Stressed Out L-260

[ghent_3rd]

I think my Queen Arabesque is rearly struggling at the minute. She does not look in great shape compared to 4 or 5 days ago. I know part of it is my fault and this must have really unsettled her......I did a water change and had my daughter around, doingmy head in to be honest, and consequently put water into the tank that hadn't been warmed up. The temp dropped almost instantly by 3 degree celsius and she did not seem happy about it. She was flicking and all over the place.

To make it worse my garra is dishing out a lot of stick whenever the QA comes by although I am trying to catch him to move him to my Uncle's tank. After not seeing the QA for well over 24 hours I decided I should check to make sure she hadn't departed me, if you know what I mean. That's when I moved a piece of wood and scared the holy **** out of her, she went flying round the tank and settled, breathing very havily, to get a bit of a greeting from my garra. She has now returned to her hiding place at the back of the tank without having any dinner. I'm going to put a sinking wafer towards the rear of the tank tonight andmaybe move som of the decor around to stop the garra and my L-205 controlling a part of the tank where my plecs like to go.

I can't think of anything else to do really, just watch and wait. I did consider popping out and purchasing some Melafix tomorrow but I don't know if it will make any difference to be honest?? Any help much appreciated, I really don't want to lose her!!!!

 

[stang1]

Hi Ghent,
Sorry to hear about your QA, I can understand your worry.
I don't think Melafix would make a difference if there are no signs of infection etc.
How are your oxygen levels? I know our Magnum suffered due to lack of oxygen and wonder if this could be the problem.
I really haven't got much clue as I don't have one but she may need to settle a bit after the water change and with your Garra darting about.
I really hope someone else can help you with this but I will keep my fingers crossed for you. Good luck.

 

[ghent_3rd]

Thanks stang, I was thinking of putting my air pump on for the night at least to get the oxygen levels up there a bit. It can't do any harm.

 

[Leonwillow]

Good idea to get the air pump running.

Hope she is OK.

I'd not move anything else it case it spooks her further.

 

[stang1]

After losing our Magnum Pleco we now have two filters and two air pumps running on our 137G tank. We didn't want to take the chance of losing our others.
Like you said, it can't do any harm to run it and it might help your QA out.

 

[ghent_3rd]

Think I may have lost my little 260.

not seen hersince yesterday and she was looking very stressed out indeed. I'm so peaved aswell that it was me that started the stress, after she had settled a lot better than I had anticipated, with a stupid water change. Last time i have my daughter around when doing that again. Oh well, you never know, she may turn up over the next couple of days. The next plec i get though i am going to make sure it is a bit more robust and a closer size to my L-205 so it can stand up for itself a buit more.

Gotta cange some of the bogwood around aswell so there is a few more hiding places for the plecs. What's the old saying, "We learn from our mistakes"

 

[Leonwillow]

Really sorry to hear that.

I got a 260 a couple of weeks ago and I hardly ever see it.

Fingers crossed yours is hiding.

 

[timmystood]

Well John. I don't know what to say mate.. i'm really sorry to hear about the Queeny. Are you 100% sure she has died? I only ever see my L001/L022 once every week or so and that's if I switch the tank on at like midnight. She's probably just a little stressed lately and needs some time to come back round trusting the tank. Hopefully she'll be ok. If your 100% certain you've lost her then i'm really sorry to hear it mate.

Fingers crossed for ya

 

[ghent_3rd]

I'm not 100%, hopefully just being a bit paranoid. I'll keep you updated. I'll see you soon Tim.

 

[stang1]

I really hope she's just hiding Ghent. I'll keep my fingers crossed for you.

 

[ghent_3rd]

I'm so tempted to strip the tank down to find out for definate what's happened but if she is still knocking about somewhere then I don't want to stress her even more. I'm going to give it a couple of weeks at least and then change all my bogwood around to create the hiding places that I need for my plecs, some really quality caves at base level, and hopefully I will then find out for sure if I don't see her in that time.

 

[AlexAndCarmen]

Sorry to hear about your little one's stress. Have you found her yet?? Hope she's ok. Keep us updated. Fingers crossed.

 

[ghent_3rd]

Bad news I'm afraid, .

I'm so gutted, seen a bit of what looked likes serious de-composition on a bit of bogwood right towards the back of the tank so I thought , "what the hell, let's find out". I pulled out most of my bogwood to re-create the caves I am looking for to make my plecs as happy as poss and there was no sign of her anywhere in the tank.

I have really learnt the hard way this time, awesome fish aswell and I basically killed her, although it was a genuine mistake. To be honest, and I think Tim will agree, I purchased her for her beauty and didn't really consider the tankmates that I had. With the Garra still causing havoc when she was alive I don't think she was leading a very happy existence in my tank and I will learn for next time not to have such delicate plecs, that can have a tendency to struggle with over-zealous tankmates, in with my current inhabitants.

Going to have to be a good, strong L-no that can stand up for itself with bit more size next time Tim me old mucker!!! Get your thinking cap on! I'm still going to try and get the garra out but as of yet he is still way to quick for me, just hope I can get it out before I come over to Maidenhead on the 22nd as that will open up my options a bit more. Also bringing over my Aqua-log so I can do a bit of on-site research to get just the right plec this time. No impulse buying allowed!!!

Thanks for everyone's thoughts and it's nice to have so many shoulders to cry on in my hour of need.

Poor little "Queeny", my daughter is going to be really upset.

 

[timmystood]

Aww, really sorry to hear it mate.

I'll have a think between now and the 22nd and have a look out for a good replacement plec for ya, when you come over.

See you soon pal

Queeny

 

[stang1]

So sorry for your loss Ghent.