HELP HELP HELP HELP Half-Dead fish!

[carey]

I don't have time to give a detailed post but he was fine yesterday and this morning he was floating/swimming upside down and most of the time resting on the gravel, only to be attacked by the fish in the tank. I think the bristle nose had a go at him while he was asleep (ya know how they sleep on the bottom) and there is pieces of fin missing too. Please help, I have put in some MelFix to try fix/prevent any fungus on him but I cannot take him out as I only have on tank setup. None of the fish stores are open today, its easter to please help me! URGENT!

 

[bigfish]

sounds like he got bullied mate do you have good hiding places for him? i dont know what to suggest. there are afew of us on line so maybe they will post something useful than me

 

[carey]

Thanks, There are tons of places for it to hide...should I take him out and into a jar or omething?

 

[cryosi]

going on what i know they are difficult to keep, (dont know why but i have heard in the past they are not long lived( an annual fish breed and die that may be wrong) I see them in my lfs and one of the guys i talk to a lot hates getting them in as they never live long yet the same people buy them! ( an other unknown question) I guess its breeding or a comination of water parameters that cause it.


hope some one helps more i guess one of the cichlid masters can help more and set soem info straight lol


http/www.aquaworldaquarium.com/The_Super...r_Blue_Ram.html

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[carey]

Thanks but what do I do with the sick one?

 

[StiX]

I wouldnt have thought a bristlenose would attack it as they are a peacefull speices.

The german ram is very sensitive to water quality which is the most likely explanation, do u have a test kit to give us some parameters ?

Putting it a jar isnt going to help, I would suggest a water change around 15% and keep up the recommended melafix dosage

 

[reg2k2]

It's pretty hot in NZ, right?...how's the night temp's? You might be able to hold him in your aquarium bucket w/ tank water and an air stone (maybe cover it w/ a towel to prevent escape). Although, prob. wouldn't be able to observe him too well.
Note this is not expert advice...only a thought...in case it's that bad/gets that bad. In hopes that it might hold you over 'til Monday.
Are there any stores open, do you have a Walmart?

Again, I hope someone can confirm this advice or come up w/ something better!!
I can't even say moving him is best, tho it may be.

 

[carey]

Thanks, But bad new the MelFix ran out but I do have a ph test kit, I will do a test and I might have time to do a water change. Will do thanks for your help!

 

[carey]

Thanks, there are no walmarts in NZ and I don't even need a heater to keep my tropicals but I have one just in case. The water temp is normally about 25 degrees celcius so I could put it in my water change bucket. I don't think he will last a few hours so umm what should I do? Dispose of him (last resourt) Thanks for your help and speedy replies!

 

[carey]

Ok its fairly acidic- ph it is about 6.5 so should i put in the adjusters slowely? Thanks for your help, I won't respond for a about 1 hour, the tide this morning is really high and I am thinking of taking my boat out (I live next to the sea! all of those phishies!)

 

[StiX]

I think it would be safer to leave it as it is, altho it is at the lower end of the fish's prefered pH level, it should be ok

 

[carey]

Thanks ...
Refer two msgs above...

 

[Pufferpack]

If it is a case of bullying, you may be able to isolate him with a clean plastic strainer until you can get some sort of breeding/quarintine net from your lfs when they open. This may give him time to strengthen up IMHO. (I'm new myself, so this is just a thought, but I have used large plastic strainers to catch my pictus cat to avoid damaging the barbels)

 

[carey]

OK HELP ME!

The other one is getting small white spots!! What treatment do I use?

 

[bigfish]

Definately sounds like a water quality problem to me and now you have a white spot out break on your hands, i suggest that you get down to your lfs and get an white spot treatment as soon as poss and if it was me i would invest some hard earned cash and buy a water testing kit so that you can afford future probs mate.