing scales. Is he losing more?

From: Lisa
Subject: Re: jd with missing scales...
i had the h2o checked, the levels, are in the norm. i think that he's bored. i donno. but his whole dorsal is "bald"...someone told me that he might have "aquadic male pattern baldness". snickered...is there such a thing? [it sounds like a stupid question, but i thought that i would ask]

From: Lois
Subject: Betta with raggedy tail and pelvic fin
Would like some input re my Betta whose fins are getting more ratty. He is in a 10 gallon tank (moved 2 weeks ago from a 2.5 gallon tank) with a cory, some floating frill plant, water sprite and java moss. He is quite active, has excellent appetite and color is bright. Conditioned tap water is about 77 degrees, maybe .25 ammonia, no nitrites, pH 7.2. I am a bit puzzled about the ammonia because I get the same reading from tap water. Got about 1/4+ tsp/gallon of aquarium salt. He moves throughout the aquarium except when snoozing in the frill plant. This tank has been set up for 2 weeks. I am holding off adding more fish until I am sure that things have settled down. I took him up to the local fish store finally, and was told he looks healthy, and he would act sick if he had fin rot, but what do I know?? I notice one of the other posts about some Bettas snacking on own fins. When I had him at the fish store (in a Betta Hex) the guy said it looked like he regurgitated and reswallowed a bit of fin--I did not see it. Any ideas? Please? Thanks very much!

From: katie
Subject: Re: Betta with raggedy tail and pelvic fin
I have a betta that i noticed had shredding toward the bottom of his fins, just woke up and noticed it, i ended up upping the salt amound and it cleared up in almost a day, i was amazed! I don't know if this is practical for you tank, but i think you said you you 1/2 teapoon for a larger tank -I use that much in a one gallon, and like i said i upped in by one and he cleared up overnight.

From: Lois
Subject: Re: Betta with raggedy tail and pelvic fin
Thanks for the idea. I am using about 1/4-1/2 tsp per gallon, which I put in the gallon jugs I have ready for water change. Tank is 10 gallons (with about 9 of water) so probably have about 1TBSP for whole thing. I am uncertain how much salt I can safely put in with catfish in the tank. I read someplace that they have a low tolerance for salt. What is your experience? or do you have catfish (cories)? They seem happy at the moment.

From: Lois
Subject: Re: Betta with raggedy tail and pelvic fin
Thanks for your responses. I do have a filter--over the side kind, set low, and an airstone, which is set to bubble as slow as it can and still function. This is mainly for the benefit of the little catfish and for fish I plan to add later. Motion of the water does not seem to bother him. I have tested for chlorine (was 0). I use Aqua Plus conditioner. His fins don't look a lot worse, but I am still concerned. Do spend some time just watching his and haven't seen him nipping own fins, but there's lots of time when there are not witnesses. What precipitated moving him to larger tank was that the 25 watt submersible heater in the 2.5 gallon tank malfunctioned and heat went up unexpectedly. He went through some temperature stress while I was setting up the larger tank--(high, then room temp) believe his fins were fine in the smaller tank and at first in the 10 gallon tank. As I am sure you can tell, I am really new to this! I got him on impulse in a Betta vase with the plant, end of August, came home and started researching and decided he would be happier in a bigger space so got the little tank and heater. Am enjoying the aquarium, but don't really know what is normal and what is not. Re the ammonia, what really puzzles me is why the tap water shows .25. Again, thanks for help--I have been enjoying reading the messages.

From: Mary
Subject: Re: Betta with raggedy tail and pelvic fin
What kind of decholinator are you using, since you have the same readings as your tab you either have chloramine or you need to replace your solution they do go bab sometimes they are bad when you buy them. Make sure you have a solution that works for chloramine. Your tank is cycling and It is probably at the ammonia stage you can add one teaspoon of aguarium/non iodised salt to help the fish get through the cycling, and do partial water changes once per week since you only have one fish, of course testing the water is the best way to know how much/often to change HTH

