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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

Sick fish! Help!!!

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12 Jul 2010 09:54 #1 by Aims (Aimee Croke)
Woke up this morning to a sick betta. He as a whitish ring around his fin and kind of whitish around his mouth. The start of his fin closest to his body is looking a bit ragged. Water parameters seem to be ok (don't have the best test kit) After doing a partial water change anyway. Someone help please!!

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12 Jul 2010 10:28 #2 by JohnH (John)
Replied by JohnH (John) on topic Re:Sick fish! Help!!!
This might be a start of a fungal infection.
You did right to do a water change (almost always a good starting off point).

Without seeing your Fish it would be hard to make a definite analysis for anyone to advise further.

Could you try to get a close-up (not macro) picture. If you don't have enough light over the tank do you have something like either a bright torch or perhaps a small spotlight (desk type lamp? which you could use to 'shed some light' on your Betta?

John

Location:
N. Tipp

We're just two lost souls swimming in a fish bowl - year after year.


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12 Jul 2010 10:55 #3 by Aims (Aimee Croke)
Light arrived this morning but unfortunately left my camera in a friends house over the weekend. But am noticing with the light the water is a lot cloudier than I thought it was. Should I do another water change or will this stress him out too much? My daughter has hid my video camera so will try get a video of him as soon as I find it!

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12 Jul 2010 11:03 #4 by David (David)
Replied by David (David) on topic Re:Sick fish! Help!!!
Hi
Without a picture it does make things a little harder to pinpoint
But tell me are there any other unusall characteristics ie:
Not eating
Staying at the bottom of tank
Gulping for air

However does sound like a fungal infection

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12 Jul 2010 11:12 #5 by JohnH (John)
Replied by JohnH (John) on topic Re:Sick fish! Help!!!
If your water is cloudy - ouch.
Don't put any more food in - Bettas will live for well over a week, and chances are that if he's poorly he wouldn't eat it anyway.

A very elementary question, which I apologise for asking, is are you using a water-treatment for your replacement water?

Do more water changes, but over the rest of the available time you have today and replace the water slowly either from a jug or slow syphon. Make sure it's brought up to the temperature of the water in your tank, but not with water from the hot water tap, heat some cold water in a kettle to mix with and bring the replacement water up to temperature.

It would do no harm to add a teaspoon of cooking salt to every gallon of water you replace (fully dissolved) but the water must, I stress again, be added slowly.

When your daughter divulges the secret of where she has hidden the video camera please sent a clip to the Forum, it's hard to diagnose things 'blind' you will appreciate.

John

Location:
N. Tipp

We're just two lost souls swimming in a fish bowl - year after year.


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12 Jul 2010 11:22 #6 by Aims (Aimee Croke)
Using Aqua One Water Conditioner (came with the tank) and boiled the kettle to replace water as well.

But tell me are there any other unusall characteristics ie:
Not eating
Staying at the bottom of tank
Gulping for air


Initially there was none of this but a few minutes ago he spent a very long time at the top of tank and now spending a lot in one spot at the bottom. Havn't tried to feed him yet but yesterday he ate fine.

Got a video but the quality doesn't seem to be great for some reason. am uploading it now. Hopefully you'll be able to get some idea from it.

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12 Jul 2010 11:38 - 12 Jul 2010 11:39 #7 by Aims (Aimee Croke)


As I said quality is not great for some reason (even though it's a HD camera) but you can see the white around his fin at about 17 secs and around his mouth at about 52 secs.

Sorry for the poor quality



Not sure if that's showing. Here's the link again

Last edit: 12 Jul 2010 11:39 by Aims (Aimee Croke).

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12 Jul 2010 12:26 #8 by Aims (Aimee Croke)
Ok, did another small water change with salt as John suggested. I noticed a whitish/greyish fuzzy growth on the top of the heater and on the suction pads. Could this be a culprit?

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12 Jul 2010 12:51 #9 by JohnH (John)
Replied by JohnH (John) on topic Re:Sick fish! Help!!!
I will stick my neck out and say your water is at fault.
Do you have a fairly large jar you could half fill with treated right temperature water?
Put him in that (with appropriate amount of salt, depending upon the container you would be looking at a rough percentage of a teaspoon per gallon.
Put him in that and keep watching him (when convenient, of course).
If he shows any sign of distress renew a goodly part of the water with a lower salt concentration.
Don't feed him at all until he 'perks up' and change about half the water daily.
My fear is that you have a dreaded bacterial bloom in the tank (sadly not all bacteria are beneficial) so you must keep up the water changes (up to a third daily) daily until the water is perfectly clean and clear and testing right (Zero Ammonia and nitrites) before considering returning him to the tank.
Leave the container floating in the water with the Betta in.
I hate to be the bearer of bad news, but you might want to expect the worst although the Fish isn't looking dreadfully bad so far, it's as well to forewarn your daughter of what could happen.
Those are my suggestions, does anyone have others? (please)

Best of luck,
John

Location:
N. Tipp

We're just two lost souls swimming in a fish bowl - year after year.


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12 Jul 2010 13:18 #10 by Aims (Aimee Croke)
Think the only thing I have really is a 500ml plastic measuring jug. Is just out of the dishwasher though so what can I do about traces of detergent on it?

Unfortunately he's looking worse everytime I check on him. Though he was a goner last time. He was floating upside down at the end of the tank. Only for I saw his gills moving I lost all hope. He turned around eventually but he's really looking worse for wear.

Luckily my daughter has only turned 2 and "fishy all gone" and promise of a new one will most likely satisfy her!

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12 Jul 2010 13:23 #11 by JohnH (John)
Replied by JohnH (John) on topic Re:Sick fish! Help!!!
This may be too late.
Thoroughly rinse (leave the tap running on it) the jug and get him into fresh water as soon as you can.
John

Location:
N. Tipp

We're just two lost souls swimming in a fish bowl - year after year.


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12 Jul 2010 13:37 #12 by Aims (Aimee Croke)
Ok, he's in the container, floating in the tank. He's moved to the top/middle of that. Would it be a bad idea to just change all the water in the tank and give the ornaments a a clean? Half thinking of running over to the pet shop and getting a small tank/bowl for him but not going to able to keep that heated and filtered

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12 Jul 2010 13:42 - 12 Jul 2010 13:44 #13 by David (David)
Replied by David (David) on topic Re:Sick fish! Help!!!
Hi

The cloudy water can be caused by a few things
Debris From new Substrate
Bacterial Bloom
Chemical Imbalance more likely found in harder water

No quick fix unfortunatly just change plenty of water once twice a day about 25%
this should flush it out you could leave the Betta in the maintank while doing this
Dont change all the water as you will wash out any bacterias that would of built up in the substrate
and you will back to cycling the tank from the begining


With regards to the Betta unfortunatly no suggestions that have not already been made
Last edit: 12 Jul 2010 13:44 by David (David). Reason: extra

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12 Jul 2010 13:52 #14 by Aims (Aimee Croke)
There is a fair bit of debris (and it is new substrate) I took out the heater and cleaned the growth off of it. It was actually quite gell like. A lot of it fell off when I moved the heater so I'd say that was another cause. Have been fairly careful with not feeding him too much. Any that he leaves behind I've been netting out.
The water in my area is more soft/neutral than hard.

Will keep up the frequent water changes anyway and keep a close eye on Pete. Whether he makes it or not will definitely be investing in a decent testing kit and keeping a much closer eye on things!

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12 Jul 2010 15:40 #15 by JohnH (John)
Replied by JohnH (John) on topic Re:Sick fish! Help!!!
Aims,
You've done what you can for him, I must differ with David and tell you not to replace him in the tank, don't worry about filtration too much, the jug will be fine for now.
If he makes it he'll probably lose some of the affected finnage but that should grow back, albeit never quite as gloriously as before.
Another question: did you thoroughly wash the substrate? Even though some claims are made that it's 'ready washed' you will be surprised to see what more can be washed out of it.
Yes, get yourself a good testing kit (in my opinion shops did not ought to be allowed to sell anyone a tank without one) and use it regularly.
Carry on with daily water changes in both the jug and the tank and once you have the kit put it to good use. And...only when conditions are right get any more Fish, replacing (I hope) your Betta at the same time.
John

Location:
N. Tipp

We're just two lost souls swimming in a fish bowl - year after year.


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12 Jul 2010 15:45 #16 by David (David)
Replied by David (David) on topic Re:Sick fish! Help!!!
Hi Aims
In light of the fact that there new substrate gone into the tank and debris floating around
it might be worth holding of on introducing any further fish in to the tank untill its cleared
it is possible that the tank has gone into cycling again
sorry i know this is a little repetative but
plenty of water changes and test the water before reintroducing any Fish

Hope your Betta holds on for you

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12 Jul 2010 16:36 - 12 Jul 2010 16:51 #17 by Aims (Aimee Croke)
Brought a sample of the water over to the pet shop to get it tested. She told me all the levels were too high, especially the pH. So I immediately bought Easy Adjust pH Down and Tetratest for pH. Also got an Ammonia one. She also tried to sell me a water conditioner with Aloe Vera in it as medicine I might add! (This particular shop assistant doesn't seem to have a clue, she told me she keeps 1 male Betta and 2 females in a 10G tank with no decorations for the poor females to hide! Luckily not all the staff are that clueless) Got home tested the pH is 7 (which is what my old kit was telling me) and ammonia is .25 (quite high for water that has been changed) My old test is giving .5ppm for NO2 and 20ppm for NO3. So I'd say Dave is right and the tank has started cycling again.
Going to wait a good while before introducing any other fish don't worry!

He already seems better in the container. The whitish area isn't as noticable and he's moving around a small bit. (doesn't really have any room to move around) It's only a small bit of his fin that's damaged (so far)

I also picked up a fungal treatment as well but not too sure if I should use it.

And thanks everyone for the helpful comments!

P.S. Did clean the gravel but maybe I didn't clean it enough
Last edit: 12 Jul 2010 16:51 by Aims (Aimee Croke).

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12 Jul 2010 16:56 #18 by David (David)
Replied by David (David) on topic Re:Sick fish! Help!!!
Sorry
i owe an apology in referance to leaving the Betta in the maintank

My error trying to type while at work

Sorry

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12 Jul 2010 21:44 #19 by Aims (Aimee Croke)
Alas Pete has passed away :( The container he was in tipped over and spilled into the tank. Shock of that seemed to do it. He fell down behind a rock and couldn't see him properly. Eventually moved the rock and poor little fella was dead :(

Am very dis-heartened by first attempt at fish keeping :(
Thanks everyone for all their help!

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12 Jul 2010 21:52 #20 by dar (darren curry)
NNOOOOOOOOOO!!! DAMN THAT PETSTORE, you were cursed from the get go, don't let it put you off though, we've all lost loads of fish

Check out the angling section, it is fantastic

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12 Jul 2010 21:54 #21 by David (David)
Replied by David (David) on topic Re:Sick fish! Help!!!
RIP Pete

Dont be dis-heartened if its any consulation ive had Fish for a few years and for love nor money can i keep Betta

Dont let it discurage about getting more either

Regards

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12 Jul 2010 21:55 #22 by dyco619 (steve carmody)
sorry to hear about your loss,
but dont let it put you off, my first fish didnt last 24 hours, now i have over 100 healthy fish doing fine, im sure nearly all the lads on here can tell you a similar story.
better luck next time..

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12 Jul 2010 22:08 #23 by Aims (Aimee Croke)
Thanks everyone.

Dont be dis-heartened if its any consulation ive had Fish for a few years and for love nor money can i keep Betta


A friend of mine said the same thing. Apparently she went through a heap of them while keeping other fish successfully. Whoever said they were hardy fish eh?

Well the money has been spent on the tank and only had a light delivered this morning (if only I had it earlier I would have noticed how cloudy the water had got!) that cost nearly €40 so they will definitely be put to use. Going to clean out the tank in the morning and get new media for the filter and start again. Going to be much more patient this time and make sure I do it right. And definitely getting much hardier fish to begin with!

Hopefully "fishy all gone, let's watch Elmo!" in the morning will suffice for my 2 year old daughter!

Thanks again
Aims

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12 Jul 2010 22:23 #24 by David (David)
Replied by David (David) on topic Re:Sick fish! Help!!!
for whats its worth dont replace the media in filter and dont wash out your stones
replenish about 70% of the water if you want and continue as normal regular water change

give it about a week and take a sample of back to you LFS for testing to see how it is if it is not right at this point give it another week and check again
the tank possible is in the process of cycling you wash and replace everything you will be to square one again

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12 Jul 2010 22:29 #25 by Aims (Aimee Croke)
The instructions on the filter say to change the media cartridge after 6-8weeks. and it does look fairly manky to be honest. I don't really mind starting over again and having a fresh start. Am terrified the same thing will happen again!:unsure:

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12 Jul 2010 22:31 #26 by wolfsburg (wolfsburg)
Replied by wolfsburg (wolfsburg) on topic Re:Sick fish! Help!!!
Hello, to re-enforce what David has just posted; all fish carry diseases, only when their immune system is affected will they become sick and start to show signs of illness.
99% of the time fish become sick when their immune system is down, due to stress, which is due to bad water quality.
There is no point in "disinfecting" the tank... just keep up your water changes and let the tank run for a week or 2 until all water-tests are clear.

Chin up!

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12 Jul 2010 22:33 #27 by Aims (Aimee Croke)
The filter has been off now for nearly an hour. Will that make any difference to it?

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12 Jul 2010 22:38 #28 by wolfsburg (wolfsburg)
Replied by wolfsburg (wolfsburg) on topic Re:Sick fish! Help!!!
Aims wrote:

The filter has been off now for nearly an hour. Will that make any difference to it?

Not really, but it is better to keep the filter and heater running. And light for 6 to 8 hours per day if you have any live plants. Just do, say, 25% water change every second day for a week, leave it for a few days after that and then get a water test done and you'll be laughing!

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12 Jul 2010 22:44 #29 by David (David)
Replied by David (David) on topic Re:Sick fish! Help!!!
do you mind if i ask what type of filter you have because if you were to replace media every 8 weeks you would basicly be recycling you tank each time and getting know were maybe i am wrong on this someone else would probably no better

in relation to the filter being of
No differance once it has not dried out

this is just a suggestion when you remove an amount of water from your tank keep it in a bucket and gently rinse your filter in it as that water will hold some usefull bacteria

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12 Jul 2010 22:46 #30 by Aims (Aimee Croke)
Ok. everything is plugged back in. (Guess I felt I had to turn them off like a life support machine, and yes I know that's awful soppy and pathetic.:laugh:) Don't have live plants but would like to get some. But wondering is this a bad idea as a beginner with bad luck :huh: ?

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