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BeetleLann

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Everything posted by BeetleLann

  1. Hello CARE Friends, Alanna from Canada here. I'm still quite new to the hobby, and I'm searching to learn more about scuds. I'm posting on this forum because this community is the most receptive and knowledgeable that I've across! I've done some reading on scuds here and there, and overall, I do not think they are harmful to an aquarium. However, I think I have an infestation in my 10 gallon planted betta tank. They're all up in the substrate and filter media. I do not like them, per se, but I feel bad killing them. I have been reducing feeding to try and cut back on the amount of waste they could be feeding on, but they seem to be thriving. What do you guys think about scuds? Any recommendations on how I should handle this situation? Thanks :)
  2. Time flew by, and I haven’t been active in many months, but today (August 18th) marks one year to the day I signed up for the forum 🙂 thank you aquarium co-op! I’m sorry I was inactive for a bit but I am happy to be back (with lots of questions!)
  3. Hi Ange, Thank you for your reply! I feel reassured about keeping him in the separated tank. To be honest with you, I assumed the tank was cycled because I used filter media from the larger tank. Oopsies. I've shared some photos on previous posts, but I'll admit the quality is lacking lol Given that the fin damage began a while before tank mates were introduced, I don't think they caused it, but could have contributed. I'll keep up with the water changes and aquarium salt. Thanks again and best of health to you, Lanna
  4. Hey Alexa, thank you for replying 🙂 Hospital tank is 5G. I have copious almond leaves, a driftwood log and half a coconut shell to help release tannins to bring down the pH. Would you recommend using a pH lowering product? I have one, but I am reluctant to use it. 😕
  5. Hey Lizzie, I am sorry for the very late reply! I just started grad school and things have been hectic here. I just want to thank you for replying to me, and again apologize for taking eons to get back to you. A kind lady in Boston is going to send me some meds from the States, so I am hoping this will resolve the underlying issues. Wishing you all the best ❤️
  6. Hey, thanks for your reply. And I am sorry it has taken me so long to get back to you! I just started grad school and things have been a bit hectic. I really appreciate your input. All the best to you!
  7. I introduced my betta to a hospital tank that I thought was cycled when it in fact was not. Is it safe to keep him there? Temporary Betta Tank: pH. is high, 8.2-8.4; ammonia is 0.25ppm; nitrite 0.25ppm; nitrate is low, just under 5.0ppm. Yes heater, preset to 78F. Yes sponge filter. Backstory: Betta was moved in mid-August from 10G community tank because something is not right with his fins (albeit they were not pretty well before tank mates were introduced earlier this summer). I moved the last weekend of August, kept him in the plastic tank until present day. I have been doing daily to every every other water changes and treating with aquarium salt, but I have not been testing. I realize I should have tested sooner, life has just been life... busy and overwhelming. Betta's fins are not improving. A kind lady in Boston is mailing me some meds I cannot get here in Canada. They should arrive by the end of the week. But I don't know if I should keep him in the isolated tank. My question is: should I try the new meds and keep him isolated in the tank that is not quite cycled, or should I return him to the larger tank where water parameters are cycled but there are other fish in the tank? I have 3 corycats, 1 baby pleco, several cherry shrimp, and a nail, and I just worried he was stressed from overcrowding, which is why I moved him into a hospital tank after watching @Irene's video on hospital tanks. Thank you in advance. I don't know what I'm doing 😞 #newtofishcare #quarantinehobby #novice #newbie
  8. Hey @Lizzie Blockno worries! We all get busy. My guy is doing okay, but there's been a lot of stressors in his life lately, so he doesn't look great, either. I must say, though, your statement about his fins and the bottom being fine but the tail being the worst is SO ACCURATE. That perfectly sums up my guy's fins, too. I won't be moving my guy quite as far as you did, but we had to move houses within the city this week, and this weekend we're moving again an hour away. I feel like a bad fish mom for getting him while renting and not in a stable housing situation. I'll probably be moving again within the next 4 months. And thanks for the product suggestions! I have a bunch of almond leaves in the tank, maybe too many? I don't know. I will continue trying to mix up his diet. Gonna keep trying all the other suggestions! They're basically what I've been doing (Water changes, aquarium salt, almond leaves, driftwood, coconut shells), but again, the moving situation is probably very stressful for him (and me, too!). Any ideas how to tell if it isn't fin rot? I'm thinking maybe velvet, but at present I don't have great lighting. It just seems to me his colour is less vibrant. I've also noticed a couple white dots appearing on his face, but those disappear when I treat with Betta Revive (http://www.hikariusa.com/wp/solutions/healthaid/betta-revive/). Thanks for everything, I'll keep you updated, and keep me posted on your situation, too! I love knowing you had difficulties, but have found ways to work through them and see improvement. All the best, Lanna
  9. @NickyjaxYour description of the child with scissors is both hilarious and a surprisingly accurate description of my betta, too! I guess if the fish has to be stuck with a neurotic owner (aka me because of how much I obsess over him), it stands to reason that I should also be stuck with a neurotic fish haha And fascinating to read your statement about blue bettas and fin nipping. I'd be eager to hear more, too.
