Tropical Fish Forum
Tropical Fish Keeping Help and Advice => New Fishkeepers => Topic started by: george on December 08, 2014, 12:56:20 AM
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not adding more fish to the tank now as i want to move up and have malawis so just leaving the tropical stock as it is now just let them live there lives in there home/my tank
anyway had about 3 rainbows die and one of the rams i have has swallowen eyes what could be the cause of this? do i need any medicine for the fish? thanks
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rainbows of all species are reputed to need big weekly water changes, and are susceptible to water quality. Have you been keeping up with your water changes?
The ram, are both eyes swollen or just one? Just one is likely to be an injury, but both is more likely a disease. The problem is that it really needs antibiotics to treat an infection and we can't get those without a vet's prescription. You could try eSHa 2000 or Interpet anti internal bacteria but they might not be strong enough.
I know absolutely nothing about Malawis except they need hard alkaline water, should be overstocked to prevent aggression, and look gorgeous in shop tanks. If my water wasn't soft, I'd be tempted as well ;)
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Sorry online just logged be on ram died mum took it out for me because she looks at the tank too
No to be honest not done it all the time because when bite nails etc don't wanna put hands in with redness etc so will be stopping the biting so obviously I killed my fish
I am still gonna have to treat the water with meds so what's best to get please
Both eyes on ram where swollen so I will stop have to
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Hi George :) I'm assuming you don't want to put your hands in the water because you don't want to get any nasties in your wounds? If you keep the water really clean, cuts shouldn't really be a problem. I have rabbits which sometimes give me pretty bad scratches when I'm trying to cut their nails and I've never worried about putting my hands in my tank; just make sure you haven't put any creams on your hands before you put them in the tank or you could harm your fish.
I would recommend you do a couple of really big water changes over the next few days, like 40% every second day until it's really clean again. If you're really worried about your hands then maybe you could ask your mum to help you with the first couple of water changes? Also make sure you clean your filter in non-chlorinated water and give your gravel a good vacuum as well :) . You might well need to get some medications, but I think that Sue or one of the other more experienced fish keepers on that site is better to advise you on that then I am.
Hope that helps and good luck!
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Thanks both so am I gonna need some meds if so what one ? Also what about adding tonic water into the tank I have this one http://www.amazon.co.uk/Interpet-General-Number-Aquarium-Treatment/dp/B002I6OFR8
The ram passed away and don't think I will add another incase they don't get along and don't really wanna have to get rid of the one that has lived in my tank for a long time now
Thanks
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Those general tonic meds are usually a waste of time.
Rams can be tricky fish to keep. If they've had a wild caught ancestor within the last couple of generations, they do need very specific water conditions - soft, low pH and higher temps than most fish can stand. If they've been tank bred for lots of generations they can take a wider range of conditions but some breeders use wild caught fish to widen the gene pool. If the father/mother or grandfather/grandmother of your fish was wild caught, they would need those special conditions.
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Its the Bolivian rams sue that we both have I will just keep it as one and not unsettle by getting another ram for it
Do I need any meds at all as the water still hasn't been treated yet if so I can try get it today as my mums fella is here so I can get a lift
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Ah, forgot that :-[
Bolivians don't have the picky requirements of ordinary rams.
You posted that the fish had died in December. If that was the last fish to die, I wouldn't add any meds now as it is a few weeks since.
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Ok thanks sue was just thinking because as its untreated still thought the problem may still be there
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One of my honey gouramis is fat like swallowen and it floats about seems like it can't control itself a bit why is this ?
I may get rid of the fish to MA tell them I have had a few probs with the fish and get rid of my tank from day one I have had problems with it it was also a used tank I wana start all over again
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It sounds as though your gourami is having problems and possibly the start of dropsy - are it's scales sticking out at all? The problem is that we can't get the powerful meds needed for internal infections like they have in the USA.
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Think so ye what am I best doing,?
Will MA accept my fish ?
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They might accept the healthy ones. But some branches are stopping taking fish in, ring them first to check.
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Ok thanks
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They will end up putting them in there big display tanks probably am I best putting the gourami asleep?
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If it doesn't look well, no shop will take it as it could have something that would infect all their fish. So yes, if it doesn't look well and you want to get rid of all your fish then you don't really have any other option I'm afraid.
You mentioned a while ago about moving into Malawis. You could remove all your current fish then add ammonia to the tank like for fishless cycling to feed the bacteria until you find the fish you want.
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Thanks sue nar gonna get rid of tank and get a new one when I can will
Let you know how i get on
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Can't catch fish and they will die from stress anyway only caught 3 am best putting them all to sleep with ammonia I think what do you think sue
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Put the gourami to sleep now I just dunno what to do
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cant believe what i said above was just stressing out myself, i wouldnt dare do it anyway i still have the fish and tank, going to do my water change now gonna take 5 buckets out instead of 3 this time
heres a picture i took few days ago
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That's a nice looking tank George.
At least you have fish in yours, mine' still cycling (possibly!!)
Glad you are persevering.
This fish lark isn't supposed to stress us out - is it?
What happened to the lovely relaxing feeling we're all supposed to have watching our little fishy friends swimming round eh.
You keep going George. You'll get there I'm sure, especially with the advice you can ask for on here.
Best Wishes Sandra