Caper

Black neon tetras...yes..no...yes...no :-? When I was at the pet store in Halifax...saw black neon tetras. The ones they had there...the black on the bottom was darker than mine. Someone showed me a pic of one here, can't remember who though, sorry :oops: can't find it! Anyway, the guy at the pet store said that my fish weren't mature yet. Does anybody know if that could be the case? How long do fish take to mature? And...does it make a difference if male or female...I mean...after all...most women would say that we mature faster than men...JK...JK...JK

I found this while reading through here. If I've been understanding correctly, the larger surface area is better and the movement from the filter does provide oxygen. But, I also thought the air pump provided more oxygen as well?????

Hi all! Was only able to get to 2 pet stores...darn. The first one insisted I didn't need a nitrate kit, (he had none in stock anyway!)but I got the nitrite kit. I have to admit... :oops: ...when I went to a different store the next day, I was so in awe at the fish...I forgot :oops: Finding it difficult to read the nitrite, if I hold it out a bit from the white (as opposed to holding the tube right on the white) it looks close to .3, if I hold it right on the white, a bit darker. Should the tube be held right against the white to check. Really hard to compare this one, I don't have any problems with the ammonia and pH. I've tested my ammonia, 0, pH, 7-7.2. Should the tube be held right on the white to check? What a difference in those pet stores than what I see here. All the tanks have gravel, plants, real & I think some artificial. I could have stayed there for hours just looking The second store I went to had a lot of tanks, well kept too. The only algae eaters they had in stock though were the plecos. I played completely dumb :-? , not hard to do when it comes to fish and me :lol: Anyway, told them the things I was told here...not on here...at Walmart & the pet store. AND just like you folks, they told me the opposite! How I wish we had a pet store like that here! So many fish and such variety. Anyway...if someone could help me with the testing for nitrite, I'd appreciate it. Also, I was told by the guy (who said I didn't need the nitrate) that the pH & ammonia could be fine but the nitrite could still be too high, checking with you folks on this? I was also told that if the nitrite was too high then just do a water change? I ALSO saw how big a 55 gallon tank would be....mmmmmmmm

Thanks Wok & Billaney So, I'll see if I can get them. Halifax isn't far, around...5 hours give or take a bit. I'd love to be able to take fish back But maybe coming home on Sunday and the stores aren't open here on Sunday. If come back on Monday, holiday! Anyway it's off to Halifax I go...toodles...and thanks again

Penejane...CONGRATULATIONS on your new bundle of joy...I hope that you, and Name? are doing well! I couldn't find any explanation on the net as to why a fish gets dropsy...unless I missed something?

Penejane, Sorry to hear about your fish...are fish with dropsy is the entire fish fat! I was looking at some pictures..but the fish was laying down so it looked as if just the bottom swollen...shoot...I hope you know what I'm trying to say :-? And fast question...it was you that had a new baby??????

Hi all, I am going to Halifax tomorrow morning...ah...Wednesday that is ...they have all kinds of pet stores there...I'm going to see if I can get a nitrite test kit, and a nitrate test kit. Wish I could bring some fishie home with me :lol: My ammonia is staying O and my pH between 7 & 7.2. Anything else you folks suggest I may need?

Okay...mine do not look like pinecones...so no dropsy...if I am understanding correctly...the entire fish would have protruding scales...right? About the unfertilized eggs that the female carries...mmm...does this mean the fish is mature then? How often do they...spawn? So, if the breeding conditions aren't right...no babies...RIGHT Livebearer_breader...I'm not trying to breed fish Oh...one more thing...for now..hehe The change in the body shape happened after I gave them dried shrimp as a treat...just a coincidence?

Hi Raven and welcome! Sounds like you have lots of experience! Another person for me to learn from caserole! You have 30 TANKS...OMG :lol: :lol: :lol:

Hi shauntilyard This is a great site with lots of great people who are really willing to help us newbies. As you will see, they will tell you that it is best NOT to combine the 2. If you read any of my posts, you will know that I have a goldfish & tropicals. I knew that goldfish were coldwater but was told by the pet store that I could put with tropicals! Anyway, if I had to do over I would not combine the 2. Bristlenoses, just learning from here about them.

