Caper

Thanks Fingol Chong, my pleco didn't make it I think I killed him , the directions on the bottle only said to remove snails & crustaceans, nothing on it about scaleless fish I didn't even recognize from the ingredients that it contained salt I did treat with the Ick Guard last night before I went to bed. I will do a 25% water change tonight, as is recommended, unless you folks think I should do more? What is so frustrating is that a few people that I have encountered here that have tanks, don't do things like, (e.g. add chlorine/chloramine remover, weekly water changes, test the water and so on and so on). I was even talking to a lady one day who said she pretty much throws anything in the tank in regard to food scraps. I really don't know what I did to cause all this trouble. It is rare that I don't do a weekly water changes and only once did I miss the monthly cleaning. I've been racking my brains trying to think if I did anything different. The only thing I can think of is that I add warm water to the cold water to take the chill out but then I get my water ready the day before I do the change. I've only had fishies for a little over a year now & last winter I didn't do that. But I've been doing it quite a bit this winter, maybe I should not have done that?????

Thanks Sharn The salt that I used, oh it was sometime ago Caryl, was aquarium salt called Aquatica by Wardley. I don't even remember what the problem was at the time, but I followed the...oh, I have it written on the box I first used it on July 14/05 (marked it on the box). This time the salt was in the "Parasite Guard" that I used. I'm not saying the product was the cause of my fishies getting worse, but just wondering if salt in this water could have a "bad" effect. My pleco died, but I think I did it with this stuff. It didn't say anything about not using it or reducing the dosage for scaless fish in the directions. But I am not going to use it again.

I know that many people add salt on a regular basis to their tanks. I know that some use it, with success, to treat illness. Ohhhhhh...this Parasite Guard that I used had salt in it! But, ever since I used it, things have gone from bad to worse in my tank This nightmare is posted in the disease section The last time I tried using salt, just salt that is used for fishies that is, it didn't help at all, actually if I recall correctly, it made things worse. Now, I am wondering is it a possiblity that there is something in our water here that doesn't make the use of salt effective? I mean we have horrible water where I live.

Yup, 3! Craig, he'll be 28 next month, Ryan, he'll be 24 next month & Tracy turned 21 in October...oh my, they are getting old, but I'm not :lol: :lol: :lol: And, my 4th pride & joy, my grandson Brayden, who is 9 months old. He's staying with me tonight & I just put him to bed, so he's not impressed with me at the moment. His daddy has him spoiled because he rocks him to sleep :evil: My 2 sons live around here & Tracy in Calgary. Anyway, back to fishies so how are your discus doing? Yes, the Parasite Clear has this in it! I believe it saved my platy last year which is why I was so desperate to get it. See, no big pet stores here so not much to buy & since I felt comfortable with Parasite Clear I wanted to use it again. Thanks Luke...and good luck to as well with your discus, keep us informed on how they are doing OMG...I was on my way to bed doing my last check on my fishies...now, it appears that my tetras have Ick...AND...my pleco who hasn't been moving much all evening, actually staying near the bottom on the front of the tank...using the magnifying glass, on his belly looks almost like a thin layer of white, I don't know if this is the beginning of some kind of fungus, but it also looks like it is "peeling" off him. I have "Ick Guard" that I used when my goldfish had Ick when I first had him. On the directions, it read to use 1/2 strength on weak fish. So, do I treat???? I DON'T KNOW WHAT TO DO, please help! I already had my last black neon die tonight.

Anybody, comments on the last list of my questions (above) :oops: :oops: please The first time I changed the filter, it was as if all the carbon just fell to the bottom of the bag; last week, it was more like it was in the middle section of the bag! The water continues to come out of the proper areas as well as flowing down the intake section...does this mean it is still doing what it is supposed to do???????????? It is really loud, and you said that indicates a bad impeller... :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: well, that means a new filter probably, because the chances of me getting a new impeller around here are slim to none :evil: Anybody

And WHO explained the best way for me to do this...Mustcooktea

:lol: Gee, Zev, except at the top of the plant, I thought what to me looked fuzzy was the algae, the rest of the plant, I thought was just green with the white...personally, I loved the color and the shape :lol:

Congrats :bounce: :bounce: Any pics of the new family members?

Mustcooktea, isn't it something like 7 days that fish can go without food? Now, others will correct me if I'm wrong. But, it's like MCT said, most people here don't do anything in the line of feeding when they are away, well, of course, unless its going to be for a long time. For 4 days your fishies should be fine. If it would be for a longer period, uh, past the 7 days (oh wise fishy people correct me here if the period isn't correct), from what I've read so far about this issue if there's somebody that you can trust have them feed your fishies. What I mean by trust is they will be able to resist the temptation of the fishies coming up to the tank and PLEADING, "we're still hungry" :lol: I have even read where some people will alot a certain amount of food to feed the fishies each day. This is just for future reference. Sorry so long, I seem to be really long winded with all my posts today :-?

