I have a dilema...

juliethegr8t · Mar 1, 2004

Well I've thought and thought on this, and just can't figure out what to do - so I need some advice from y'all. A little over two weeks ago I bought a 5 1/2 gallon tank for breeding bettas. Soon after it was all setup, I noticed that the cherry barbs in my 6 gallon had something like red worms protruding from their vents. I did hours and hours of research, and tried the only medication available around here - Pipzine by Aquatronics. I moved them to the 5.5 and used it as a quarantine tank, and treated both that tank, and the 6 gallon, just in case.

None of the fish in the 6 gallon seem affected at all, and the cherry barbs show no improvement. The female is still eating, but the male hasn't been for awhile. The worms are still there. They are acting otherwise pretty normal, a little less active but I think that's due to being in a new environment.

Annnnyways, to the point of the matter - I need the tank empty - I need to breed! As of well, today (Monday), it'll have been 2 weeks since I started conditioning the pair, and they're about ready to pop. I'd love to get them breeding in the next few days. The question is what to do w/ my barbs. I can't euthanize them, that's out of the question for me.... I wonder if there would be a problem moving them back to the tank they were in? I have a feeling the worms had been there for awhile before I noticed, and none of the other fish seem to be having a problem. Of course I would take action immediately if anything changed. I don't really have another place to put them, and they can't stay in the 5.5 much longer anyway - it's not filtered (just an airstone), and they don't appreciate not having anywhere to hide. What do y'all think??

Help!! Please understand I really don't, and can't, have a lot of options.

(Grr... where is Chris and all his tanks when I need em!!)

ryan · Mar 1, 2004

Here is a great site I use-

http

/www.fishyfarmacy.com/symptoms.html

Click on the correct box and follow the right answers until you reach the answer. I believe they are Blood-red worms which are visible on the inside surface of the operculum (gill plate), this usually only occurs in pond fish though. The fish are affected with blood worms (Philometra spp) they hang on the gill plates quite visible. Unfortunatly there is no suitable treatment known.

juliethegr8t · Mar 1, 2004

Actually, from all the reading I've done, I'm pretty sure they are Camallanus or Capillaria worms (some type of nemotodes). Thanks though.

wuvmybetta · Mar 1, 2004

I don't see a problem with moving them back to the 6, since you're treating both tanks anyway. Make sure you triple scrub the breeding tank

juliethegr8t · Mar 1, 2004

Well the thing is, I finished the treatments. The meds say you can do it twice (every other day for 5 days), if necessary. Would that be good if I moved them back? I could just treat the 6 again.

Thanks wuv - I'm dying to start, my gal is so fat you can't see her head from behind... :lol:

I'm gonna scrub that tank like crazy with nice hot water and aquarium salt. I'm afraid to try bleach or any other soap. Think that's good?

wuvmybetta · Mar 1, 2004

I'd just treat the 6 again, as you said.

Hot water and salt should be good, let it sit and soak for about 15 minutes or so. I've never used bleach or soap either, too scary for me :crazy:

Can't wait to hear about your betta breeding adventures! :hyper:

I cried the first time I saw a pair spawning, it was so beautiful :wub:

It's amazing how such beautiful creatures can be so rough and so gentle at the same time :wub:

Adrinal · Mar 1, 2004

You know, assuming (and with good luck) you and FM really do get together in eternal blisters... er bliss, you know you 2 only have one option... BOth of you are breeding nuts, so other than visiting PP like every other day... you will have to do a micro fish farm.

you know it.
I know it.
FM knows it.

hey have you been to garf.org ? check it out.

resistance is futile.

Inchworm · Mar 1, 2004

Hi juliethegr8t

Why don't you just do what I would do........buy another tank! :unsure:

Since you're not talking about buying all the accessories, the tank itself would just cost a few dollars. And, you can always use and extra one. :nod:

juliethegr8t · Mar 1, 2004

Adrinal said:
You know, assuming (and with good luck) you and FM really do get together in eternal blisters... er bliss, you know you 2 only have one option... BOth of you are breeding nuts, so other than visiting PP like every other day... you will have to do a micro fish farm.

Ya know what, you're right. I have a feeling we will end up with barely any room to sleep, and the rest will be fish tanks. In fact, we'll probably eat off the hood of the 180, and sleep on the floor while the 90 gets a pretty stand. :rofl:

Hm.... he just needs to learn how to ship already, because he's already got his own fish farm going on over there... so far I'm just a teeny weeny one.

Right now I just gotta work on gettin some of his tanks empty, psh he doesn't get all the fishy space to his own desires... Julie is gonna butt her way in!

Inchworm - I'd love to get another tank but I simply don't have any room (or money). Every tank I have is in my bedroom, and it isn't exactly large, lol. Parents do that to ya! Plus the fact that my mother would probably kick me AND the poor wee fishies out on the street if I brought home another... :crazy: