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Retirement and forum shutdown (17 Jan 2022)
Hi,
John Howell who has managed the forum for years is getting on and wishes to retire from the role of managing it.
Over the years, he has managed the forum through good days and bad days and he has always been fair.
He has managed to bring his passion for fish keeping to the forum and keep it going for so long.
I wish to thank John for his hard work in keeping the forum going.
With John wishing to "retire" from the role of managing the forum and the forum receiving very little traffic, I think we must agree that forum has come to a natural conclusion and it's time to put it to rest.
I am proposing that the forum be made read-only from March 2022 onwards and that no new users or content be created. The website is still registered for several more years, so the content will still be accessible but no new topics or replies will be allowed.
If there is interest from the ITFS or other fish keeping clubs, we may redirect traffic to them or to a Facebook group but will not actively manage it.
I'd like to thank everyone over the years who helped with forum, posted a reply, started a new topic, ask a question and helped a newbie in fish keeping. And thank you to the sponsors who helped us along the away. Hopefully it made the hobby stronger.
I'd especially like to thank John Howell and Valerie Rousseau for all of their contributions, without them the forum would have never been has successful.
Thank you
Darragh Sherwin
Fish itching
- mrsFishpatrick (Astrid Fitzpatrick)
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11 Feb 2009 14:49 #1
by mrsFishpatrick (Astrid Fitzpatrick)
Fish itching was created by mrsFishpatrick (Astrid Fitzpatrick)
I see my fish itching lately.
my levels are good
ammo 0
trItes 0
trAtes 5-10
I had 2 GBR's in this tank wich both died within days of each other
and within 2 weeks of me buying them, the other thing I can think of is that I used nutrafin aqua+ instead of my usual stress coat
with my weekly 50% waterchanges.
What can this be.
Fish seem a bit more skittish than usual (flight behaviour)
please help
my levels are good
ammo 0
trItes 0
trAtes 5-10
I had 2 GBR's in this tank wich both died within days of each other
and within 2 weeks of me buying them, the other thing I can think of is that I used nutrafin aqua+ instead of my usual stress coat
with my weekly 50% waterchanges.
What can this be.
Fish seem a bit more skittish than usual (flight behaviour)
please help
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- monty (monty)
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11 Feb 2009 15:24 #2
by monty (monty)
Replied by monty (monty) on topic Re:Fish itching
Have they got any white spots or are they just flashing? It's possible you introduced something with the GBR's as some form of parasite would be my guess. Were they quarantined ?
Have you had any change in you PH and/or temp ? What are they ?
Oh, I wouldn't expect it's the change to nutrafin aqua+
Monty
Have you had any change in you PH and/or temp ? What are they ?
Oh, I wouldn't expect it's the change to nutrafin aqua+
Monty
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- JohnH (John)
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11 Feb 2009 15:33 #3
by JohnH (John)
Location:
N. Tipp
We're just two lost souls swimming in a fish bowl - year after year.
ITFS member.
It's a long way to Tipperary.
Replied by JohnH (John) on topic Re:Fish itching
Well,
your water would seem OK, have you checked the pH? It could be very significant with Rams, they are rather delicate, to say the least. You might want to check your TDS, or at very least your water hardness values.
I'm afraid the general run-of-the-mill Ram nowadays isn't exactly what you might call Hardy, For what it's worth I would steer clear of them entirely, far less prone to unexplained deaths are the Bolivian Rams - I recently saw a picture of some Wild-caught fish and they were fantastic! They would put even the German-bred ordinary Rams to shame!
They're now on my 'to obtain' wish list.
John
your water would seem OK, have you checked the pH? It could be very significant with Rams, they are rather delicate, to say the least. You might want to check your TDS, or at very least your water hardness values.
I'm afraid the general run-of-the-mill Ram nowadays isn't exactly what you might call Hardy, For what it's worth I would steer clear of them entirely, far less prone to unexplained deaths are the Bolivian Rams - I recently saw a picture of some Wild-caught fish and they were fantastic! They would put even the German-bred ordinary Rams to shame!
They're now on my 'to obtain' wish list.
John
Location:
N. Tipp
We're just two lost souls swimming in a fish bowl - year after year.
ITFS member.
It's a long way to Tipperary.
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- derek (Derek Doyle)
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11 Feb 2009 17:11 #4
by derek (Derek Doyle)
30 tanks specialise in african cichlids, angelfish and various catfish
Replied by derek (Derek Doyle) on topic Re:Fish itching
hi astrid
i would say 50% weekly water change is excessive and reccommend reducing this to 20% weekly. the additive should make no difference.
fish flicking is sometimes common after water changes and as long as it does not persist is not a problem. just observe the fishes fins and if u see white spots, only then treat with protozin or such. as john says rams are very delicate these days and are best avoided for communities.
hope this helps.
i would say 50% weekly water change is excessive and reccommend reducing this to 20% weekly. the additive should make no difference.
fish flicking is sometimes common after water changes and as long as it does not persist is not a problem. just observe the fishes fins and if u see white spots, only then treat with protozin or such. as john says rams are very delicate these days and are best avoided for communities.
hope this helps.
