Caper

Hi Kiwibird Pegasus is soooooooo right on that...the people are what makes this such a great place...they are so kind and helpful and funny... and fishy Grrrrrrrrrreat site! :oops: Kiwibird...are you from New Zealand or Australia...GEESH, wish I could remember my high school geography Let us know about your fish and tanks...post pics too! Take care, Dolorosa (Caper)

Nimbus...those with more experience can advise you the best. But, I have seen here that some people give cat's worm medicine to their fish...so those who have will surely help you out there! Caryl...this book, it sounds like an excellent one...what's its name?

Update: Fish have stopped flashing...waiting to hear from the company (makes the Parasite Clear)...if I also have to keep treating for...darn, can't remember off hand...its either external or internal parasites. Mickey (the first one down with it!)...seems to be much better this evening (if the other platy & guppy) would stop following him so much :roll: There not being aggressive...just with him quite a bit. His dorsal fin...looks a little jagged...but he is not keeping it clamped like he was......and he's more active (still staying at bottom of tank though)...oh wait, he was inside the fake stump thingy this morning so he must have gone up a bit :-? But, hopefully things are going to improve. THANK YOU FOR ALL YOUR HELP

Didn't know where to post this soooooooo.... My fish seem to be doing better (will update in disease section). However, the first platy (Mickey) who came down with whatever...still not quite up to snuff...still spends most of the time near the bottom...but is a little more active and eating some. Any ideas as to why he'd be staying near bottom...just recovering? I posted somewhere that I have a guppy (Blue & male) who likes to "hang out" with Mickey(male) and another platy (The Little One, male). These three spend alot of time together. But The Little One spends quite a bit of time...staying right beside Mickey...sometime it seems like he is "rocking" beside him, not touching from what I can see...now, if they were opposite sexes...I would think The Little One was trying to put the moves on Mickey :lol: Then Blue sometimes gets in front of them and does this "dance"...how to describe...hmmm...body curves a bit, dorsal fin almost stands up straight, and other fins going a mile a minute. Anybody able to shed some light on this? THANKS

Thanks Jude...I was struggling as it was...now it's just going to be worse...and my ex isn't paying me my support! Also, I won't have medical coverage for my medications I take...and they are $500 (Can) a month. The job situation here is pathetic The clinic used to be a partnership...but ever since they split...business has been going down hill...so...

Yes, that's what they are doing. Bought the Parasite Clear as per directions: 1 dose Tuesday, 28 hour between doses, 25% water change & 2nd does last night (Thursday). Last night one of my minnows was scratching/flashing...hadn't been before, that I had seen anyway. But the others didn't seem to be, unless they were when I wasn't looking. The platy that was first to start...has been resting quite a bit...not eating alot...but still swimming. He's the one that I said had 2 "silver" spots, I guess it would be on his gills...not far from his eyes...but I wasn't sure if he always had them or not. Anyway, just checked him, looks like the gills are little red...and those spots are...well, don't see them, but can still tell where they were if I can get a good look...maybe a sign of healing...do you think? What do you mean by gill damage, in terms of how they would be damaged? I just can't take anything else bad happening today

The breaking gel pack...apparently hasn't hurt them...I've haven't seen any adverse effects from that...will post in the disease section about the scratching! How are your fishies? Did you still add the ager afterwards? Couldn't you do that right away and they'd still be ok? I'll be waiting to hear how you made out

Caper update: In 2 weeks will be unemployed

Would love to see pics of your turtles

Great pics The 2nd guy from the bottom...I've never seen one like him before!

I agree with Misnoma...keep up the daily water changes. Correct me if I'm wrong Misnoma...but when you stay away from the gravel...you mean just do the water changes (water out/water in) no vacuuming, am I right?

Thanks Hummingbird

I will & thanks for the help. One question though...I can't seem to find anywhere...approximate time it would take for spots to appear for Ick...not that I think that's it because I'm sure I'd have seen the "salt" by now, wouldn't I?

