Hey all! I noticed this morning that my tex was scratching his left gill (looking from behind). I have also noticed some scales missing on that side too. I took a close look at that side and noticed nothing unusual around the gill area. I have done different when keeping fish. I know I am pushing it only doing one water change a week, but I have no time to do it more, unless I can get away with doing multiple water changes in a row. I have also noticed an increased population of those little white worms things on the side of the tank. I know this means a healthy tank with higher than normal nitrates. Other than the few scales missing, the tex seems great. eating normally and such. I haven't introduced any new fish except for the pleco that I bought within a week after buying the tex. If I do multiple water changes, how long should I wait in between changes?? Also, can I fast my tex and pleco for 2 days?? I want to see if the tank will go back to normal. This is the first fish related problem I have had since I first owned fish (about 1 1/2 years now). I am not experianced in treating fish for parasites and other ailments. I do have an unused bottle of melafix. Since I am off this weekend, I planed on doing at least one water change Friday, Saturday and Sunday. Please let me know if I need to modify anything in my course of action. Thanks! You all have been really good to me!
Possible problem w/ Tex (Long)
- Thread starter jdheff1982
- Start date
First,Do not do daily water changes. Stable, if not optimal, water is better than constantly flucuating water. Stick to once or twice a week changes.
Second, the Tex cihlid is probably fin, he may have cut or scrathced himself. Fish get injured just like people and usually survive. To heel the would quicker put a pinch of aquarium salt in the water. The salt is a catalyst for the healing process. I had a goldfish in terrible shape. He was missing so half his scales and most of fins, I quarentined him with a salty water mix and he made a miraculous turnaround.
Third, if you try the salt, do not try the medication. Fish have immune systems, and thy do not need the help of medicines.
Your Texas Cichlid is A-OK.
Second, the Tex cihlid is probably fin, he may have cut or scrathced himself. Fish get injured just like people and usually survive. To heel the would quicker put a pinch of aquarium salt in the water. The salt is a catalyst for the healing process. I had a goldfish in terrible shape. He was missing so half his scales and most of fins, I quarentined him with a salty water mix and he made a miraculous turnaround.
Third, if you try the salt, do not try the medication. Fish have immune systems, and thy do not need the help of medicines.
Your Texas Cichlid is A-OK.
Yo Geo (rhymes!), thanks for the reply, but it didn't help much. I am not gonna worry too much now. I have decided to return the tex. I have too much of a soft heart to have a fish kept in my tank that it getsz too big for. So, I am off to the LFS today to see what I can come up with.
silvershark, i hope you realize that geo's advice is utter and complete crap. check out most of his other posts for evidence.
humans have immune systems, should be never take medicine for anything either? duh. i don't know much about science...oh wait, i do. and it's good.
humans have immune systems, should be never take medicine for anything either? duh. i don't know much about science...oh wait, i do. and it's good.
MY LFS'S ARE CRAP!!!!
Really! I went in yesterday to look at some fish and they all looked terrible!!!. Besides that, none of them have what I was looking for anyways. It seems that the middle states have yet to realize the coolness of dwarf cichlids (besides kribs). I think I am gonna order from www.liveaquaria.com this time to see what happens. At least I can get some good looking angel fish from them!!!! BAHHHH!!!!! Oh, btw, I still have the tex. When I get my fish in, I will then return the tex.
About the immune system thing. I have a good understanding of how it works for fish. And just like humans (or any other living creature) we all need a little help from time to time. So, that's why we have these smart ppl to make all these drugs for us!! Geo, you are crazy for not using meds!!!! Sure aquarium salt helps, but sometimes it is not the all mighty solutin to a problem. I have had my share of ick and aquarium salt was NOT the answer. You ought search out fish diseases and parasite treatments on the net. I can guarantee that not all of them will say that salt is the ultamite choice. Anywho, have a great y'all!!!
Really! I went in yesterday to look at some fish and they all looked terrible!!!. Besides that, none of them have what I was looking for anyways. It seems that the middle states have yet to realize the coolness of dwarf cichlids (besides kribs). I think I am gonna order from www.liveaquaria.com this time to see what happens. At least I can get some good looking angel fish from them!!!! BAHHHH!!!!! Oh, btw, I still have the tex. When I get my fish in, I will then return the tex.
About the immune system thing. I have a good understanding of how it works for fish. And just like humans (or any other living creature) we all need a little help from time to time. So, that's why we have these smart ppl to make all these drugs for us!! Geo, you are crazy for not using meds!!!! Sure aquarium salt helps, but sometimes it is not the all mighty solutin to a problem. I have had my share of ick and aquarium salt was NOT the answer. You ought search out fish diseases and parasite treatments on the net. I can guarantee that not all of them will say that salt is the ultamite choice. Anywho, have a great y'all!!!
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If you want dwarf cichlids, I know a few online places that you can order.
I usually get my fish from Jeff Rapps. All my Laetacare sp are from him. I'll have to say more than half of my cichlids are from him.
IMO, aquarium salt can prevent but can't cure. Anyway, I use aquarium salt only after I do water change. Aquarium salt is useful in certain way but not all the way
I usually get my fish from Jeff Rapps. All my Laetacare sp are from him. I'll have to say more than half of my cichlids are from him.
IMO, aquarium salt can prevent but can't cure. Anyway, I use aquarium salt only after I do water change. Aquarium salt is useful in certain way but not all the way
I meant to let the fish fight it before using drugs or medicine. I have never used medicine on my sick fish. Out of the ten fish that have ever gotten sick or injured, only two died. The others healed in a salty water, using their own immune systems, and no meds used. Those smart people make drug for us to get money, silver_shark.
Plus I have given little advice. What you are calling advice are the unasked questions that I have posted.
Plus I have given little advice. What you are calling advice are the unasked questions that I have posted.
He he!!! BTW Geo, I work for a pharmacy, so I have a little bit different perspective on health car than you do. If you look at it this way, eveybody does something just to put that extra dollar in their wallet. That's why we have retailers. They can sell a product anyway they can just to put that dollar in their wallet. This applies to all businesses world wide. We, the people, seek out to try to be better than any other person. There is one word to sum all this up, competion. Hope this grew some more brain cells for ya!!!