30 tanks specialise in african cichlids, angelfish and various catfish
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- Fishowner (Gavin fishowner)
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11 Feb 2009 17:32 #5
by Fishowner (Gavin fishowner)
Replied by Fishowner (Gavin fishowner) on topic Re:Fish itching
Im with Derek on this one, 50% seems rather excessive on a weekly basis, the water changes alone could of killed the Rams. Thats alot of water to be replacing. While temps can be matched on introduction to the tank, the PH cannot and it can lead to fish being stressed. I would go with Derek on 20% also.
The itching sounds like your fish make have some from of a skin disease or Ich. How long has it been going on, are there any white spots developing on the fish. Any new fish introduced lately,or indeed any new bog wood ? (my fish caught whitespot lately off what I think may have come from some bogwood.
Gavin
The itching sounds like your fish make have some from of a skin disease or Ich. How long has it been going on, are there any white spots developing on the fish. Any new fish introduced lately,or indeed any new bog wood ? (my fish caught whitespot lately off what I think may have come from some bogwood.
Gavin
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- mrsFishpatrick (Astrid Fitzpatrick)
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11 Feb 2009 22:07 #6
by mrsFishpatrick (Astrid Fitzpatrick)
Replied by mrsFishpatrick (Astrid Fitzpatrick) on topic Re:Fish itching
The latest ones were the GBr's it started after they came in to the tank, I am not worried about the gbr's they are dead and there is nothing I can do about it, I am worried for my original inhabitants
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- LimerickBandit (Donal Doran)
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11 Feb 2009 22:22 #7
by LimerickBandit (Donal Doran)
Replied by LimerickBandit (Donal Doran) on topic Re:Fish itching
mrs fishpatrick wrote:
Thats a good reason not to worry about them
I am not worried about the gbr's they are dead
Thats a good reason not to worry about them
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- sheag35 (Seamus Gillespie)
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12 Feb 2009 00:46 #8
by sheag35 (Seamus Gillespie)
Fishkeeping the Only way to get wet and wild
currently 25 tanks, and breeding is the aim of everything i keep
location:Limerick
Replied by sheag35 (Seamus Gillespie) on topic Re:Fish itching
just one or two things to watch out for it could possibly be Velvet or ich(whtespot)
Velvet looks a lot like ich but velvet shows up as smaller yellow or gray dusty spots on the fish. Tropical fish with velvet will have rapid gill movement and may be rubbing on surfaces in the tank.
if on the other hand they are Glancing off rocks or plants it could be flukes, anchor worm, Chilodonella, or Costia
Flukes symptoms: The fish scrapes itself against objects, rapid gill movement, mucus covering the gills or body, the gills or fins may be eaten away, the skin may become reddened.
Anchor worms symptoms: The fish scrapes itself against objects, whitish-green threads hang out of the fish's skin with an inflamed area at the point of attachment.
Chilodonella symptoms: Dulling of the colors due to excessive slime, fraying of the fins, weakness, gill damage,this disease causes a blue white cloudiness on the skin and attacks the gills. Later the skin may be broken down and the gills destroyed. The fish may behave like they have irritations, by glancing off aquarium decor, they may have clamped fins and difficulty breathing.
Costia symptoms: Milky cloudiness on skin.This is a rare protozoan disease that causes a cloudiness of the skin.
check for these symptoms if ich or velvet use a whitespot treatment, otherwise use protozon for the others
hopefully all will be well
Seamus
Velvet looks a lot like ich but velvet shows up as smaller yellow or gray dusty spots on the fish. Tropical fish with velvet will have rapid gill movement and may be rubbing on surfaces in the tank.
if on the other hand they are Glancing off rocks or plants it could be flukes, anchor worm, Chilodonella, or Costia
Flukes symptoms: The fish scrapes itself against objects, rapid gill movement, mucus covering the gills or body, the gills or fins may be eaten away, the skin may become reddened.
Anchor worms symptoms: The fish scrapes itself against objects, whitish-green threads hang out of the fish's skin with an inflamed area at the point of attachment.
Chilodonella symptoms: Dulling of the colors due to excessive slime, fraying of the fins, weakness, gill damage,this disease causes a blue white cloudiness on the skin and attacks the gills. Later the skin may be broken down and the gills destroyed. The fish may behave like they have irritations, by glancing off aquarium decor, they may have clamped fins and difficulty breathing.
