Well the shrimp continues to carry her eggs (day 2???), the little baby danio (??) doesn't grow and the albino cory doesn't move, although I do wonder whether the two danios are winding me up my taking it in turns to settle on the gravel. I'm sure I witnessed them swapping over yesterday between quiet and active fish, and the quiet one does move around the bottom of the tank.
Apart from that, I mananged to shoot off a load of photos, now that some batteries are charged. Not loaded them to the computer yet, so haven't seen what they are like. Hopefully there's a few there of the egg bearing shrimp.
Friday, 16 May 2008
Thursday, 15 May 2008
The end...and the beginning?
One of the Albino Corys appears to be unwell - it's sat around at the front of the tank all day, only moving when another fish has shifted it out of the way. Even dumping bloodworm pellets around it didn't arouse any interest, although the arrival of the other fish caused it to hide.
But on a positive note, I saw the largest shrimp at the back of the tank fanning it's swimmerets. I tried to convince myself there were little white dots on them, and even called my wife in, but she wasn't convinced.
But then the addition of a couple of algae pellets brought it out for the first time in a while. All of the shrimps have been hiding together around the bogwood since the addition of the new shrimps. Totally unsocial!
But this one came out for a favoured feed and then took a small piece up to a nearby plant and I had an excellent opportunity to admire the light green eggs covering the swimmerets. I did try to take a photo, but after 10 mintues I gave up looking for charged batteries.
But it does look like the shrimp is carrying eggs, so hopefully in a couple of weeks we should have a load of baby shrimps - although if I don't intervene, it will be a load of baby shrimps as fish food!
But on a positive note, I saw the largest shrimp at the back of the tank fanning it's swimmerets. I tried to convince myself there were little white dots on them, and even called my wife in, but she wasn't convinced.
But then the addition of a couple of algae pellets brought it out for the first time in a while. All of the shrimps have been hiding together around the bogwood since the addition of the new shrimps. Totally unsocial!
But this one came out for a favoured feed and then took a small piece up to a nearby plant and I had an excellent opportunity to admire the light green eggs covering the swimmerets. I did try to take a photo, but after 10 mintues I gave up looking for charged batteries.
But it does look like the shrimp is carrying eggs, so hopefully in a couple of weeks we should have a load of baby shrimps - although if I don't intervene, it will be a load of baby shrimps as fish food!
Wednesday, 14 May 2008
White spots off, again...
It looks like the white spots have dropped off the halfbeak and the loach, so another 5% water change and the addition of some medication should be nicely timed to zap the little parasites as they swim off into the water. And I'll be keeping the routine going to hopefully get any I miss as they continue their lifecycle to find their next victim.
The whitebeak seems to have a few whitespot scars, but I'm sure they will heal in a day or two. Then apart from the strange 'baby fish' in the second tank, which doesn't seem to be growing but has been joined at the surface by a swimming blob. I'm stirring the water a couple of times a day and continuing to add a few bits of baby food, but there's no obvious growth or changes. Maybe it's building up strength, but at this rate I could just be nuturing a little insect.
The whitebeak seems to have a few whitespot scars, but I'm sure they will heal in a day or two. Then apart from the strange 'baby fish' in the second tank, which doesn't seem to be growing but has been joined at the surface by a swimming blob. I'm stirring the water a couple of times a day and continuing to add a few bits of baby food, but there's no obvious growth or changes. Maybe it's building up strength, but at this rate I could just be nuturing a little insect.
Tuesday, 13 May 2008
Whtie spot decreasing
I'm still watching the whitespot and it does seem to be on the way out, again. The loach seems to have lost all of his spots and the halfbeak is down to less than yesterday's 6 - I think only about half that are there.
It's time for another water change and top up of the medication tomorrow and that will continue until at least next Monday. Only wish I'd done it properly the first time! I'd followed the instructions, but somehow some got through.
Not much movement on the baby Danios - the main one is still there but there seems to be less dots darting about. In fact, the main one doesn't seem to be gorwing - I just hope I.m not nuturing some weird insect in it's own tank!
It's time for another water change and top up of the medication tomorrow and that will continue until at least next Monday. Only wish I'd done it properly the first time! I'd followed the instructions, but somehow some got through.
Not much movement on the baby Danios - the main one is still there but there seems to be less dots darting about. In fact, the main one doesn't seem to be gorwing - I just hope I.m not nuturing some weird insect in it's own tank!
Monday, 12 May 2008
Monitoring the whitespot
The halfbeak definitely has more whitespots - there are 5 on his tail and 1 on his dorsal fin. All tiny - if that makes any difference? There are a few on the Loach, but the rest of the tank looks to be clear.
But I also slipped into the tank a couple of Albino Corys over the weekend and it looks lake the halfbeak has taken a nip out of the tail of one of them. The male Guppy also had the same shape nippied out of his dorsal fin too on his first night in the tank. It's a long, narrow shape - only the Halfbeak has that shaped mouth! Maybe it's his welcome to other males arriving in his teritory - the nice lady in the shop told my daughter that she thought we had a male and female cory.
We were intending to also add a pair of Panda Corys to the tank, but that stock didn't arrive last week. Might get some in a week or two, or might instead get something else. But the tank is getting rather full!
Still doing the alternate days 5% water change & addition of white spot treatment. But when I measured the nitrate over the weekend the level was between 5 & 10 ppm - so really low. Should mean that we can safely add a fish or two more.
But I also slipped into the tank a couple of Albino Corys over the weekend and it looks lake the halfbeak has taken a nip out of the tail of one of them. The male Guppy also had the same shape nippied out of his dorsal fin too on his first night in the tank. It's a long, narrow shape - only the Halfbeak has that shaped mouth! Maybe it's his welcome to other males arriving in his teritory - the nice lady in the shop told my daughter that she thought we had a male and female cory.
We were intending to also add a pair of Panda Corys to the tank, but that stock didn't arrive last week. Might get some in a week or two, or might instead get something else. But the tank is getting rather full!
Still doing the alternate days 5% water change & addition of white spot treatment. But when I measured the nitrate over the weekend the level was between 5 & 10 ppm - so really low. Should mean that we can safely add a fish or two more.
Sunday, 11 May 2008
More White Spots!
It's not just the halfbeak that has some more whitespots on it now, the Loach has also got a afew new tiny white spots.
It does make me worried that it's another phase, rather than the ongoing phase. But it is only 7 days since I started treatment, so it's not unrealistic that it might be the same infestation. In the original infection, from when the fish were brought into the tank, the 1 white spot dropped off on the 12th April, but it wasn't until 13 days later that I saw the white spot on the (late) female halfbeak and 9 days later before anyone else had it.
From this, I suppose that means the cycle is taking 9 to 13 days at my temperatures. I didn't complete the treatment the second time as the infected fish died and was removed. But it was removed 48 hours after the treatment was given - so another dose was due and I failed to give it.
I've not noticed any white spots on the other occupants for the last few days. So hopefully another week of treatment, with regular water changes, and the white spot should be gone.
On a positive note, the possible baby Danio is still about, although not noticeably larger and there are still a few random movements in the separate tank. I need to research the growth rate of Danios next!
It does make me worried that it's another phase, rather than the ongoing phase. But it is only 7 days since I started treatment, so it's not unrealistic that it might be the same infestation. In the original infection, from when the fish were brought into the tank, the 1 white spot dropped off on the 12th April, but it wasn't until 13 days later that I saw the white spot on the (late) female halfbeak and 9 days later before anyone else had it.
From this, I suppose that means the cycle is taking 9 to 13 days at my temperatures. I didn't complete the treatment the second time as the infected fish died and was removed. But it was removed 48 hours after the treatment was given - so another dose was due and I failed to give it.
I've not noticed any white spots on the other occupants for the last few days. So hopefully another week of treatment, with regular water changes, and the white spot should be gone.
On a positive note, the possible baby Danio is still about, although not noticeably larger and there are still a few random movements in the separate tank. I need to research the growth rate of Danios next!
Saturday, 10 May 2008
White Spot
I continue the treatment for white spot, but am getting worried as the halfbeak, which had lost all of his spots, now has a few new (tiny) white spots on his tail and other fins. I can't see any spots on the other fish, but then they are all so active I could just have missed a neon.
I know it can take 2 weeks to clear white spot and these could be spots that were actually on him before I started treatment on Sunday, just 6 days ago. But it's depressing to see more spots appearing when I thought they were going. Let's just hope it's not a short lifecycle going very well - in the current weather the tank is reaching 26 / 27 celsius in the daytime (set to 24) so that will be shortening the life cycle a lot.
I read that the life cycle of the white spot is as follows:
The mature parasite (trophont) leaves the fish and settles on the bottom of the pond where it secretes a gelatinous cyst (tomont). Inside the cyst the cell reproduces by division to produce around 1000 tomites. The cyst ruptures to release the free-swimming, ciliated tomites which must find a fish host within 24 - 48 hours to survive. The tomites, also known as vagrant bodies, penetrate the skin of their hosts where they mature into trophonts. The whole cycle takes 2 - 14 days depending on water temperature.
It just depends how long the stage on the fish lasts. No water change today - after Thursday's 20% change. To worried about removing baby danios!
I know it can take 2 weeks to clear white spot and these could be spots that were actually on him before I started treatment on Sunday, just 6 days ago. But it's depressing to see more spots appearing when I thought they were going. Let's just hope it's not a short lifecycle going very well - in the current weather the tank is reaching 26 / 27 celsius in the daytime (set to 24) so that will be shortening the life cycle a lot.
I read that the life cycle of the white spot is as follows:
The mature parasite (trophont) leaves the fish and settles on the bottom of the pond where it secretes a gelatinous cyst (tomont). Inside the cyst the cell reproduces by division to produce around 1000 tomites. The cyst ruptures to release the free-swimming, ciliated tomites which must find a fish host within 24 - 48 hours to survive. The tomites, also known as vagrant bodies, penetrate the skin of their hosts where they mature into trophonts. The whole cycle takes 2 - 14 days depending on water temperature.
It just depends how long the stage on the fish lasts. No water change today - after Thursday's 20% change. To worried about removing baby danios!
Friday, 9 May 2008
Growing On Tank
In the hope that I do have a few Baby Danios, I've moved the bottle of water, with it's one 'fish' and many moving blobs, to an old tank. I've also added some water recently taken from the tank as those bottles too also seemed to have some random movements.
It's hard to know whether this is right or not. It's not cycled, but there's about 8 litres of water and only a handful of microscopic fish. I've also added a stem from an 'oxygenating weed' to the tank for shelter and the beneficial properties that will hopefully take.
As I said yesterday, if only 1 of the babies grows up to be worth transferring to the main tank then I'll consider it a success. There are so many little blobs that hopefully that will be the case!
Quiet day in the tank really. Only point of note being that for the first time since Monday I'm certain we still have all 4 shrimps - for about 30 seconds all of them were visible in different areas of the tank. So the babies haven't been easten by the loach!
It's hard to know whether this is right or not. It's not cycled, but there's about 8 litres of water and only a handful of microscopic fish. I've also added a stem from an 'oxygenating weed' to the tank for shelter and the beneficial properties that will hopefully take.
As I said yesterday, if only 1 of the babies grows up to be worth transferring to the main tank then I'll consider it a success. There are so many little blobs that hopefully that will be the case!
Quiet day in the tank really. Only point of note being that for the first time since Monday I'm certain we still have all 4 shrimps - for about 30 seconds all of them were visible in different areas of the tank. So the babies haven't been easten by the loach!
Thursday, 8 May 2008
Baby Danios?
Just over a week ago I put some water aside thinking that the Danios had spawned, but what with the fighting and the fish I thought had spawned being returned to the shop as the ring leader (with all weight returned in hours of seeing her 'slimmer') and then the white spot, which meant a 20% water change this morning, I forgot all about the bottle of water until yesterday afternoon.
I was actually meaning to empty it out, but something made me look at the bottom of it and it was then that a tiny movement caught my eye. I'd picked up the bottle, so all of the gunk in the bottom was moving, but this movement wasn't a steady movement, it was random zigzags. But it was a tiny dot of a thinh, maybe 1 to 2 mm at most and not recognisable. Then I saw more, and more and more.
Getting quite excited about it I was using a torch and then spotted 2 or maybe even three shapes moving at the top of the bottle - but these were 5 to 6mm long and most certainly fish shaped. And careful late night inspection of the main tank with a torch in the dark revealed another of these tiny shapes.
So at lunch time it was back to my favourite fish shop, where I bought some "TetraMin Baby" food ground flakes. I'm adding a bit of that to the bottle and tank and will need to keep an eye on what's happening.
Having said that, out of the 2 or 3 larger shapes I saw last night I can now only see 1. It could be the same one all of the time or different ones. There's no way of knowing. But with dozens of little dots also swimming around the bottom of the bottle, there's a good chance of at least one or two surviving. The owner of the shop said she would expect it to take about 12 weeks before they are a 'decent size'. I'll leave them where they are now - I'll lose too many if I try to move them. But once they are bigger (hopefully...) then I'll move them into an old tank. OK, it won't be cycled, but I can start it with water from the main tank and its size realtive to the size, and potential waste output, of a few baby danios should mean that it's not too much of a problem. After all, they are surviving in an old lemonade bottle at the moment.
I expect this means that now I have to keep my eye on my waste water to make sure I'm not throwing out baby fish!
I was actually meaning to empty it out, but something made me look at the bottom of it and it was then that a tiny movement caught my eye. I'd picked up the bottle, so all of the gunk in the bottom was moving, but this movement wasn't a steady movement, it was random zigzags. But it was a tiny dot of a thinh, maybe 1 to 2 mm at most and not recognisable. Then I saw more, and more and more.
Getting quite excited about it I was using a torch and then spotted 2 or maybe even three shapes moving at the top of the bottle - but these were 5 to 6mm long and most certainly fish shaped. And careful late night inspection of the main tank with a torch in the dark revealed another of these tiny shapes.
So at lunch time it was back to my favourite fish shop, where I bought some "TetraMin Baby" food ground flakes. I'm adding a bit of that to the bottle and tank and will need to keep an eye on what's happening.
Having said that, out of the 2 or 3 larger shapes I saw last night I can now only see 1. It could be the same one all of the time or different ones. There's no way of knowing. But with dozens of little dots also swimming around the bottom of the bottle, there's a good chance of at least one or two surviving. The owner of the shop said she would expect it to take about 12 weeks before they are a 'decent size'. I'll leave them where they are now - I'll lose too many if I try to move them. But once they are bigger (hopefully...) then I'll move them into an old tank. OK, it won't be cycled, but I can start it with water from the main tank and its size realtive to the size, and potential waste output, of a few baby danios should mean that it's not too much of a problem. After all, they are surviving in an old lemonade bottle at the moment.
I expect this means that now I have to keep my eye on my waste water to make sure I'm not throwing out baby fish!
Wednesday, 7 May 2008
White Spot Are Off
Looking around the fish and it appears that most of the white spots have dropped off all of the fish once more. So I expect that means that the first opportunity to finish off the white spot is now, if not already passed. I'll keep dosing up for a while (instructions say just another 48 hours after last white spot) to make sure I get any that have survived in the next stage of the life cycle - when they try to reattach to the fish.
Plus there's going to be a good clean of the tank tomorrow morning. Somewhere between 15% - 20% water change - slowly for the sake of the shrimps. Hopefully that will also remove some of the white spot that are resting in the gravel.
Plus there's going to be a good clean of the tank tomorrow morning. Somewhere between 15% - 20% water change - slowly for the sake of the shrimps. Hopefully that will also remove some of the white spot that are resting in the gravel.
Tuesday, 6 May 2008
Treating for white spot
Continuing the treatment for white spot with a 10% water change and more treatment. I did notice as the Loach was resting at the front of the tank a few spots on him, but two of the spots on the Danio have fallen off. So now's the time to be treating. Not sure whether the spots are starting to fall from the Neons as well.
Also noticed that the Loach kicked up a bit of dirt as it hid under its log, so will need to remove most decorations at the next water change and do a good change then.
Only seen 1 of the new shrimps today, although that could be both, just at separate times. And managed a sneaky glimpse of the Upsidedown Catfish - he had crept out of his cave ever so slightly! Maybe at the next clean I'll refresh his cave as well!
Also noticed that the Loach kicked up a bit of dirt as it hid under its log, so will need to remove most decorations at the next water change and do a good change then.
Only seen 1 of the new shrimps today, although that could be both, just at separate times. And managed a sneaky glimpse of the Upsidedown Catfish - he had crept out of his cave ever so slightly! Maybe at the next clean I'll refresh his cave as well!
Monday, 5 May 2008
More Shrimps
The shrimps are doing well and with the reduction of the snails (I don't think there are more than 1 or 2 left!) the bottom of the tan hasn't been so tidy as it was, so I've added a couple of new shrimps.
At the moment, they are keeping themselves to themselves and hiding together under the bogwood. I expect the cave where the other pair hide is to scary for them - it's shared by the 2 catfish and the loach! They are only about 2cm long - so over what the loach will count as a mouthful when fully grown, but they look so small compared to the other 2 shrimps, which are actually only 2.5cm & 4cm each. But the narrower body shape makes them look a lot smaller.
Hoping they will thrive and maybe we're starting to form a community - who knows, get enough and they might breed...
At the moment, they are keeping themselves to themselves and hiding together under the bogwood. I expect the cave where the other pair hide is to scary for them - it's shared by the 2 catfish and the loach! They are only about 2cm long - so over what the loach will count as a mouthful when fully grown, but they look so small compared to the other 2 shrimps, which are actually only 2.5cm & 4cm each. But the narrower body shape makes them look a lot smaller.
Hoping they will thrive and maybe we're starting to form a community - who knows, get enough and they might breed...
Sunday, 4 May 2008
White Spot Is Back
I thought last week that the white spot was back, but the victim died before I could treat her.
But I've now noticed the remaining (male) halfbeak and 2 of the neons have tiny white spots on them and the Polka Dot Loach is flashing it's right side onto the gravel and possibly the bristlenose is flashing (slightly) as well. Although, especially for the Bristlenose, I'm not convinced.
Whatever the situation with the larger fish, the smaller ones definitely have an infection, so in goes yet more treatment. This time, I'll not stop treatment 48 hours after the spots drop off - as per the bottle's instructions, but run the treatment a little longer. I expect that for the next 2 weeks (plus ???) it will be a 10% water change and adding treatment every other day. Need to get it cleared.
I done wonder if the ill loach was her hitting herself into the sides of the tank, or was the white in her mouth was also white spot?
But I've now noticed the remaining (male) halfbeak and 2 of the neons have tiny white spots on them and the Polka Dot Loach is flashing it's right side onto the gravel and possibly the bristlenose is flashing (slightly) as well. Although, especially for the Bristlenose, I'm not convinced.
Whatever the situation with the larger fish, the smaller ones definitely have an infection, so in goes yet more treatment. This time, I'll not stop treatment 48 hours after the spots drop off - as per the bottle's instructions, but run the treatment a little longer. I expect that for the next 2 weeks (plus ???) it will be a 10% water change and adding treatment every other day. Need to get it cleared.
I done wonder if the ill loach was her hitting herself into the sides of the tank, or was the white in her mouth was also white spot?
Saturday, 3 May 2008
Almost full...
The water tests this week have shown no nitrite and next to no nitrate, so we've added a few more fish, although we must be close to capacity.
2 Bloodfin Tetras and 3 Guppies (2 females & 1 male) have been added to the tank. The male halfbeak seems to be taking a lot of interest in the female Guppies - his fins are raised and he's showing some colour - what a combination that babies would be!
I'm keeping my fingers crossed that these additions are far more peaceful than last week's additions and don't start in fighting. Who knows - maybe they'll start breeding before too long!
2 Bloodfin Tetras and 3 Guppies (2 females & 1 male) have been added to the tank. The male halfbeak seems to be taking a lot of interest in the female Guppies - his fins are raised and he's showing some colour - what a combination that babies would be!
I'm keeping my fingers crossed that these additions are far more peaceful than last week's additions and don't start in fighting. Who knows - maybe they'll start breeding before too long!
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