Are My Fish Ok?

[waterdrop]

well im now a little annoyed! i asked the guys in the shop to get me set up completely correctly with everything i need. i was told nothing about Ph tests and such. Now ive just noticed ive got my first casualty... my favourite one too!

Yes, as MW tells you, shop advice must be dealt with very carefully.

Here's my approach to LFS. I like to research each type of thing I need in the hobby, whether hardware or living things. I also think about how urgently I need the item. If I need it quickly, I'm grateful for the LFS and will readily buy the item there. I call or look for an exact item, I don't go in and talk (I mean I do talk, in fact I enjoy a nice interaction, but I never expect to receive any useful information and if am told something I file it away to be verified here on TFF or via other sources.)

I like visits to local fish shops because its fun to see the actual fish and plants and you might be lucky and see something good on a rare occasion. I also like getting to see actual hardware and read the packaging. If a purchase is not urgent and I had a nice local shop I wouldn't hesitate to have them order it for me, but I also would go out on the web and have it shipped if it was a hassle getting it from the store. I still will always be prepared for the fact that, without necessarily meaning to, LFS workers will often give exactly the wrong advice.

~~waterdrop~~

 

[acula]

well im sure im not the first person to rush into this sort of thing, all i can do now is try n correct my mistakes.

thanks for the help guys, all of ya

 

[Madam Macaw]

Sorry to hear that you got bad advice. You definitely aren't the first either (I was sold a common pleco that grows over a foot for a 10 gallon tank). Definitely get the liquid test kit, forget about the strips, and an airstone. You can look forward to daily water changes until your readings get good. Fingers crossed for the rest of the fish you have. Good luck.

 

[acula]

Well i took the fish bk to the shop caus i didnt wanna watch em suffer, they were kool about looking after them for me.

They did a water test and it appears my ammonia levels were too high. The guy slipped me one of their testing kits and 2 plants under the counter for free

I'll do 20% water changes til next week and then test it.

Hopefully my sick fish will make recoveries!!!

 

[ALW]

Did the right thing taking the fish back

 

[Madam Macaw]

Did you take all of the fish back to the store, so your tank is empty now? Follow the directions for a fishless cycle if that is the case - grab some Bio Spira if you can find it.

Good luck!