  10. Hey @JessR and thanks for responding to my post and your patience with my low quality photos. I can't quite confirm that my betta's fins look comparable to either of yours, but if I had to guess, I'd say it looks more like the first photo you posted. To answer your questions: - It's difficult to tell if the fins are inflamed; the colours seem uniform, but he is a dark blue so perhaps I am mistaken and just can't see any inflamation. Some of the stringier bits have white tissue on the tips. An associate at my local store said the white is possibly regrowth? It does not look like the regrowth on your betta in the first photo. - I believe I first noticed how raggedy his fins look approximately one month after COVID shut down everything. For the most part they have looked long, thin, and frayed since then, however, I do occasionally notice his fins are shorter. - I would estimate the damage is about 1/2 - 3/4 the way up his tail and does not appear to be closer to his body. It looks as if someone took scissors and cut his tail into shreds or ribbons. That's the best way I can describe the issue. As you said in your post, the damage does not follow a pattern. - Not once has he seem lethargic or uninterested in food. He will always greet me when I come to see him. He have a ravenous appetite, and at one point I had to treat him for constipation. He also eats algae wafers that I put in the tank for the corydoras. I believe he picked up the behaviour from them. He is now fed every other day lol - He does like to hide in the plants, but I don't believe I have ever seen him intentionally rubbing against anything in the tank. My driftwood is fairly gnarly-looking, however, so maybe that is damaging him. I've wondered this before. - In addition, I one found an approximately 5-10mm long piece of fin on the bottom of my tank. It was as bright blue as he is. I assumed it was ripped off by something, or he bit off a chunk? I do not have aggressive tank mates, either. Given your questions and my responses, I'm starting to think he's eating himself or there's some other kind of infection going on. Again, thanks for your reply, and wishing you and your fishy friends best of health 🙂
  11. Thank you @yannachka for suggestion! Do you, or anyone else, know of ways to increase the temp of a preset heater? I own 3, but all are set to turn off when the water reaches 78F.
  12. Your response is very helpful and reassuring. I think it may have climbed up a pothos that I have growing out of the tank. Lesson learned; my next project is getting the pothos potted. Thank you. 😀
  13. Thanks, Cory! I have something similar already but perhaps it is too small. Do you guys ship to Canada? Would love to support the store.
  14. As I am new to this hobby, I realize there is a lot I have yet to learn. At present, I have a 10G aquarium with a HOB filter. Last night I found one of my cherry shrimp had gotten into the canister (if that is the correct term), and died. I assume fish death is just part of the hobby, but I wish to learn how to minimize this reality, if possible. The intake is covered by a foam sleeve of sorts, so I am not sure how the shrimp got into the filter. How I can prevent this from happening again? I tried asking this question to a FB group I am part of, but they would not let me post because I attached a photo of the dead shrimp. Furthermore, should I move to a sponge filter? A clerk at my local store said it wasn't necessary because it would make my tank look cluttered, but my gut says I should not have listened to him.
  15. Thank you, I will look into purchasing those leaves. For now he has almond leaves and aquarium salt. And thanks for sharing the name of the banana plant, I love it. Take care!
  16. He is a very handsome fish! And may I ask what plant that is to the right of him? The one that looks like a bunch of mini bananas.
  17. Maybe fin rot, maybe nipping. I am honestly not sure. His fins didn't look like this when I purchased him, and the label said veil tail, so I'm wondering if I am doing something wrong to cause him stress and fin loss, perhaps. But maybe he was mislabelled, and is a crown tail, and I'd trust your input more than mine because I am new to the hobby.
  18. I purchased him as a "veil tail", but I've wondered that, too. Thanks for your reply, the link is very helpful! 🙂
  19. Unfortunately, no labels. My plant guy was recommended me to by a friend-of-a-friend and he's definitely a small business. He threw in a bunch of extras like cholla wood, things that look like the tops of pinecones, and other organic/ plant material that I don't know the names of, sadly. This particular item is very thick, maybe a pod of some sort? Thanks for your reply! (pic shown as example of some of the items)
  20. As a brand new member, I like this idea because I'm not entirely sure where to post my questions! I've posted in diseases, general diss., and photos. And it feels like I'm all over the place 😕
  21. I don't think it's cuddlebone!!! Came with a plant order in a baggie of dried leaves and woods. Was brown and light before adding to water. It floats, smells like sulphur, and grew biofilm at the same time as the new spiderwood I added to the tank did. FB says animal material. I don't think it is??? 🤔 They also say to throw it out. Should I???
  22. Sorry the quality is 💩 because poor lighting, I am not a great photographer, and my betta never stays put long enough for me to snap his pic lol PS: I made a long post about my struggles with this guy earlier today, if you wanna read it. I'm trying to help him and I feel bad about how he looks, and I want to learn what to do/ not to do, so that's why I'm here. He is currently being treated with daily water changes and aquarium salt. I have a heater in his hospital tank that keeps his water at 78F, and if that's too cool, please help me learn how to make the water better for him (I hope I don't have to buy a new filter, I have 3, but I will if it is necessary). The long post talks in detail about parameters, but td;lr they're good. Thanks, Lanna
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