From: Carol
Subject: Re: Betta with raggedy tail and pelvic fin
Hi, my betta was eating its own tail, my post may have been one that you read. We think we figured out that it may have been the water change that freaked him out. He went around in circles, and was biting his own tail. He stopped after a day. How long have the fins been ratty? Are they getting worse? Are you able to watch him for a while, and see what he does? Maybe he is nibbling on them when you arent looking. It could be fin rot too, have the fins lost any color around where they are tearing? It could also be that your fish got stressed when it moved from the smaller tank to the larger one. Did they fray after you moved him? That could be a possibility, that maybe he was just stressed. Hope this helps. :)

From: AJB
Subject: Re: Betta with raggedy tail and pelvic fin
Could have fin rot. That is what I would guess, but you never know.. Do you have a filter? If you do, I would think the nitrite would have spiked by now and the ammonia be zero. The ammonia could have caused him to be under more stress than normal and get fin rot or possibly eat his fins. Let us know if anything changes, and you might consider getting a treatment for his fins.... AJB

From: Kathleen
Subject: Re: Betta with raggedy tail and pelvic fin
Treatment for fin rot: Water change then treat with Maracyn 2 for 5 days then a water change again. If you still see deterioration of fins do another 5 day treatment same as above. If 10 days of M2 doesn't stop the det. of fins treat with Kanacyn for 3 days following instructions closely. This should do it. It takes a long time for fins to grow back from fin rot. Dosage of meds should be divided according to tanks size. Betta should be kept in 77 degree water conditioned with Novaqua and Amquel for ammonia. If in a small bowl water should be changed 2 or 3 times a week. 1 gal tank once a week, 3 gal once a week, 4 gal every 10 days, 5 gal can be cycled or changed every 3 to 4 weeks depending on measurable ammonia. Betta should be fed twice a day. Hakari Bio gold, Hakari baby cichlid pellets, Omega One Flakes, freeze dried blood worms or fd baby brine shrimp once or twice a week since fd worms can cause constipation. Feed a frozen green pea thawed with the skin off and mashed up once a week also. Hope this helps.

From: Lois
Subject: Re: Betta with raggedy tail and pelvic fin
Thanks very much! Is it likely to be fin rot if he looks otherwise healthy?

From: Eeyore
Subject: My blind betta
I am doing everything the store said to do and I have owned 5 bettas before and never had this problem. My sister in-law has raised bettas before and said that because the water is getting cloudy right after I change it means he is sick too. I using bottled drinking water and I had the pet store test it to make sure it was fine and they said that it was. I know he is blind and sick. I may have to let nature take its course on this case. =O( Let me know if you find a site that tells you how to feed blind bettas.

From: Hannah
Subject: Re: Your blind betta
Blind fish should be able to eat by just using their sense of smell - fish could not accurately pick insects of the surface so quickly by relying on their eyes only. This is how they eat at night too. If he is not eating, I don't think it is because he's blind. As already mentioned, try lots of different live foods on him. Good luck.

From: Karen
Subject: Re: Your blind betta
Are you using only bottled water? Bottled water tends to be to pure, so if you are try mixing it with some tap water. Or another thing I have heard people do is add marine salt to the water. Blind is not a problem for fish.

From: AJB
Subject: Re: Your blind betta
There is a silver dollar for sale at the fish store I go to. It has one eye that is ok, and one that is blind. He is awesome, I call him disco fish, because his blind eye is this incredible shade of green. Like flourecent and bright. I would buy him, but he would eat my plants... AJB

From: cheryl
Subject: TK....Did your Guppy drop yet?
n/t

From: TK
Subject: Nope, I'll Be Sure To Let You Know If She Ever Does N/T
nt

From: Angela
Subject: Fantail goldfish
Won a fantail goldfish at a carnival today. Was given basic care instructions, but want to be sure I take care of this little guy or gal right. That's where you all come in. I will be keeping it in a bowl - I don't have an aquarium right now. I know to dechlorinate the water and let it sit for a while to reach room temp. Should I add any aquarium salt to the water? Any other suggestions would be helpful. Please keep in mind I don't have an aquarium and don't know when I will be able afford one. Thanks

From: katie
Subject: Re: Fantail goldfish
Eventually you will need to buy a ten gallon for this guy...goldfish will live in a bowl for awhile, but it will need lots of water changes, ammonia builds up along with uneaten food and waste...i would change it every two days. If you truly want to keep this fish soon you will need to get a five at the very least, and do very frequent water changes at about i would say 25% once a week...A ten would be better, and you could only keep the one....there are many informative articles on goldfish care on this site, another option, is to take the goldfish to the local pet store and see it you can exchange him for a betta, the do tolerate bowl and once you learn how to care for them the are the perfect and only fish that will thrive in a bowl...bettas need special food and the same goes for changing thier water, and they will need a plant to rest on, the rest is revlativly simple, if you are determined to keep the gold get a five as soon as possible and he should be the only one in there! Koko is the expert and will see you post and probably tell you everything but check out the articles so you can understand why he can't stay in the bowl:) good luck

From: AJB
Subject: Re: Fantail goldfish
Katie did a good job of saying what I was going to, so I will just say a couple of things. Goldfish are great, but they have a thing with producing a LOT of waste, so eventually a twenty or even a thirty gallon tank will be needed. I would do what Katie said and trade him for another type of fish. A guppy or a betta will do ok. Bowls are really not a good home for anyfish, but it can be modified to work. AJB

From: Karen
Subject: Re: Fantail goldfish
yes to all that has been said so far. Goldfish do require larger tanks. I am pretty good at running tanks on a budget so here is what I suggest. A 5 1/2 cost almost as much as a ten gallon so I'd get a ten gallon. They are around $10 here. A small pump and an air stone and tubing. You can treat a ten gallon much as you would a goldfish bowl (just do not try and move it full of water), frequent water changes. The pump and stuff helps circulate the water, but you could skip them for now. Then you can add to this as you can add filters and decorations as you can afford to or upgrade to a larger tank when you can. I would like to see him out of that bowl as soon as possible and this may be a way you can do it. You might find a aquarium gravel vacum handy for water changes in a tank.

From: Angela
Subject: Re: Fantail goldfish
I've done a lot of looking on the Internet . . . discovered my goldfish is a "comet goldfish" not a fantail like I originally thought. Are they ok to keep in a bowl? He's really tiny about 1" right now and very skinny.

From: Mary
Subject: Re: Fantail goldfish
Comet gf need lots more space than facy. They can grow to 2 feet. Minimum for them is 20 gallon with an upgrade to a 30/40 gallon. HTH

From: Angela
Subject: Female Bettas
Recently bought a female betta and thought I'd add another female betta to her bowl. The man at the pet store (a family run store) said the female bettas are safe to keep together. When I added female betta #2, they flaired at each other and chased each other around the bowl (a one gallon) sometimes hitting one another. Was afraid they were going to hurt each other so I separated them after about 30 minutes. Thought they'd settle down but didn't feel comfortable waiting any longer. Should I give them another chance at living together? Love these bettas, but would like to have a couple of fish in one container instead of fish all over the house (smile). Don't have an aquarium at this time and don't know if I can afford the set up cost. Have had 2 male bettas for 1 1/2 years. Each in a separate 1/2 gallon bowl. I do water changes on them twice a week, feed them every day and they are healthy as can be. Look forward to your advice on the female bettas. Thanks Angela

From: katie
Subject: Re: Female Bettas
I think that you may need to at least have a five or ten, and you could buy an inexpensive one for about thirty dollars, or so....I can't afford a big tank but i have a five, and if i am not mistaken i have heard you might have to have about three females in order for them to live in harmony but i am not sure and i don't know that three would be the best in a five....i definaltlye would not put them back together in the bowl...look up info on breeding and there should be info on how to keep the females before males are introduced, but don't go deciding to breed unless you know all the work and how to care for them properly, i read that you will need about a hundred seperate jars, and that one male betta needs three females and about ten gallons of water....someone else should post, just be paitent...