Hi Yes, you are right on the pic size. Very nice tank What is a hoplo? Is that a pic of it that you are using? Lots of experience is great news :bounce: I have learned so much from the people here that I sometimes think I know what I'm doing :-? Plus, it is a fun site, lots of laughter too :bounce: Take care, Caper

My poor fishies are not getting any better. I treated with the Parasite Guard on Wednesday and it is now Saturday here. I don't even know if its parasites but considering all the scratching & nothing else visible, don't you folks think its a strong possibility.? This is the same behavior last year when I had fishies scracthing. I suppose just like human illnesses, same kinds of symptoms for different illnesses. I just wish fish could talk! The fishies are still eating and swimming. Some, at times, will sit on the bottom or rest in the artificial plants. I have even seen them pointing themselves towards the corner where the bubbles come up from the airstone and staying there for periods of time, any ideas why they could be doing this? Is it possible that the water flow from it is giving them some kind of relieve, or does this mean the oxygen it too low But the good news is, after a very frustrating search around here & a couple of phone calls to pet stores that are on the mainland, I am getting the Parasite Clear. I called my daughter in Calgary to see if she could get it out there & send it to me. Turns out that a pet store close to where she lives HAS IT. YIPPIE, Tracy to the rescue Unfortunately with it being the weekend, I probably won't get it until Tuesday, she's sending it by courier.

Thanks Caryl But, my ottos won't eat the algae wafers! So, I was just wondering with summer approaching that if I don't have my lights on as much, because of the heat...would there still be sufficient algae for them???? Zev, what is the plant in the second pic with the white on it, is it every pretty

Is that him in the close up saying cheese? The last tank I bought was second hand, came with filter, gravel & some water , shoot can't remember exactly when I bought it, I have to check here :lol: anyway, my point is even though the tank was only dismantled for a short time to get to my place...I find it's only now that it's getting nice & clear. Although, I have to admit where I have it & with no background on it, I didn't find it as easy to tell if it was clearing, I was beginning to think it wasn't. Sorry, my point in telling you that was even though I had the gravel & filters, it still seemed to take quite a bit of time to start clearing.

Did you know that shelled peas are good for goldfish? I feed mine peas once a week. I didn't know you could do that? Ah, don't the other fishies just swim in? :-? :-?

Keri Anne...is that a java fern on the left side?

Sorry Nebs...but you did everything you could It was amazing to read how the other fishies tried to help him...my heart was breaking

Why lightly? Now, I'm thinking not to do this :bounce: :bounce: with it.

I am so sorry I can't help...what about a vet, could you take him or pics to a vet to see if they can offer anything???

That's good news...hope he keeps improving! :bounce: :bounce: What kind of net do you have him in, is it the kind they use for breeding? I commend you on your efforts to help this poor fishie

I shutter when I think of it...but I did...2 different ones...NOT FOR ME! Keep us updated...I asked all my fishies to cross their fins, they at me like I was crazy :lol: :lol: :lol: Okay, I know I am

Hmmm...now did I read it somewhere here or on the net...anyway, wherever I read it...all tanks have algae, so that is correct right, I mean how could it not after all its not like a swimming pool that you treat to get rid of the stuff. Okay...I realize that I'm probably the only one here that does not have real plants, and yes I do feel guilty but the fear is stronger Without real plants, does that mean that certain kinds of alge won't grow in my tank? And, will you still have algae, enough to feed algae eaters, if you don't leave your lights on????

Hi Don't forget to posts pics of your other fishies...will be watching the "disease" section for the other...I hope he comes around You are not obsessed at all...you have a great case of MTS going on :lol: :lol: Oh my I did not think I was normal at all, thanks Mustcooktea...oh darn, you just mean regarding fishies :lol: :lol: Take care nebs, Caper

Thanks That's a relief Ron, I went on the net last night to see if I could find out what the ingredients were...scared the heck out of me. Then all my tetras went really pale, then the guppies & platties, well a couple that I noticed anyway, would "sit" on the bottom, thought they were dying...but awhile later swimming around like usual. I was scared that I might wake up this morning to a tank full of dead fishies But still alive! When I came home from work today, most of the guppies colour was back to normal and the fish that were "sitting" when I left this morning, swimming around The scratching is still going on from what I've seen so far. The directions say can treat 2 more times, with weekly intervals & 25% water change. My only concern is what if it is internal parasites, darn...wish I could get the Parasite Clear as it was for both. Anyway, I'll just have to wait & see if this works. Although, Saturday I might call one of the big pet stores in Halifax to see if they carry it and if I can get...just in case. THANKS AGAIN folks

Is it possible he could have been constipated...just a thought?

How's he doing?