lmsmith

oops, just read your previous post! That should be ok for upkeep. What makes you think the phosphates are a problem? And how long has your tank been established?

About a 3rd how often? There's a huge difference between weekly water changes and say, monthly changes...

The problem with Peat is it also softens the water - and soft water is more susceptible to pH changes. As well as adding peat, I'd add driftwood and plants if you don't already have them in there.

You can buy bagged peat at lots of petshops. What are you adding peat for?

Sorry to say, but they are going to be some ugly kittens! At least in my mind...I'm thinking cats with long front legs, short back legs, short hair on the tail, fluffy body, short fur on the head, but fluffy ears, and a pointy nose....

I'd use the glowlight danio or harlequins, but it really depends what you're willing to take a risk with. Personally, I've never had a problem with any fish dying in a cycle - but I do add them very slowly and only add 1 or 2 at a time. You'll probably find that the tank will cycle in a few weeks because you're using an established filter.

It'd be really cool for people from the Wellington area (and people on the way, of course) to organise a group to go up to the open day - it'd be awesome to meet everyone who's been working so hard to keep the park open, and of course, to see the park itself...what do you think?

Maybe they are spawning, and just eating the eggs before you notice them. Lots of fish seem to spawn at dawn. Also, if there's nothing to induce a spawn (water change, pH change, feeding changes, light etc), they often wont. Good luck with the yellows!

Oops, forgot to add; mine laid eggs after a big water change (70%) of fresh, soft water about 5deg lower than their tank water. If you don't usually do big cold changes, I'd start with smaller amounts so you don't shock them so much.

I've been trying to get my BBGs to breed also, and I've got eggs, but they were eaten before they hatched. They need lots of really small caves - if the cave is much bigger than they are, they wont keep the eggs. I think water flow is also an issue - they live in rivermouths, so there's a pretty good waterflow there. They like to have things to perch on, so I'd have layers in their tank that they can move to, and a decent sized tank so they can have a territory. It doesn't need to be very deep though. Also, feeding is an issue; before they laid eggs for me, they were fed only live food and bloodworms - basically stock them full of protein. Microworms are good because they're generally pretty lazy feeders, and the microworms hang around for a bit. Also, I think a group of 4 may be a bit small; I had 5 (but one died), but I'd prefer to start off with 8 - 10 so they have more choice. Good luck, and if you get them to breed, let me know!!

How do you force feed a fish?

Have you guys seen that Sensing Murder show on TV? They have 2 mediums who sense who the missing person is, and who killed them, or how they were killed. They work alongside police. I'm a pretty big skeptic, but sometimes they say things that make me wonder...

I'm thinking it might be better to euthanise him, but I want to see if he'll get better...would you keep him alive just in case, or euthanise him to get his suffering (if he is) over and done with?

Put in in a bag, and bash it on something hard. Make sure its a decent bag, you don't want it to break open! I hate doing it, but luckily have a great BF who isn't so squeemish!

He's def. a male. I've separated him for the moment and he's looking ok. He's not pooping. All of the other fish are fine, and they've all been wormed, so I don't think its parasites. I've just had an email from a breeder who's said he's probably eaten bad food and has a bacterial infection, and will probably die. I know he's probably right; he really knows what he's talking about, but I really hope that my little fish is going to be ok!

What's his diet like? How long has he been like this? Is he pooping?

The angels ate all their eggs on Monday, but I came home tonight and they had laid a whole lot more! Hopefully, some will be fertilized this time; or I may find that I have two girl angels!

Yeah, I'm really sad for him, because he's one of my big ones I'm hoping to breed. He's still so active, so I'm really hoping that he's going to do a massive poop and be all better!

I've posted this in diseases also, but I think you catfish guys may know more about what to do. Sorry mods, I know this isn't what I'm supposed to do, but I'm really worried about it. My bristlenose is grossly swollen and he has a big swelling around his anus. I've tried to get photos, but they're pretty blurry because he's not keen on being isolated. He's pretty active still, but I'm really worried that he's going to explode, as I had one do this before. He's in a tank with about 6 other bristlenoses and lots of guppies, with driftwood, and he gets fed veges, JBL disks, frozen food etc. Nothing in his diet has changed recently, except I've been feeding microworms to the guppies. What can I do? His swelling appears to have burst, and is bleeding a tiny bit. There looks to be a white, hardish lump sticking out of where it's burst. Should I squeeze him, add salt? Feed him??

He's not pooing right now, and he gets fed pees. I'm a bit concerned about putting anything in with him right now. His little 'tumour' thing now appears to have popped, it's bleeding a tiny bit, and there is a big white lump that looks pretty hard sticking partway out. I really want to give his tummy a little push, but I'm concerned i'll make it worse.

My bristlenose is grossly swollen and he has a big swelling around his anus. I've tried to get photos, but they're pretty blurry because he's not keen on being isolated. He's pretty active still, but I'm really worried that he's going to explode, as I had one do this before. He's in a tank with about 6 other bristlenoses and lots of guppies, with driftwood, and he gets fed veges, JBL disks, frozen food etc. Nothing in his diet has changed recently, except I've been feeding microworms to the guppies. What can I do?

Oh, and Ira, the parking at the blood donation centre is free and they always have parks, so now your only excuse is the drive

O- is the universal donor, so anyone can have O- blood given to them with no reaction. I donate platelets - so they take whole blood, spin off the plasma, spin the plasma into platelets and put the plasma and blood back in. Each donation of platelets can save 5-6 people if they need blood products - they make platelets from the whole blood donations they get. I donate every time someone needs them usually every 2 weeks or so; so if there is a premie baby who needs blood products, or they are really low, they give me a call, I donate right there, and they take the platelets straight to the baby. It takes about an hr and a half, but is so worth it to know that I'm directly saving someones life. Also, not everyone can donate platelets because you need a platelet count over 250. The average is 50 - 100. Mines 550, that's why they don't mind me doing it lots. Remember, whole blood donations only last a month, plasma lasts about 2 weeks, and platelets only last 72 hrs, so if you've never donated blood before, I'd really recommend doing it - and they're so nice there, and there's great snacks!

Thanks for the replies. They're really happy in with the corys, and the corys just don't care. They've found lots of little hidey holes, but have been really active cleaning all the algae I've been growing for them. Hopefully when they're a bit bigger I'll be able to try again with the lionheads.

I've always used a tank with no plants and let them lay on the glass. That way you can just scrape them off, but the corys can clean the glass first like they do naturally.