Uh Oh, What Do I Do? Will I Be Ok? I Think This Is Bad.

[Jeff000]

Ok so I am having a medical problem in my tank right now. but its under control I hope. As in I cant see the symptoms right now, But did lose two fish in the last 2 days to it.

The meds I used this morning turned my tank into doing a mini cycle, stats below
Ammonia - 0.3
Nitrite - 0.5
Nitrate - 20

I mean its not to bad, but its not good either.

Now down to my problem. A female friend of mine who knows I have a tank, and knows I planned on some kind of cory in a few weeks stopped by with a surprise tonight.
3 tiny panda corys, they are hardly 1cm long.

I am really afraid to put them in my tank, its in a mini cycle, and I am treating with EM tabs medication.
They are just floating in the bag right now. And have been in the bag for about 35 minutes.


I cant take them to a pet store like I would prefer as the one they were baught at is the only open the latest and its been closed for 20 minutes now.

Are they going to be ok? can I leave them in the bag for a long time? I dont have another tank, and even in the AM I cant get to a store till lunch time because of work.


Please help.

 

[fish_keeper2]

best be: go to walmart(if u have one near by or any other place open late that has fish supplies) get a small tank. somewhere around 5 gals and get an airpump. put the corries in here and moniter the water closely and do partials everyday or several times a day. they can stay in the bag for about an hr or more depending on how big it is. as soon as you see them gasping for air its time to get them out.

 

[Jeff000]

I live on the outskirts. and Walmart here isnt open past 10 except the 2 weeks befor xmas when it goes 24 hour.

I found a buddy that has an old air pump, but not tubing for it.

 

[smmetz]

hmm, following the other persons line of thought, maybe you can put in a large bowl or pitcher, with some dechlorinated tap water. If you have a spare filter or air pump, either should ensure that the fish get enough oxygen. Oh, you would need a spare heater too.

maybe, if you are desperate, you could float a container of water in your tank, so the temp would stay OK. you would still need an air pump for oxygen I guess?

 

[tttnjfttt]

I would definately not introduce them into your tank this closely after dealing wiht columnaris. For tonight, do you have a container you can float them in inside of your main tank?

I will second the walmart trip. They sell 10 gal kits complete with heater, filter, hood, and light for $30. This should be fine until you are able to handle your tank. As stated before, monitor the water quality very closely, as younger fish are very sensitive to poor water quality (this be a use for amquel or another ammonia remover?)

If you keep the water shallow in a container, you shouldn't have oxygen problems, the catch is, waste will build up faster

 

[smmetz]

I will second the walmart trip. They sell 10 gal kits complete with heater, filter, hood, and light for $30.

Wow, that is cheap! I saw somethign like that at Petco, All-Glass Aquarium brand, but it was like $60. They had a cheaper one, but it didnt come with half the stuff.

 

[Tolak]

I've seen panda corys at auctions sit in bags for 12+ hours. They do fine at room temp, corys like it a little cooler. A clean bucket or rubbermaid container will be fine until you get a tank or clear up the illness in the other tank. Daily water changes will be needed. A friend of mine breeds them, he doesn't use heaters.

 

[Jeff000]

ok I have them floating in a tupperware container, its about 3" deep and 10" long and 4" wide, give or take a little.
Only problem is I have to leave the lid open with it in there. I dont think the cat can jump up that high, but its a worry. Maybe I will push it under the lid a bit, away from the lights, it shouldnt sink.

If i stir up the water every now and then would that be good for air? I dont have a pump.

 

[Tolak]

Sure, pour with a cup every once in a while. That's a trick used to get them to spawn, it will aerate the water. Put a top on to keep the cat out, just leave it a little loose.

 

[Jeff000]

ok, I have them in there with my lid closed. I will use a cup to pour some of the water to keep air in it when ever I walk by. The meds I am using says 4 days.
How long should I keep them in the tupperware?

I know this will sound cold and heartless, but buying a seperate tank isnt really an option, so they will have to stay where they are till they can go in the main tank.
Should I just wait till the amonia and nitrate err nitrite? ( i keep getting them confused) are back to 0 and the meds are done.

 

[Inchworm]

Hi Jeff000

It looks like you have the situation under control for tonight, but I suggest you look into getting another tank for them tomorrow. There is a chain lfs near me that has 10 gallon starter kits for $30 too, so this is probably a price you can find near you if you call around. You will probably want to add a 50 watt heater as well.

If you can get some filter material from a friend with a healthy, cycled tank, I would recommend using it to avoid having to cycle a new tank for them.

Pandas, while being one of the most delicate cory, can be kept quit well and will even breed for you when they are mature. They do better, I have found, in a tank by themselves. You could keep a nice community of 6 or 7 in a 10 gallon tank, once it's cycled. They are definitely not corys that will do well with your rams.

They are a cooler temperature cory and do well in a consistent temperature anywhere in the 71 to 77 degrees F. range. Keep the tank very clean and the nitrates low. They are prone to bacterial infections, so keep any stress factors to a minimum.

Right now, I would suggest that you turn the tank lights out and let the tank heater warm the water. The lights might overheat the small amount of water in the container.

Good luck with the little fellows!

 

[Jeff000]

One of them didnt make it through the night
I did a water change this morning, and will be taking the two left to my lfs at lunch.

 

[Inchworm]

Hi Jeff000

I'm sorry that you lost the little cory.

But, you did the very best you could, under a lot of pressure, and that is worthy of commendation. Bringing them back to the store must be hard too, but it's probably the best thing for them.

 

[Jeff000]

Hi Jeff000

I'm sorry that you lost the little cory.

But, you did the very best you could, under a lot of pressure, and that is worthy of commendation. Bringing them back to the store must be hard too, but it's probably the best thing for them.

I took them back today, not to the store they were bought at (as its 45 minutes away), but to the LFS that I like right close.

They said that had they got corries in this small they would not be for sale for a while. And didnt really want to take them because of this, they didnt have a tank that they could make sure wasnt sold.
But one of the employees said he would take them to his cory tank, where he has 8 other panda's. He even said to come back when my tank is ready and he would buy me a German Ram. So I am very happy that it worked out as good as it did.

It is sad that I didnt get to keep them though, they are very cute.
But I have been told that panda's wouldnt do good with rams?