Costia symptoms: Milky cloudiness on skin.This is a rare protozoan disease that causes a cloudiness of the skin.
check for these symptoms if ich or velvet use a whitespot treatment, otherwise use protozon for the others
hopefully all will be well
Seamus
Fishkeeping the Only way to get wet and wild
currently 25 tanks, and breeding is the aim of everything i keep
location:Limerick
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- mrsFishpatrick (Astrid Fitzpatrick)
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12 Feb 2009 14:41 #9
by mrsFishpatrick (Astrid Fitzpatrick)
Replied by mrsFishpatrick (Astrid Fitzpatrick) on topic Re:Fish itching
I think it might be Ich but I am not sure, I think I might see a spot or 2 on the barbs but these fellas go so quick I am not sure, the fry don't seem to have any whitespot and neither do the cory's and I don't see them itching at all, they do quite the opposite and are giving me eggs:) . I have bought eSHa Exit anti whitespot treatment it doesn't say anything about my cory's It states it can be used with very young fish and sensitive fish.
Funny enough I don't see anyone scratching today, should I wait giving the meds till I am absolutely sure it is Ich??
Funny enough I don't see anyone scratching today, should I wait giving the meds till I am absolutely sure it is Ich??
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- sheag35 (Seamus Gillespie)
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12 Feb 2009 23:46 #10
by sheag35 (Seamus Gillespie)
Fishkeeping the Only way to get wet and wild
currently 25 tanks, and breeding is the aim of everything i keep
location:Limerick
Replied by sheag35 (Seamus Gillespie) on topic Re:Fish itching
better safe than sorry, if you suspect it i'd personally treat for it, easier to deal with an isolated incident than a full blown outbreak, if you have a small isolation tank seperate the ones you suspect and treat them in it with no substrate just an unturned flowepot or something so they can hide if stressed.
hope all goes well
hope all goes well
Fishkeeping the Only way to get wet and wild
currently 25 tanks, and breeding is the aim of everything i keep
location:Limerick
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- mrsFishpatrick (Astrid Fitzpatrick)
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13 Feb 2009 23:18 #11
by mrsFishpatrick (Astrid Fitzpatrick)
Replied by mrsFishpatrick (Astrid Fitzpatrick) on topic Re:Fish itching
I am after treating the whole tank, like u said rather be safe than sorry, or taking out a few induviduals, treating them, only to find out that the whole tank ends up infested, I am on day 2 now and the cory's are coping fine, still seem to be frisky with one another ( or I should say 5 after 1, I only have 1 female to 5 horndog males:laugh: get more female cories:lol: ) and the barbs are out in front again showing themselves off, so I think it is working.
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- umm (karen baker)
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14 Feb 2009 09:50 #12
by umm (karen baker)
Replied by umm (karen baker) on topic Re:Fish itching
The GBR must be really sensitive because I bought two a couple of weeks ago and both developed white spot within 24 hrs and died within a week:( Want to try them again though, they are a lovely fish.
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- Fishowner (Gavin fishowner)
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14 Feb 2009 10:50 #13
by Fishowner (Gavin fishowner)
Replied by Fishowner (Gavin fishowner) on topic Re:Fish itching
Yeah Rams can be very demanding of water quality so if it isnt right to start with they often pick up diseases. Also your water could of been perfect,however alot of the rams in pet shops are stressed by the time they arrive in your tank and sometimes that can lower there immune systems so to speak, and hence the disease etc..
I agree they are wonderful fish however.
Mrs Fitz, keep an eye on the corys, I ususally dose mine at half doesage due to them being scaleless. They wont suffer from the whitespot but they are poor for tolerating these meds. I know some people use full dose on them, however Id rather be safe than sorry (you could do a small partial water change that would now dilute the effects somewhat).. Also Id increase the aeration of the tank while treating.
Gavin
I agree they are wonderful fish however.
Mrs Fitz, keep an eye on the corys, I ususally dose mine at half doesage due to them being scaleless. They wont suffer from the whitespot but they are poor for tolerating these meds. I know some people use full dose on them, however Id rather be safe than sorry (you could do a small partial water change that would now dilute the effects somewhat).. Also Id increase the aeration of the tank while treating.
Gavin
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- mrsFishpatrick (Astrid Fitzpatrick)
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14 Feb 2009 20:12 #14
by mrsFishpatrick (Astrid Fitzpatrick)
Replied by mrsFishpatrick (Astrid Fitzpatrick) on topic Re:Fish itching
I am after putting the last dose in the tank this evening, cory's are still doing fine, this treatment stated it was safe for sensitive and very young fish.
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