Scuba Sam

Young bristlenoses don't always shift well, or have the sense to hide!! They would make a tasty snack though, and at 3cm probably the spines wouldn't cause any problems... My Mum's goldfish got a bristlenose stuck in its mouth for a while before it all went down the hatch but it was a bit bigger than 3cm. Greedy fish!!

Gremlin is new to NZ from South Africa - he has a thread in Welcome section.

Hi Gremlin, Welcome to NZ, Northland, and the forum. You will find that if you get out of town there is far less rain - just get out to the coast, rainfall is heaps lower!! If you get withdrawal symptoms for reptiles, there is a reptile park about an hour and a half south - just north of Auckland. Cheers, Sam

Thanks so much Brookey - that is just what I was looking for, and fits with what I have been seeing. It's awesome to hear that your experience fits with my observations. Many thanks, Sam

Hi Caper, Thanks for your query. Both fish have improved since I separated them from the others. It seems they were being harassed. Each has its own tank while it recovers. Still not sure that I am on top of their health problems, but they are still hanging in there. Fingers crossed. I am treating the gourami with Wunder tonic, and wound seems a bit better. Cheers, Sam

The green spots on the glass look like the standard one we all get - related to light and nutrients in the water I think. But what about the growth on the thermometer? Is that BBA? Someone on here will have more idea than me... Sam

Thanks for your thoughts Alan. I did the maths roughly in my head and came up with three capsules - must do it properly, for the actual water level. Am I right in understanding that you are saying you think it is a worsening of the disease rather than a toxicity reaction to the drug itself? Has anyone experience of problems with Furan 2 and/or its effect on wounds as they are healing? The gourami looked worse this evening so I have done a 25% water change. Conversely, the Green Severum looks better than she has looked in a while. Time will tell I guess...

I'm starting to wonder if there is an intestinal problem causing the general susceptibility in the gourami. He hasn't been a big eater in the two or three months I have had him, tending to sit behind a rock in the community tank he was in before I shifted him for treatment. Any comments?

Hi there, I'm hoping for some advice on treatment of my fish. I have a golden severum, fit and healthy, had him for months. He is in with two fish which have not been in good condition from when I was first given them. A green severum (fin rot), and a snakeskin gourami (white patch on side). I have the three fish in a 160 litre tank for treatment. I have dosed as per instructions as best as I am able. Day One - Three capsules in tank Day Two - Three capsules in tank - gourami developed some pits on his head. Day Three - green severum looking very sad, sitting on bottom of tank, gasping. 50% water change, rather than 25% change - she looked much better Day Four - Three capsules in tank Day Five - Gourami sitting on bottom, labouring to get to top of tank for a breath. Lowered water level so less effort for him, to approx 2/3 of previous. Two capsules added. Gourami's patch on the side of body looks like its peeling. Green severum looks well. So what's happening here guys? Is the treatment making my fish sick? Am i doing something wrong with the dose? Is the patch on the side looking worse because it is getting better? I will be tempted to do the second water change at the 12 hour mark this evening rather than the 24 hour mark tomorrow as its almost like the fish can't handle the second dose. And then do I treat a second round? Your advice please, Sam

I got two large SAE's, they cleared tank one in a week, transferred to tank two and they have hardly touched the BBA in a month!! Go figure. Good luck with getting yours sorted. Sam

Hi Bedazzled, congrats on the arrival of your babies. Have you considered a breeding net? This would allow you to keep the babies safe, but in the same water as the rest of the tank, without needing to do the water changes. I might even be able to find a spare one... Sam

We bought some for the work tank, and sent the boy to buy them!! Bit strange to have on a shopping list for a teenage male!! The photos are brilliant by the way - great effect with the wood.

I have mine - thanks heaps Caryl and contributors. Just had a quick skim but love the article on planted aquaria, with the special secret Auxiliary Particles - well done to Peter. Cheers, Sandra

Hey tank looks great. Some Cabomba will go nicely in there I reckon. Love the tower. I haven't bought the plants into work yet, but will try to remember for tomorrow. If not I have enough that I can steal some from the work tank. Well done!!

Thanks to everyone for their help - I picked up my accessories kit (for CF1000/CF1200 today, less than twenty bucks, with various hose attachments and sucker feet etc. Now to get the filter going... Cheers, Sam

Your severums may not eat for a while - I have had three sev's so far, and all have sulked and not eaten for a while when they arrived, one even when he was in the same tank with the same tank mates - he just missed his old Mum. I have had spots like you describe, and with keeping the water changes up, they just came right. Fingers crossed. Another thing to consider is the pH of your water. I managed to get my first sev to eat by dropping the pH. I put in a piece of wood and added some evil ph Down chemicals. I wouldn't necessarily change the pH at the moment, but just something to consider in future if things don't settle. Good luck - they are awesome fish. Mine are now in my bedroom, and to see them sleeping is the funniest thing!! Sam

I rang the local fish shop and was able to give a clear request thanks to the advice received here. They have a spare parts kit which contains everything I need and more, for next to nothing!! Cool stuff - pick it up tomorrow. Thanks for all your help.

That's it - now I know how to explain it to the fish shop if I can't find a second hand one - thanks guys - anyone got one spare? Sam

I'm pretty sure I have the taps - aren't they the bits that attach to the filter that can be turned on and off? I am looking for the bits that go in the tank itself - one bit looks similar to the intake on my waterfall filter. Gee at least I am getting the idea of what to ask for if I need to ring the shop!!

Ah sorry to be confusing. I mean the bit that sticks in the tank that goes on the end of the hose and stops fish getting sucked into the filter (lost a cory that way), and a bit from the end of the spray bar. Thanks

Have you tested the nitrate level in your water supply? Just a thought - daily/regular water changes and high nitrate levels suggest nitrate in source water perhaps? Good luck with sorting it out...

I finally managed to get time to sort out my CF1000, with help from a friend (thanks Georgous). BUT in the time since it arrived, I seem to have lost some bits - like the intake hose thing and part of the spray bar - hard to get? Easy to get? Any advice please? Thanks, Sam

Payless plastics has cheap poly - ask for the seconds... They may have a pile of sheets with slight damage, and as we cut them smaller anyway, bonus!! (going home to insulate tanks...)

Wouldn't you want different water parameters for some species? Some fish are more likely to breed in soft vs hard water and different pH? I find my fish tend to be a bit fussy in their individual wants. All the best with getting it set up!! Sam

I had a gold severum in with a single large silver dollar - other tank mates were catfish. They were great mates and used to cuddle up together. Then I went away overseas and came home to an empty tank. Poor flatmate felt terrible. Anyway good luck with your golden severums - they are awesome fish!! Sam (I have another one now...)