hospital aquarium

[littlehattie]

hi all

ok yesterday we spent the day at the hospital (not the first time and sure won't be the last)

well we hadn't been to this one befor and the first thing we noticed was a tank in the waiting room

in it was just one lonely looking angel fish, he must heve been shy too cus he was hiding behind a thick wall of algae.

well mum likes to fix things that are broke and take in things that are ill (she says if i wasn't already hers she'd have to kidnap me), so she asked about the tank and while i was having my treatment (this is when i fall asleep), she started doing an emegency clean. )

the nurse that looked after the tank has been moved to the ward and no one on the unit knows about fish so we said we would give them as much info as we can find befor we go back next week

thats where you lot can help cus we've never had angel fish

his tanks is about 18 x18 x 24 high

should he be on his own

what plants should he have

what should thye feed him

any other suggestions

thanks

hattie (age 9 1/2 tomorrow, yeaaay)

 

[Arfie]

Get your mum to tell them that to look after the angel properly they need to scrub the inside of the tank to keep the algae off, they need to change 25% of the water weekly and treat the new water with dechlorinator etc they also need to vacuum the fish poo off the bottom of the tank.

Or if it's too much trouble for them, say you would be happy to take the fish and the tank home and look after it there to save them the trouble, when they've got sick people to look after.

Happy 9 1/2 birthday for tomorrow

Arfie

 

[copeina]

In a tank that size, he can be alone, or maybe add some cory catfish or another peaceful, but active fish like swordtails or larger tetras (NOT neons).

In a hospital, I would not add another angel, as when they don't get along, they DON"T get along, and people don't need to see that. Also, if they do get along, and spawn, it can be an equally bad scene as everyone has an opinion about what to do and how to do it, plus they will slaughter any other fish that do get added to the tank.

Just clean the tank as best you can, add some nice tall silk or plastic aquarium plants, and find someone to do regular water changes. With the water changes, he should feel better, and with lots of cover, he can hide when he's feeling insecure. Also tell the staff to tap on the glass at feeding time. In a month or so, he will associate the noise with food, and will race to the front of the tank when there are people around rather than cower.

Good luck & happy 1/2 birthday (I celebrate mine, too!)
/Kris

 

[clutterydrawer]

Hello

So you don't have to do so much algae cleaning, you could add an algae eater such as some otocinclus. Another way to reduce algae would be to add some live plants - tall thin plants like vallisneria would be good because the angel will like to swim in and out of them.

You might also want to rinse out the filter sponges because if the tank hasn't been cleaned for a while, they might be quite dirty.

I dunno how often you'll be in to check on him but you could leave the staff a sort of information sheet of things to look out for, eg symptoms of disease, so they can keep an eye on him.

 

[littlehattie]

i'm gonna be in every week for a while and one of the nurses says she'll look after him when she knows how.

mum cleaned the filter yesterday and did a partial water change

we'll get some plants and maybe a little pal or two for next week and give them some info

we've called him fish
original eh

hattie

 

[enchanted]

Hi Hattie,
If the tank is 18x18x24 then it is a 33G tank. I would recommend a few corys (3 or 4) for cleaning up the gravel and they will be fun for all patients. Then as cluttery said, add a few ottos. If you call an LFS they may donate the fish to the hospital if they could get a little statement put up saying they did donate them.

The next time you go up, prior to adding fish, I would take up your test kits and test the water. Make sure nothing is off so you don't add fish to their demise.

Hope this helps.

 

[hattiesmum]

hi all

good news, i've been to the lfs today and they've offered to donate some fish to keep buffy happy (hattie thought fish was just too common a name for him after all)

we'll take a couple along next week and maybe some more the week after

we'll try to get a photo when he's looking a bit happier

hatties mum (jes)

 

[Arfie]

That's great news, which hospital is it?

and who's the LFS?

Arfie

 

[enchanted]

Most LFS are into giving to the community because it helps them in return.

I'm glad to hear they did. Definitely the first thing in order, after water testing, would be the ottos to get the algae clear.

Don't clean it, just get 2 or 3 ottos that are "very small". They will grow rapidly! and with a tank that size it should be clean in a week or less by them.