xXInkedPhoenixX

Well, the poor thing. I'm not an expert, but my first guess is this little one needs some time in good water and aquarium salt. I would think it was damage from shipping. Of course if it is damage I'd want to prevent infection/bacteria- hence the salt and having a bacterial antibiotic available on standby if more aggressive treatment is needed. Then I would compose an email to the seller and while they have no control over shipping (this is the busiest shipping season- I probably wouldn't be shipping fish this time of year myself) I would ask them about a refund if I got the wrong fish but of course this little one is pretty cute I'd nurse them back to health and ask the seller if they've ever had this particular issue and what they'd recommend.

Yes, I feed these- found them once when I had a very finicky Betta years ago. They're small and float too so that was important. So I have them again for my new Betta, but I mix in all sorts of other foods for them.

Well another chapter will close here on this thread. Today Red's story ends here and continues on elsewhere. My friends, let me introduce you to my new Betta fish. He lives in my 7 gallon Aquatop. He had a very long road getting to his new home. Life wasn't very easy for him in a tiny cup and it took him a very long time to recover from the trauma, but now he's a different fish. His name is Invictus, it's Latin for Undefeated: https://photos.app.goo.gl/Yey8EEnuVLjfDQuc9 (Google video of his release. He's come a long way from Day one, but now he gets to live the rest of his little life out here- hopefully it's a long, happy one! Thanks everyone for your support in our journey!

Very large, lucrative companies sometimes self-insure. That would be interesting to know. I bet no matter how the hotel is "insured" that is goiing to be a BIG, BIG loss.

I would follow what Odd Duck said below: Unless you are planning to treat the main tank, I would put him back in the quarantine tank to finish all treatments. At least the first week. I don’t recommend acclimating with a weaker solution since so much transferring is likely more stressful than just putting them back in the QT after the soak. I recommend once daily for 10-15 minutes. It doesn’t seem to me that more than 15 minutes will accomplish anything more.

Maybe @Patrick_G wait to see if it survives the flood, lol

Here @EnderRen, the Medieval build... https://forum.aquariumcoop.com/topic/28365-the-medieval-12g-aquatop-bookshelf-tank-build-for-a-betta-rescue-and-guppies/

Just once a day is fine, cut pieces off a frozen block. The worms don't stay good for more than a day *maybe* 2.

Things going well in most of my tanks! I've gotten 3-5 baby Black Neons! They grow FAST!!! Most of them already hanging with the adults! Punk is none too pleased: Serket the GloBetta OWNS the granite house I put food in for the Hillstream. She's a fat little thing because of it too. Yesterday I found NEL the Endler (all silver in the middle of the pick) in the back part of the Fluval Flex9! So glad they left it so you can see back there! I've had the snail go back there but never the fish. Caught him out and put him back with his buddies, Flare the Endler was totally pleased to see his friend back.

Things are going along well in the dry start here. The Monte Carlo isn't spreading a lot (as @Patrick_G's mention that it probably would have if I cut it up more), but I at least do see root growth. The Java Moss I'm most happy with as far as new growth- it's going really well with a few brown spots but overall the majority of it is doing well. The Repens is also doing well. There are some pesky gnats that have taken up residence so that's lame but they won't be able to live in there when there's water lol. I also have mold growing on the spiderwood but I'll treat that with peroxide again and get rid of it. I'm hoping the wood is filling up with a decent amount of water- I really don't want to deal with a floating piece of wood! The Guppies from my Mum's tank doing good. I think I see a little new growth on the poor little guy with the short tail. I'm wondering if Red would like them as roommates in his tank but I don't know how aggressive he'll be. He will also be in his tank far before I feel these Guppies are well enough to be put in a tank so chances are he could be territorial by then. No matter, they'll end up somewhere in my tanks and be fine.

@zpayne10 yes Stratum sure isn't cheap. Honestly the only reason I'm trying it now is because it's in a Nano tank so it's much more affordable when you don't have to buy the big bag- or multiple bags for that matter. You'll be just as happy with any of the other alternatives I'm sure

So the tank for Red is ready, heater in (though I'll probably need to get a better one. I also need to consider taking a trip to the glass or plastics store to get a bigger lid cut. Aquatop has taken to leaving a vast amount of space (read: smaller lids) so people can put HOB but this is not ideal for me. A bigger lid will prevent escapees (read: I plan to add Nerite(s) and jumpers. It will also keep humidity in for his little breathing organ. Though I've also used a sponge from a cycled tank there are NO readings yet to indicate cycled of course so I'm going to wait until there is. Red has a name but until he moves in I'll keep that to myself for now. :-) Here are some shots of his tank below. The tank got a black clingfilm background, a Hygger clip on 24/7 light (really like it), a Hygger Super Mini sponge filter (gonna see if this tiny sponge can handle the tank- it will only be Red and snails so it should be fine, but I have a back up). I am running his sponge with a lithium battery backed air pump. I've used new Anubias of different kinds and pulled one Anubias Nana from the old CPD tank (the one with the smallest leaves). One Java Narrow Leaf. I also pulled Ludwigia Super Red (it's at the back) from the CPD tank- it looks kind of sad but it's planted in Fluval Stratum with a black sand cap. I was going to top it with black gravel but I liked the look of the black sand so much that I left it. First time for me using it. I put some floaters (and hunted down all the duckweed and pulled it) from the CPD tank as well. I built Red a rock cave but also have a black 3D printed Betta cave coming from Etsy. I'm glad to see the dragon back in service. Can't wait to see Red resting in his mouth lol! BTW, Red is looking really nice. Can't wait to see what he looks like under a good light. And White is still good too. :-)

Oh totally. I just haven't had time to do it yet! Hopefully this week.