How is his wound Shelley? Any improvements there? The salt bath I've seen recommended for some ailments...no good for this??? I've been trying to find a particular site...found it for someone at work at couple of months ago whose betta was dying... the fish died but they had lots of trouble where she bought the fish...ANYWAY...this site was all about bettas, a couple who had bettas for years. I'll see if she still has the site, I wrote it down for her. But, I have to wait till I go to work tomorrow...it's still Sunday here :lol:

Thanks Matt So, there is a difference between a...pregnant fish...lol...and one carrying unfertilized eggs??? What happens to the unfertilized eggs? I AM SOOOOOO GLAD it is not dropsy

http://www.nazarenenexus.com/betta_ed/betta_m_d.htm I'm sorry Shelley, don't know if this is any help...all the folks here...will know so much more. I was just looking to see if I could find anything for you

Saw the pics of William, sure wish I could help Did you remove the rock thing Shelley? I'll keep browing the net to see if I can find anything...sorry for all your fish troubles

Thanks for your help with this folks I've been trying to see if scales are protruding but to the best I can see, they are not. Questions If it were dropsy: -the "protruding" scales is it progressive? -it would be the entire body wouldn't it? -would it be plain to see by now? -is the bloating the entire body, looked on net just looked like the bottom portion of fish...but then, new to this! If fishies having babies: -how long before eggs are layed? From what I've read so far, it is difficult to breed neons because, as you said, they do have to have a special setup, which I do not have. So, without the proper setup, could they still get...ummm...pregnant? What do you call it in fish...lol

I just found a web site...breeding tetras...and if that pic is what pregnant one looks like...OMG...I have 2 that way. I thought they were hard to breed?????

OMG...NOOOOOOOO... I had been browsing the web trying to see if there were any pics of a ...lol...pregnant neon...lol :oops: I didn't know what it would look like! But, Matt, the fish are so small would I be able to see the scales protruding...I've been even trying to see with a magnifying glass...I am loosing it aren't I If this is what's goin on...how long before...darn, forget...do neons lay eggs?

Help!!!!! I've been reading about dropsy. Have been trying all week to get a good picture of the neons (not black ones)...I don't know...looking at "healthy" fish pics...trying to compare...but I can't tell...having a panic attack!

Oh...tigerson...don't forget to put polysterene under your tank! Heh Alan...I remembered :lol: :lol:

Hi Martrix! You have1 year and about 10 months more experience than me :lol: Have been learing lots here...you'll enjoy this site...folks are REALLY friendly and have lots and lots and lots of experience to share.

Hi tigerson...and...greetings from Cape Breton! I'm a newbie at this...but...my BEST advice...listen to what these folks are telling you...they have more knowledge than a...snowstorm has snowflakes! Great site here...people are fantastic

Hi morgie! Welcome...and greetings from Cape Breton:) This is a wonderful place...great people...friendly, loads of knowledge on this hobby....and...LOVE FISHIES

Can you IMAGINE Shelley! 200 tanks...lol...and I'm just trying to cope with 1! 200 tanks...HOW MANY FISH???? Gee, Shelley...do you think that Alan is the "real" Man from Atlantis...hmmmm, Alan, are you???

ALAN Just reading through again...trying to absorb things...you had 200 TANKS! OMG You must have a huge house...200 tanks OMG!

Whew...thanks all! Thought there was something wrong with them. There color has been fine ever since. But from what you all have said, it is nothing to worry about. Hummingbird...about the cardinals, I haven't seen any here since I've had my tank. I've read a bit about them. Are they about the same size as the neons? Shelley...I usually have my lights on about 8 hours...do you think that maybe that is not enough? When I got home late the other night...I don't have my tank in direct sunlight...but that day it was dark and dreary...so Huey, Lewie, and Duey...lol...probably thought it was a looooong night :lol: I've been looking to see if I can get flourescent bulbs (my tank has incadescent). We had a couple of really nice days here (not hot, but warm) and with the lights on, temp in tank went from 72 to 76. One night it was almost 78, so I took a baggie with ice cubes and put it in to take temp back down. THANKS to Caryl I knew what to do! DiverJohn...can't get test kits for nitrites and nitrates...are there any fish to indicate that :lol: