Newbie Day 11

[FishNoob]

Just a quick update, since I've been very quiet (not at all like me
LOL)

All four danios look well and seem to be behaving normally.

Haven't added anything to increase the pH yet, it's been a very busy
week and I've hardly been home, but plan to get to that tomorrow.

Ammonia is slightly up (just over 0, only just read-able), and
nitrites read 0.1

Still counting fish every time we walk past the tank LOL

--
FishNoob

[Gill Passman]

FishNoob wrote:
> Just a quick update, since I've been very quiet (not at all like me
> LOL)
>
> All four danios look well and seem to be behaving normally.
>
> Haven't added anything to increase the pH yet, it's been a very busy
> week and I've hardly been home, but plan to get to that tomorrow.
>
> Ammonia is slightly up (just over 0, only just read-able), and
> nitrites read 0.1
>
> Still counting fish every time we walk past the tank LOL
>
If the nitrites sneak above 0.3 I would do a water change....so far so
good :-)

Gill

BTW a year on I still count the fish everytime I look at the tank

[Beano]

me too but I've only got one! It still counts because the first thing
I do when I get home from anywhere is check that the fish is still
alive!

[Billy]

¼á
"Beano" > wrote in message
oups.com...
> me too but I've only got one! It still counts because the first
> thing
> I do when I get home from anywhere is check that the fish is still
> alive!
>

Eh, that don't go away. I've had fish for years, and have too many to
count, but I still look in on all the tanks when I walk in the door
after work.

Billy

[FishNoob]

In article >,
says...
> If the nitrites sneak above 0.3 I would do a water change....so far so
> good :-)

Yep, watching it carefully - checking twice a day.

> Gill
>
> BTW a year on I still count the fish everytime I look at the tank

LOL - it must be like checking the baby's still breathing. I still do
that with my fifth child :-)

--
FishNoob

[IDzine01]

I count my fish twice a day. I wasn't for a while then I discovered a
danio potato chip on my dining room floor. I had no idea how long it
had been between the time "he jumped" and when I found him. Ever since
then, I take a twice daily head count. That was 2 years ago.

[Psinapse]

I count mine every time I pass the tank. I must ask how can a tiger barb
about a little less than a inch long get shredded in my filter (Whisper 40).
It didn't seem sickly before hand.

"IDzine01" > wrote in message
oups.com...
> I count my fish twice a day. I wasn't for a while then I discovered a
> danio potato chip on my dining room floor. I had no idea how long it
> had been between the time "he jumped" and when I found him. Ever since
> then, I take a twice daily head count. That was 2 years ago.
>

[FishNoob]

In article . com>,
says...
> I count my fish twice a day. I wasn't for a while then I discovered a
> danio potato chip on my dining room floor. I had no idea how long it
> had been between the time "he jumped" and when I found him. Ever since
> then, I take a twice daily head count. That was 2 years ago.

*Nearly* happened here last night.

The ammonia level had gone up slightly, so I decided to do a water
change. Being new to this game, I was a bit iffy about putting my
hand in with the fish swimming around it (I'm sure I'll get used to
it, but right now...), so I thought that if I put the fish in the
water I'd just siphoned off, I could rearrange the scenery without
them in the tank while they swam around in the same water they'd been
in all along.

Except - and I don't know how this happened - but one danio ended up
a couple of feet away on the floor. Fortunately I glanced at the
basin immediately after it *should* have arrived there, and only saw
two fish - there should have been three. I checked more closely.
Still saw only two. Checked the tank. Only saw one. Stepped back and
started looking around.

After maybe 15 or 20 seconds I spotted the danio on the floor, just
under the cabinet the tank is sitting on. I went "eek" and eldest
child picked it up and dropped it back into the tank.

(In the end, we couldn't catch the last danio in the tank - swift
little beggar! So husband offered to stick his hand in with all the
rocks etc. Ah well. Lesson learned and all that.)

That was about 14 hours ago and all four fish seem fine this morning
- I haven't checked yet but the kids counted them after they counted
the cats, one of which didn't come home last night (she did come in
this morning).

--
FishNoob

[NetMax]

"FishNoob" > wrote in message
...
> In article . com>,
> says...
>> I count my fish twice a day. I wasn't for a while then I discovered a
>> danio potato chip on my dining room floor. I had no idea how long it
>> had been between the time "he jumped" and when I found him. Ever since
>> then, I take a twice daily head count. That was 2 years ago.
>
> *Nearly* happened here last night.
>
> The ammonia level had gone up slightly, so I decided to do a water
> change. Being new to this game, I was a bit iffy about putting my
> hand in with the fish swimming around it (I'm sure I'll get used to
> it, but right now...), so I thought that if I put the fish in the
> water I'd just siphoned off, I could rearrange the scenery without
> them in the tank while they swam around in the same water they'd been
> in all along.
>
> Except - and I don't know how this happened - but one danio ended up
> a couple of feet away on the floor. Fortunately I glanced at the
> basin immediately after it *should* have arrived there, and only saw
> two fish - there should have been three. I checked more closely.
> Still saw only two. Checked the tank. Only saw one. Stepped back and
> started looking around.
>
> After maybe 15 or 20 seconds I spotted the danio on the floor, just
> under the cabinet the tank is sitting on. I went "eek" and eldest
> child picked it up and dropped it back into the tank.
>
> (In the end, we couldn't catch the last danio in the tank - swift
> little beggar! So husband offered to stick his hand in with all the
> rocks etc. Ah well. Lesson learned and all that.)
>
> That was about 14 hours ago and all four fish seem fine this morning
> - I haven't checked yet but the kids counted them after they counted
> the cats, one of which didn't come home last night (she did come in
> this morning).
>
> --
> FishNoob

A couple of FYIs. There's no problem with putting your hands in, just make
sure you have no hand creams or other ointments on. The fish might pick at
your hairs which tickles a bit.

When I fish gets out of the tank, use something which is wet to scoop them.
Their protective outer layer will rub off when they are handled by something
dry (fingers etc), leaving them temporarily exposed to any nasties which
might be in the water.
--
www.NetMax.tk

[FishNoob]

In article >,
says...
> A couple of FYIs. There's no problem with putting your hands in, just make
> sure you have no hand creams or other ointments on. The fish might pick at
> your hairs which tickles a bit.

Oh I know the fish won't mind - that had already come up in another
thread. It's me being all girly (there's a first time for everything
LOL)

> When I fish gets out of the tank, use something which is wet to scoop them.
> Their protective outer layer will rub off when they are handled by something
> dry (fingers etc), leaving them temporarily exposed to any nasties which
> might be in the water.

I used a net - is that okay? It was wet...and they were out of the
water for less than a second each way.

--
FishNoob

[NetMax]

"FishNoob" > wrote in message
...
> In article >,
> says...
>> A couple of FYIs. There's no problem with putting your hands in, just
>> make
>> sure you have no hand creams or other ointments on. The fish might pick
>> at
>> your hairs which tickles a bit.
>
> Oh I know the fish won't mind - that had already come up in another
> thread. It's me being all girly (there's a first time for everything
> LOL)
>
>> When I fish gets out of the tank, use something which is wet to scoop
>> them.
>> Their protective outer layer will rub off when they are handled by
>> something
>> dry (fingers etc), leaving them temporarily exposed to any nasties which
>> might be in the water.
>
> I used a net - is that okay? It was wet...and they were out of the
> water for less than a second each way.
>
> --
> FishNoob

A wet net is absolutely fine. They can be out of water for varying amounts
of time, so a few seconds does no harm other than it's a little
disconcerting to them. Some fish can even breath air to a limited degree
(anabantidaes and some catfish) but for all of them, their protective
coating dries up which is a bad thing. I generally try to get them back in
water within 3-4 seconds.

Just FYI, and please don't worry about this one (keep using your net and
don't worry), but :
- when you have a choice (moving them by net or container), nets are
somewhat abrasive. Coaxing them into a jar and moving the jar is easier on
them than being chased, scooped, scratched and sometimes getting caught up
in a net during the release. When appropriate, I often caught fish with my
hands and then moved them into the fishbag (or wherever they were going).
Wet human skin is a lot kinder to fish than fish nets (with the exception of
plecs which I used garden gloves to move after they get to a certain size
;~).

Like I said, that was just trivia :o). Don't worry about using your net.
Practice the release manoeuvre (cup with hand and pop the net tight to fling
them out). You're doing fine. It's not like the fish have read any of this
;~)
--
www.NetMax.tk

[FishNoob]

In article >,
says...
> Just FYI, and please don't worry about this one (keep using your net and
> don't worry), but :
> - when you have a choice (moving them by net or container), nets are
> somewhat abrasive. Coaxing them into a jar and moving the jar

*HOW???* LOL

I had enough trouble "coaxing" them into the net! They're smart
little so-and-sos!

