birchir problems

[Paul_MTS]

I had to move the birchir again today as I didn't want him involved with ICH treatment, so he's in his permanent home now, but I noticd tonight that his coating was literally haning off his sides and traying behind.

he stil have quite a apetite eating most of a portion of jumbo bloodworm. The only problem is I very much doubt i have enough melafix left in the bottle to try and help him at all!!

I don't have another tank i could move him to, to treat now.

 

[Sean_Buckley]

Could he be shedding? I know some species of fish do this, but I don't think a Senegal is one of them. I would be adding stress coat, perhaps, just because it sounds to me like his slime coat is coming off. Hope this helps!
Sean

 

[Paul_MTS]

Right o, i'll just add some stress coat in, in the morning, shouldn't get worse during the night.....i hope.

It would be cool if they do shed there skins but he's shedding his slime coat!!

 

[SirMinion]

I would say that this is just a natural reaction to having a couple of stressfull days, plus his slime coat would have been contaminated by his visit to the floor at your shop so it needs to be ditched and replaced.

A dose of stresscoat and a watchful eye is all he needs and as he's eating well he should be fine.

Keep us posted.

 

[mwm]

Yah he will be alright, i fed my JD crickets! they love em he ate 4 and was waiting at the top for more but im saving some for later

 

[astroboy]

yeah, i think its just a reaction to stress. Since hes new, it may take him a couple days to adjust.

 

[Sean_Buckley]

O, I didn't know he had a visit to the Pet Shop floor! In that case, yes, it is probably just a natural reaction, like when my cousin overdosed the goldfish tank with Ick treatment! I put the goldfish in a seperate tank, and she did the same thing, kind of shed her slime coat!
Sean

 

[Paul_MTS]

Thanks people needed that, can't be having a fishy death around x-mas.

Yeah at the fish shop there was about a 2cm gap at each side where the external filter hosing went in and out and he decided to take a trip under the tanks.

He has had a few tough days being shifted around but he can certainly eat!!

Do they have teeth or just powerful jaws? when he was munching on the bloodworm as he chumped down on them you could see the red blood from them being released into the water!

lol Glad he's enjoyed them, don't get too worried if he strugles with 1 my oscar had 1 stuck in his bog for a few minutes but he sorted it. Drop me a PM if you need some help keeping the crickets alive.

 

[beblondie]

bichirs have two plate-like structures on the bottom of their lower jaw; these are known as 'gular plates' and are thicker bony structures which aid the bichir in crushing food;And recurved teeth also-Anne

 

[Paul_MTS]

I need to stock up on medicines I had a big bottle of stress coat and now i dont!!! I wasn't even able to treat the whole tank yet alone the sump capcity aswell.

Disadvantage No.2 of a massive tank!!

Cheers Anne, I see you have just a few birchirs!!

 

[Dwarfs]

Good luck, they have very strong jaws My finger knows

 

[Paul_MTS]

Lol, i'll have to try that, only been biten by a oscar and large red tail so far!!

Well he certainly knows when foods in the tank, straight to the froozen bloodworm closely followed by 2 lance fish

 

[Dwarfs]

Lol, i'll have to try that, only been biten by a oscar and large red tail so far!!

Well he certainly knows when foods in the tank, straight to the froozen bloodworm closely followed by 2 lance fish

The bichirs shouldn't hurt you, but they have a very very firm grip. Then again, mine are only 4-5" and yours is 7"

 

[Paul_MTS]

Although he's pretty confident coming out to feed I don't think i can get him to bite on command yet

Can't wait until my parents take me further out to pick up some more fish, hopefully including a few other birchirs.