From: Lindsey
Subject: Re: Female Bettas
It coulkd be possible that you have bought a young male, when there young, they dont have the long elegant fins. I would keep them seperate for a while until his fins grow out if he/she IS a guy. keep me posted

From: Angela
Subject: Re: Female Bettas
Yes, I'm wondering if she is really a "he". Guy at pet store assured me it's a female, but I'm doing as you suggest. A couple of weeks ago they got in some round-tail male fighters (Bettas), but they have all been sold. Until then, I thought all the males had long tails. Something interesting I have tried is, I've placed one bowl with a female beside a bowl with a male. At first he flared and acted really crazy, she did too. Now, they just look at each other like "oh, it's you" and they don't fight through the glass anymore. Maybe I should try that with the females. She (he?) is really pretty. A pale yellow color with tiny black stripes - tail is stubby and rounded. Name it "Blondie". Other female is dark burgandy with blue streaks in her tail, upper fin is blue with black freckles - thus her name "Freckles". Still welcome all suggestions on keeping female bettas in one bowl or tank. Thanks

From: SIDNI
Subject: ANGELS
HELLO AGAIN. I'M TAKING ADVANTAGE OF YOUR COLLECTIVE KNOWLEDGE. I HAVE YOUNG ANGELS IN WITH GUPPIES AND A BETTA. SOMEONE POSTED THAT THEY WOULD GROW LARGE AND WOULD NEED A SEPARATE TANK. THEY'RE QUARTER SIZE NOW. APPROXIMATELY HOW LONG WILL IT TAKE THEM TO OUTGROW THE 20 GALLON TANK AND BECOME DANGEROUS TO THE OTHER FISH?

From: Eddie
Subject: Re: ANGELS
please don't write in caps. you did not say how many angels you have. as to common sense, a fish will be in danger if it can fit in another fish's mouth.

From: Wendi
Subject: Re: ANGELS
I think an angel needs 10-15 gallons EACH to be healthy and happy. They all seem to grow at different rates. I bought four angels at the same time and the same size. One of them is now 3 times the size of the others. More recently, I bought 2 at the same time and size. One is almost 3 times the size of the other. I'm not sure there is a way to predict how fast they will grow BUT they do need ROOM to grow. Good luck! PS: Please heed Eddie's advice about not typing in caps. It's hard on the eyes.

From: Karen
Subject: Re: ANGELS
I had a pair of angels in a 15 long. I was lucky they got along. I bought them dime size and they outgrew that tank in year. They were almost full size. Sadly I traded them in and since then have been unable to keep angels.

From: sidni
Subject: Re: ANGELS
thanks. i've already considered seeing if i could trade my angels back in. i really like the fancy guppies! don't know if the store would go along with that, though.

From: Eeyore
Subject: Help! This may sound dumb, but my betta is blind!
My betta is blind and he won't eat! I know he is blind because he won't move when I put my hand up to the glass. Oh help PLEASE!!!

From: Carol
Subject: Re: Help! This may sound dumb, but my betta is blind!
How long have you had him? We bought a Walmart-rescuee betta about 10 days ago now, and when we brought him home, he didnt flare much with a mirror, and looked like he couldnt see my finger when I put it up to the glass either. Then after a few days of adjusting to being in something larger then a cup, he perked up, and now he acts "normal." If you just got him, maybe he just needs to settle a bit, and get accustomed. Have you tried different foods? Both my bettas are picky eaters, and dont eat the same as the other. Had to try several foods before we found one that they liked. Maybe what you are trying to feed him doesn't appeal to him. Hope this helps. :)

From: katie
Subject: Re: Help! This may sound dumb, but my betta is blind!
We need to know how you are keeping this betta, are you conditioning the water, what are you feeding him, are you changing the water enough, bettas take some time to settle into thier environment, and good conditons to thrive, there are many informative articles to help you learn how to take care of betta, if he is really blind maybe you can put you finger in the water till he feels you wiggling it and then drop the bites and maybe he will since where they are, but i am just wondering if maybe he is unwell or depressed, also is there a plant in the water for him to rest on?

From: Michelle
Subject: Re: what color is he?
I read that some white and very light colored Bettas are born blind because of the gene pool and breeding to get them so light (or something) like that. Katie is right - he may be sick if he's not moving around at all. There is some info about feeding blind fish on the web - I'll try and get you the web address'.