> is easier on
> them than being chased, scooped, scratched and sometimes getting caught up
> in a net during the release. When appropriate, I often caught fish with my
> hands and then moved them into the fishbag (or wherever they were going).
> Wet human skin is a lot kinder to fish than fish nets (with the exception of
> plecs which I used garden gloves to move after they get to a certain size
> ;~).
>
> Like I said, that was just trivia :o). Don't worry about using your net.
> Practice the release manoeuvre (cup with hand and pop the net tight to fling
> them out). You're doing fine. It's not like the fish have read any of this
> ;~)

You speak for your own fish - like I said, mine are smart ;-)

Anyway, I'm hoping to have to do this very rarely. The decor in the
tank can stay where it is now, and while I'm enjoying this so far, I
think I'm a while away from setting up another tank, so they can stay
put for the time being LOL

--
FishNoob

[NetMax]

"FishNoob" > wrote in message
...
> In article >,
> says...
>> Just FYI, and please don't worry about this one (keep using your net
>> and
>> don't worry), but :
>> - when you have a choice (moving them by net or container), nets are
>> somewhat abrasive. Coaxing them into a jar and moving the jar
>
> *HOW???* LOL
>
> I had enough trouble "coaxing" them into the net! They're smart
> little so-and-sos!

In the case of moving all the fish, such as a tank breakdown, remove
rocks, ornaments etc and lower the water level. Drop in some type of a
container (I like the square rubbermaid containers) with their opening
towards the glass, but not touching the glass. Don't move the container
around (they flee from moving objects). Using two nets, coral them into
the area of the container's opening. When enough are inside, push the
container against the glass (or slip a large net across the opening) and
lift upwards slowly letting excess water pour out. With practice, you'll
get the idea.

Ordinary catch & move is done with 2 nets. A large catch net which moves
very slowly or not at all, and a smaller chase net. Coral the fish into
the catch net with the chase net. Remember that they run from moving
objects so they can be startled into a catch net if it is between the
glass and some other object (rocks, driftwood etc). I've caught 100s of
Neons at a time with this technique. Chase them around (slowly) and they
shoal together following the leader, who swims directly into a non-moving
catch net. The leader tries to turn around, but has many other Neons
piling into the net behind him. They instinctively pack together for
protection (in the back of this large catch net ;~).

To move by hand, follow the technique above (2 net approach), and then
lift the net rim out of the tank. Then you can reach in and slowly
maneuver the fish in and out of your hand through your fingers, for
inspection and selection of which you are removing.

An ideal catch & move is done without a lot of physical effort and you
don't leave the fish (and yourself ;~) totally exhausted. If you find
that you're having difficulty, stop for a while (lets you regroup,
perhaps to change strategy and lets the fish calm down).

Remember that in their element (water) they have the advantage (control
of movement) so you have to out-think them. I've caught Otos by leaving
nets at the surface with only one rim corner under water. Throw a few
algae wafers in and raise the net the next day (secret is to approach the
net very slowly, but lift that rim fast and be ready for them to jump).
There are also fish-traps (use with caution), guile (feed as normal and
as the fish race each other to the food, a quick dip of the net will
catch a few of them, but this only works once or twice a day) and other
methods (weirs, lowered water level, glass tubes etc.... limited only by
your imagination).
--
www.NetMax.tk

>> is easier on
>> them than being chased, scooped, scratched and sometimes getting
>> caught up
>> in a net during the release. When appropriate, I often caught fish
>> with my
>> hands and then moved them into the fishbag (or wherever they were
>> going).
>> Wet human skin is a lot kinder to fish than fish nets (with the
>> exception of
>> plecs which I used garden gloves to move after they get to a certain
>> size
>> ;~).
>>
>> Like I said, that was just trivia :o). Don't worry about using your
>> net.
>> Practice the release manoeuvre (cup with hand and pop the net tight to
>> fling
>> them out). You're doing fine. It's not like the fish have read any
>> of this
>> ;~)
>
> You speak for your own fish - like I said, mine are smart ;-)
>
> Anyway, I'm hoping to have to do this very rarely. The decor in the
> tank can stay where it is now, and while I'm enjoying this so far, I
> think I'm a while away from setting up another tank, so they can stay
> put for the time being LOL
>
> --
> FishNoob