Do you only use CO2 if you have plants? :oops: That is carbon dioxide right?

The only thing I could get was "Parasite Clear" by Jungle Labs it's supposed to remove internal and external parasites. They are tablets, and I just put the first dose in. It was a Jungle product "Ick Guard" that I used when my goldfish had Ick and it worked really well...so I'm hoping that this will too!

I'll see what I can get. But is internal a possibility too?

Thanks Caryl! Yes, the ornaments were for aquariums...so it's good to know that I can use them again if I want to that is! Internal parasites...never thought of that...I was thinking external meaning something on the fish, although I can never see anything. Since they were scratching I just figured it would be something on the outside causing it! If it were internal, then the salt baths wouldn't make a difference would they? I'm going to see what I can get tomorrow. I hope I'll be able to get something before whatever it is kills them Just checking on the net...one of the things that is a sign of internal parasites is pale stringy poo...and I did notice a couple of the fishies poo like that. Listless, loss of appetite...not yet!

http://www.practicalfishkeeping.co.uk/p ... /tools.php This is a great site!

Only one pet store here and a dept. store that sells fish...they know little...but compared to the people here...well, no comparison...learned more here than anywhere! I still browse the net for information but still end coming back here to check with the all knowledgable NZ'ers Let us know how your white clouds are making out...and don't forget to post pics of your tank! Oh...rainwater...cool! Gee, we had a couple of downpours today...probably could have had a few buckets for my fishies...but I'm not going there :roll: :-?

:lol: Thanks...fed them...except for my guys that are scratching...they all seem to be okay..so far

Sorry about your turtle scoobyjene

Hi Todd! Read the forums here on cycling for a new tank. If I read your post correctly, you put your fish in the tank the same day you set it up??? Tank should stay empty for a period of time, then add a couple of fish which helps in the cycling process, you need fish to produce waste to produce ammonia...and so on. Did you wash everything, tank, gravel, etc. before you put them in the tank? Wash with clear water that is NEVER use soap on fishies' things. Rinse, rinse, rinse, rinse! Ammonia in your tap water??? The cycling process....fishie produce waste...ammonia...nitrites...nitrates. Do you have test kits? You should have at least test kits for ammonia, pH, nitrites, and nitrates. You will probably need to do frequent (small) water changes till your tank gets cycled. But those with more experience will guide you on that. Too many fish too soon...recipe for trouble! Take care...and the people here are great to help!

Only a single tail...then I agree with mustcooktea...comet. Yah...so that's what a comet looks like...been looking on the net to try to see the difference in a comet and a common goldfish. But, now that I see yours...I see the difference in his/her tail compared to my Sam's which I believe is a common goldfish, especially after seeing yours! He/she is a beautiful fishie

Very pretty fish Pearlyred! I think I'll have to look up loaches to see the different kinds. Who is in the pic under your name??

Here is what I did today: -tested ammonia 0; nitrites 0; pH 7.2 Noticed that 2 of the ornaments that I cleaned the last time...looked like the paint was "loose" in places. Soooooo wondering if this could possibly be the cause I: -removed everything from tank -cleaned artificial plants -cleaned other 2 ornaments -gave good vacuum (lot of junk in bucket when finished!) -cleaned glass Plus, gave the guppies and platies another salt bath. I did not put the 2 ornaments that had "loose" paint on them back in. The last time I cleaned them (lots of algae) I used a soft toothbrush and some color came off...but never noticed the "loose" paint until now! Now, I haven't noticed any scratching yet...but it always seems that just when I think they're not going to do it...they start. Besides waiting to get response in beginner's forum to see of I poisoned them Darn...they are still scratching...I'm going to check at the dept. store tomorrow...way back I thought I saw something there for parasites...nothing else I have done seems to have done the trick I guess the ornaments weren't the cause; therefore, do you think after I take off the loose paint it would be safe to put them back in the tank. Not now, but in the future???