From: SIDNI
Subject: BREEDING FISH & TANK MATES
HI. JUST STARTED MY AQUARIUM YESTERDAY AND I'M ALREADY HOOKED. PLAN TO START ANOTHER NEXT WEEK. MY QUESTIONS: WHAT ARE SOME COLORFUL FISH THAT ARE COMPATABLE WITH ANGELS. MINE ARE SMALL RIGHT NOW, SO ADDITIONS WOULD HAVE TO START OUT SMALL AND GROW WITH THEM. ALSO: ARE FISH LIKE DOGS IN THAT THE FEMALES CAN BE IMPREGNATED WITH MORE THAN ONE MALE IN SAME LITTER, OR ONCE PREGNANT, CANNOT BE IMPREGNATED BY A SECOND FISH? ONE MORE: I BOUGHT TWO SNAILS AND ONE IS ALIVE, BUT FLOATING ON THE TOP OF THE WATER WITH A LITTLE CLEAR " SLIME " COMING OUT. IS HE SICK / DIEING OR WHAT? THANKS.

From: AJB
Subject: Re: BREEDING FISH & TANK MATES
Will work with angelfish: Rams, 6 glass catfish, Corys, schooling fish over 2.5 inches. Yes I believe that your thing with impregnation is true, but I am not 100%, more like 95.1%. The floating snail is dead. Take it out right away or your water conditions will deteriorate. AJB

From: SIDNI
Subject: Re: BREEDING FISH & TANK MATES
HI. THANKS FOR YOUR HELP. I NOTICED SINCE I FIRST POSTED THAT THE SNAIL DOES STICK HIS ANTENNAE ( SPELLING ? ) AND A LONG ? TUBE ? OUT EVERY ONCE IN A WHILE. HE'S NOT DEAD YET, BUT MUST BE SICK. DO I NEED TO PROVIDE EXTRA FOOD FOR MY SNAILS?

From: AJB
Subject: Re: BREEDING FISH & TANK MATES
Yes, an algae wafer or home grown algae.

From: sidni
Subject: Re: BREEDING FISH & TANK MATES
i bought the wafers today. the directions say not to feed more than your " fish " can eat in three hours. how about for snails? thanks for your assistance.

From: Lindsey
Subject: Convict in trouble!
PLEASE ANYONE HELP ME! my dad has this 40 gallon asst. african cichlid tank, and one of them (happens to be a convict) got in a fight with ether our 8 inch Jack dempsy, or 5 inch Electric yello Lab male. Hes missing chunks of scales, and fins are nearly ripped to shreads. What i need to know is can a convict (2-3 inches) go with swordtails and Kribs?? (believe it or not, the swords are fine!) I need an answer ASAP please, i dont think he can live in the little mesh net i put him in.

From: Mary
Subject: Re: Convict in trouble!
I wouldn't put him in with the swords. Convicts are extremely aggresive and will probably kill your swords. Some convicts get way over 6". I once put a pink 1" female convict that was been bullied by her other two sisters in with some buenos aires tetras and guppies without my realizing it all my male guppies tail had been chewed off to were the flesh start and the tetras were constantly jerking around. HTH

From: AJB
Subject: Re: Convict in trouble!
How many fish are in the 40 gallon tank? I have heard about many chiclid fights, only to have the owner take out a couple and have everything as good as before. How big is the convict, when was he put in the tank? Sounds like he might be small enough to not defend himself, or just introduced. Let us know which one happens to be it. AJB

From: Lindsey
Subject: Re: Convict in trouble!
only 2 electric yellow labs, a 2 convicts, a Jack dempsy, al lyertail cichlid, some kinda pleco,a misterious african cichlid (unknown type)and two tiger things that are small. the convict is about 3-4 inches long, he was put in the asst cichlid tank hmmmm......mabe about a year ago, but the Electric yellow lab and the Jack dempsy have been in it longer. thanx lindsey

From: AJB
Subject: Re: Convict in trouble!
What is the total length of all the fish? Sounds like it could be overstocked slightly. Does your dad know what type and brand of filter it is? Are there rocks or anything in the tank? If it is slightly overstocked, then I am betting that your dad's tank is having bulling problems because of lack of space for the fish, but I am not sure so please answer the above questions, as it will help me/us figure it out. AJB

From: Lindsey
Subject: Re: Convict in trouble!
the total inches of fish are 37 inches. the filter brand is AQUA CLEAR. There are LOTS of rocks and stuff, some fake driftwood, etc. thanks Lindsey PS. The convict looks worse today

From: AJB
Subject: Re: Convict in trouble!
I think it is slightly overstocked. Take the mean fish out and see what happens!! AJB

From: Csy
Subject: Breeding Rosey Reds
I have the cheap little rosey reds. I personally think they are pretty and I try to save them from the over inhabited LFS tanks. Mine have grown really big since I got them at the fish store. They all are no less than 1". The only thing is I want them to have babies. I know they are egg layers and the male guards them in a cave or something similar. However, thats about all I know. I have 8 of them so I know there has to be at least 1 female in there. Does anyone have any information on breeding these little fish?

From: Attila
Subject: Yep!
I think I have the PERFECT website for you! It's: http://userpage.umbc.edu/~rrhudy1/rosies.htm I really want to try and keep and then breed them once.

From: cheryl
Subject: Help Please
Hi, this morning I have noticed some of my fish rubbing against the tera cotta pot...they never have done this before. I dont see anything unusual with the fish, no redness, no spots, and water tests perfect...Any idea what this could be? And what to do? Also my female molly is weird, she dropped fry a week ago and has since had the shimmies, but now she almost looks like shes bearing down, (like when she was dropping fry) and going into a straight head up position and than right back to normal position, she is still piggishly eating though, any thoughts? Thanks guys, Cheryl

From: Mary
Subject: Re: Help Please
Do you keep salt in your tank? Mollies are brackesh and need at least 1 tablespoon of salt for each gallon of water. The lack of salt can cause the shimmies. HTH

From: cheryl
Subject: Re: Help Please...Thank you Mary, Karen, and Hanna, and as far as salt I use......
1 teaspoon per gal...but you say 1 tablespoon per gal....will that be ok with my Platy, Guppys and albino corys? Thank you all so much, Cheryl

From: Mary
Subject: Re: It's a little more than I keep in my tanks, but thats fine. n/t
n/t

From: Hannah
Subject: Re: Help Please
I think your molly has just eaten too much!! My swords do the same. Try to feed small amounts regularly instead of more fewer times a day. The livebearers are greedy and tend to eat the majority of the food put in.

From: Karen
Subject: Re: Help Please
Can't say for sure what is happening with your mollie and the shimmies. I have seen livebearers doing that after giving birth. Some have gotten over it and some have died. Never had it figured out. As for rubbing, this can be a first sign of several diseases. Ich being one. I would observe the fish very closely for a week and see if any new symptoms appear. Or it could be they have an itch.

From: Angel
Subject: Neon tetra has a lump on it's stomach
One of my neons have alump on it's stomach it looks preganet it acting normal and it's swimming with the other neons I just want to know if it's preganet and what to do..

From: AJB
Subject: Re: Neon tetra has a lump on it's stomach
If it is actually a bigger stomach, then dropsy could be it, because neons are extremley hard to breed. If it is a dignified lump, then I don't know what to tell you. I hate to bring it up, but I have heard more and more of a fish cancer thing. I wouldn't think it would live long if it was cancer. (I think the reason cancer in fish happens because they are breed using hormones and have all sorts of chemicals in their water. That is why I TRY to keep my tanks as chemical free as possible.) AJB

From: Hannah
Subject: Re: Neon tetra has a lump on it's stomach
2 qns: is the neon old? do you feed them too much? My neons are old now, (some have died off) The ones left can't seem to digest their food as well as they could, and so mine get bulges where the stomach is - the bulge looks really weird and goes down. I know mine don't have dropsy because the lumps go down, whereas dropsy goes down + around! also, dropsy is smooth, like a balloon all the way round, but my lumps are not like that. Hope this helps!