Help Me Name My Fish!!! *Img Hvy*

[silkiechicken]

If they get really bloated and don't feel like eating, or start to float a bit, they could be constipated. Just gotta learn how your fish act really.
Try:
http://www.aquaticcommunity.com/disease/constipation.php

 

[WoodlandWoman]

Bruce lives on a fish breeding farm in Asia, where he was spawned. I think a well cared for fish might get closer to the size he was in the first picture, when he was only 2 years old. The non-fancy breeds also normally get a lot larger than the fancy breeds.

Bad water quality really stunts goldfish and keeps them small. It also shortens their lifespan to a mere fraction of what it should be.

My Sandy was the size of a marble a year and a half ago. Her body from the tip of her nose to the base of her tail is at least 4 1/2" long. Definitely under 5". She is quite wiggly when I am trying to measure her!

From the tip of her nose to the tip of her tail she is about 8". Madge was considerably larger than Sandy when I got her, but is now about 3/4" to 1" smaller than her. I often wonder if she is just stunted from earlier poor water quality or just has a slower growth rate. I have raised spawns of other varieties of goldfish, koi, bettas and angelfish, so I know that fry can grow and color up at different rates. I do worry a bit that they are undersized for their age. They are my first Ryukins. They are very interactive and I do love them both.

 

[ChicknThief]

I gave the guy a call this morning and haven't heard back yet. I will give him until about four tonight before I call again. I want it to still be there so badly!

 

[WoodlandWoman]

I really hope you get it. That would be fantastic!

 

[ChicknThief]

OK, so I was researching algae eaters, and it seems that I have a Siamese Algea Eater. Do those get huge? I am also trying to figure out what kind of snail I have. He is black, and his shell is spiraled out to the side. Any ideas?

 

[WoodlandWoman]

You probably have a mystery snail, Pomacea bridgesii. I have an ivory, named Pearl. My last one was gold and Sandy tried to eat her, so I had to set up a little snail only tank. Sandy is a real chow hound and I fear for Madge's safety if Sandy continues to outgrow her.

http://www.applesnail.net/

I think what I've heard about Siamese algae eaters is that they are sometimes aggressive to other fish.

 

[ChicknThief]

I think I may be losing my ryukin. Every other time I walk into the room he is upside down and just kinda floating there.

I don't think I expect him to still be around when I get home from work today.

This whole thing is so darned frusterating! I was really hoping I was going to be able to get through this with all my fish, but it seems that I may be losing this battle. The water is getting cloudy, and I can't afford both the tank and the filter this week, so I am obviously choosing the tank as that is an insane deal. So the soonest I could possibly get a filter is next Thursday. I sure hope everything isn't dead by then.

 

[WoodlandWoman]

Do you need to just do an emergency water change? I'll try to look back over your postings, to get a better idea of what is going on. Do you have a filter at all? Or is it just uncycled? Have the fish been sick? You don't have a test kit, yet, right?

Clean, conditioned water helps a lot of problems and prevents many others. Just make sure it's the same temperature as the tank, so it doesn't stress the fish.

Edited to add:

Fish can be raised without a filter, it just requires a lot of water changes. You may just need to spend a lot of quality time with your siphon and bucket until you get everything set up and cycled. I also use plants as a veggie filter in some set-ups, but they have to have adequate light and protection from "fish lips." If the fish are being medicated, please let me know what you are using. I hope he is still hanging in there when you get home.

 

[silkiechicken]

It's a brand new tank that is uncycled. The cloudy water needs to be changed asap. Honestly, if you want to keep some fish, I'd return all the ones you have now and start over once you can get the tank set up right and cycled. The water is their air and if the air is full of their own wastes it makes it really hard. The fish dying on you is what the fish store thrives on when you come in to buy meds and new fish. Best of of luck.

 

[texasreb]

Change out about 75% of the water ASAP. Don't forget to add your water conditioner (Stress Coat, I think you said) along with 2 Tablespoons of ordinary table salt (without iodine is but don't stress this right now--use what you have), dissolved prior to adding.

Wait a few hours and change out another 50% of the water, again adding the Stress Coat and 1 Tablespoon of salt.

If you do this morning and night (the two water changes), you might save your fish. If not they will all surely die.

Changing the water will dilute the ammonia that is killing your fish. The salt will ease their gill function and promote production of their slime coat.

Change the water FIRST and then get those test results. The stuff that is critical to your success right now is

A bigger tank or tub
The biggest filter you can afford (there is no such thing as too much filtration)
The API test kit (you are going to have to test your water everyday and do water changes until toxicity is reduced to zero
A good water conditioner....Stress Coat isn't that great, it contains aloe which tends to gum up your filters and fish don't really benefit from it. I like Prime, but there are several other brands as well.

Don't buy any thing other that what I've suggested. If fact, take back anything you've purchased and ask for a refund, even if you've used some. Most of it it bunk.

Oh Wait. Keep the Pima Fix and Melafix...it's good stuff, but not right now.

Again, please listen to us--or better yet join a gold fish community like this one--the pet/fish store does not have your best interests at heart. They want to make money.