Not necessarily but I can say, Java makes baby plants so IMO easy to propagate. Narrow Leaf in particular can get pretty tall. However, if you can get both I still say stick with Amazon Compacta.

Oh well congrats @EnderRen! Go slow, and as you said make sure you wait until the tank is cycled- I do still recommend researching "fish- in" cycling because sometimes IME you cycle a tank, add fish and then it has a wobble. Just good to be prepared! Amazon swords can get HUGE in a 10 gallon they can quickly overwhelm the tank. I would HIGHLY recommend Amazon Compacta for a 10 gallon. I have a "regular" amazon in my 20 High tank and it reaches the top of my tank and curls over at times. Your plant choices are sound - I still would highly recommend Java Ferns. Oh, and since you plan on keeping a Betta, heating the tank is absolutely necessary (80 is optimal)- I know Embers can take the heat but did you make sure the Cory you've chosen can? I don't keep Cory but from what I remember most prefer cooler waters. Very important to make sure they can all take the same water parameters- sometimes that means we have to give up a fish species.

@Guppysnail's long finned babies are my favorite Plecos on the planet

It should work. I usually double filter my tanks. I have notoriously "overstocked" (per the internet) tanks- so I either run 2x sponge or an HOB and a sponge. Part of that is because my sponges are run by a lithium battery backed airpump so if my power goes out the spong filter still runs- which to me is important when you "overstock". What's your experience level @EnderRen? Have you run planted tanks before? If so what kind of plants have you had? I like low tech so I love lots of Anubias (all kinds, Barteri being tallest, Nana being smaller), Java fern (narrow leaf and windelov). They are easy (but slow) growers and don't need to be planted, only glued to hardscape or suction cupped to the tank to grow.

I've used gravel (probably my favorite) and Eco Complete. I'm just now playing with Fluval Stratum uncapped and some capped with sand. Personally I think it all works and it's more about preference and maybe even sometimes what you're keeping (for example some say Cory like to root around in sand, but they have been succesfully kept on gravel and other substrates).

Hi @EnderRen! I think it looks good. As long as your tank is well planted and you have decent filtration that combo should work just fine! Embers are super small. You could also consider Bumble Bee or Pygmy Cories.

THE PARENT TANK: Ongoing issues. I am continuing to find at least 1 deceased Oto a day, (I'm now up to 22 deceased- all the babies in the floating breeder still ok!) I've been feeding the Otos Metroplex in their Repashy, putting salt in their water as @Odd Duck suggested. I decided to try more since I'm still at an unknown illness. (The water continues to test 0 in the things you don't want and low on the other things- other than hardness which has always been high) I decided to remove some of the pots I've had in there for over a year but they were never meant to be in an aquarium (plant nursery pots) so I thought well, there is always the possibility they're leaching something now- even if they are not the problem taking 3 pots out of the tank will make it easier for me to see the Otos and clean the tank a little more as time goes on (also trying not to overclean which can cause problems). I've been doing 50% water changes instead of my usual 15% every week. Testing every other day. Yesterday was the first day I found a deceased Tiger Oto- that bummed me out. I plan on doing another water change today despite having removed the pots and changed 50% yesterday just in case they were leaching something. I did an eye check this morning and didn't see any deceased Otos (yet). I'm hoping they are eating the medicated food and/or I've removed potential culprits and I'll be staving off any further losses- only time will tell. Here are some of the babies last night, so glad they are still with me:

For Red: And so it begins....

@Guppysnail yep my boy does great in the unheated 20 gallon. (Black Neons seem to be spawning more often now too, 4 juveniles in my tank!!! )

Lol, I get it. They are in our care so you don't want to do anything wrong. Maybe hold off on the Epsom and return him to the tank. See what @Odd Duck says about the salt soaks (acclimate or not? how often?). This could start tomorrow (soaks). With 3 opinions (or more if offered) we can probably come up with a legit plan! haha! Just let hiim get used to his surroundings at home again.

I have 2 twenty high tanks 1 four point one two gallon tank (soon to be dismantled for a 7 gallon tank, and sold) 1 ten gallon rimmed 1 Fluval flex9 1 twelve gallon long (dry starting not yet up/running) and if we're counting QT 3 three gallon QT (running, I have 1 more 3 gallon and two 2 gallon that are ready to be set up if ever needed)

Welcome to the forum! We need more UK members! I believe @Flumpweeseland @SC Fish are part of said community? Maybe they can help with the med portion. Pardon if I've got that wrong. We also have @Coluwho may be able to help with meds. Normally this would post in the disease section but no worries! Glad to have you on board, hopefully we can help you with your new fish. :-)