A few questions on Clown Loaches, Snails and drinking fish tank water...by accident I mean?

[Jeff]

1. I had asked about my snail problem a while back and a few people
recomended Clown Loaches. The Petsmart recomended against them for a
community tank because they are agressive. Everyone who responded here
disagreed and said go ahead with the clown loaches, so I am. SO my question
is 1 or 2? and do they eat anything different from the other tropical fish
(Hopefully the snails)

2. I was changing the water in my tank this morning and while siphoning
through the vacuum (I lost a piece, getting a new one today) I got a mouth
full of tank water. Any danger in this? I just had a tetanus due to working
for FEMA here in Southern MS.

3. A note on my Molly's. The white film on the female Black Molly's fins and
tail is gone. I did absolutely nothing. Everything else looked normal, but
the fish took a strange angled position in the tank, got the white coloring,
and started hiding around the heater and she swelled up. Now she is back to
normal, dont know what caused that.

[Gill Passman]

Jeff wrote:
> 1. I had asked about my snail problem a while back and a few people
> recomended Clown Loaches. The Petsmart recomended against them for a
> community tank because they are agressive. Everyone who responded here
> disagreed and said go ahead with the clown loaches, so I am. SO my question
> is 1 or 2? and do they eat anything different from the other tropical fish
> (Hopefully the snails)
>
> 2. I was changing the water in my tank this morning and while siphoning
> through the vacuum (I lost a piece, getting a new one today) I got a mouth
> full of tank water. Any danger in this? I just had a tetanus due to working
> for FEMA here in Southern MS.
>
> 3. A note on my Molly's. The white film on the female Black Molly's fins and
> tail is gone. I did absolutely nothing. Everything else looked normal, but
> the fish took a strange angled position in the tank, got the white coloring,
> and started hiding around the heater and she swelled up. Now she is back to
> normal, dont know what caused that.
>
>
>
1. You should get at least two Clown Loaches...they are one fish that
enjoys the company of it's own kind - it is cruel to keep them on their
own. Personally I think the more the merrier - depending on the size of
your tank of course.

2. I swallow tank water all the time - I can't get the rhythm going to
get the siphon working on it's own so tend to suck...generally I keep a
drink (either coke or chardonnay depending on the time of day) next to
me to get rid of the taste if I do accidentally get a mouthful. I've
almost got the knack now of putting the hose in the bucket at just the
right time - but accidents do happen...The only time I get a bit
concerned is if I've recently put meds in the tank....

3. Glad to hear about your Mollie :-) Might have been reduced immune
system due to stress letting the fungus get a hold...maybe she was
pregnant. With cases such as this IME ensuring great water quality will
work wonders

Gill

[Victor Martinez]

Jeff wrote:
> disagreed and said go ahead with the clown loaches, so I am. SO my question
> is 1 or 2? and do they eat anything different from the other tropical fish

At least 3, they are gregarious fish. Bear in mind that they get big,
although it takes some time. My biggest clown fish is a good 7" long,
but his smallest brethren (all the same age) is only 3". Mine love
bloodworms and sinking carnivore pellets.

> through the vacuum (I lost a piece, getting a new one today) I got a mouth
> full of tank water. Any danger in this? I just had a tetanus due to working
> for FEMA here in Southern MS.

You might get diarrhea, but I doubt it.

--
Victor M. Martinez
Owned and operated by the Fantastic Seven (TM)
Send your spam here:
Email me here:

[Rocco Moretti]

Gill Passman wrote:
> Jeff wrote:
>
>>
>> 2. I was changing the water in my tank this morning and while siphoning
>> through the vacuum (I lost a piece, getting a new one today) I got a
>> mouth full of tank water. Any danger in this? I just had a tetanus.
>
> 2. I swallow tank water all the time - I can't get the rhythm going to
> get the siphon working on it's own so tend to suck.

I don't think there is much danger from swallowing tank water (and I
don't think you can get tetanus from injestion). The one issue I've
heard about (but never first hand) is contracting TB from tanks where
the fish are suffering from it.

At any rate, to minimize the risk of getting a mouth full of tank water,
I've developed a priming system for my conventional (non-Python)
gravel vac. I submerge the dry gravel tube in the water, and with the
open end pointing up and at an angle, I lift the tube out of the water
and let the water drain through the tubing. When the water is ~2/3 of
the way down the tube, I have enough time to lower the gravel tube
(still with the open end pointing up) back into the tank, filling it
with water through the open end. By that point, the siphon is well
established, and I can turn the gravel lift tube around and complete my
water change.

HTH.

[Koi-lo]

"Jeff" > wrote in message
...
> 1. I had asked about my snail problem a while back and a few people
> recomended Clown Loaches. The Petsmart recomended against them for a
> community tank because they are agressive. Everyone who responded here
> disagreed and said go ahead with the clown loaches, so I am. SO my
> question
> is 1 or 2? and do they eat anything different from the other tropical fish
> (Hopefully the snails)

Don't ask the salespeople in pet stores for advice. Most of them are
totally clueless. Either ask here or look the fish up on the net. I've had
clowns and none were aggressive where other fish were concerned. To be
happy and thrive you should buy 3 or more.

> 2. I was changing the water in my tank this morning and while siphoning
> through the vacuum (I lost a piece, getting a new one today) I got a mouth
> full of tank water. Any danger in this? I just had a tetanus due to
> working
> for FEMA here in Southern MS.

It's happened to all of us. There are bacteria in tank water (I read) that
can cause infection in humans. Be careful!

> 3. A note on my Molly's. The white film on the female Black Molly's fins
> and
> tail is gone. I did absolutely nothing. Everything else looked normal, but
> the fish took a strange angled position in the tank, got the white
> coloring,
> and started hiding around the heater and she swelled up. Now she is back
> to
> normal, dont know what caused that.

Great! :-)
--
Koi-Lo.... frugal ponding since 1995...
My Pond & Aquarium Pages:
http://bellsouthpwp.net/s/h/shastadaisy
~~~ }<((((o> ~~~ }<{{{{o> ~~~ }<(((((o>

[Koi-lo]

1. If your paranoid about clown loaches use a slice of zuchinni
squash, in no time you can eaily rid any tank of snails. Place slice
of zuchinni in tank just prior to lights out, and the next morning,
have a net ready and scoop out zuchinni slice which will be loaded
with snails. Rinse snails off slice and refridgerate until lights out
time again and repeat process. Fish may even nibble at the zuchinni
and snails will migrate to it, even in a heavily planted tank.

2. I doubt it. You probbaly put worse in your mouth daily without
realizing it.
3. Mollys from what I have found, do get like that for no apparent
reason, and I have never treated them for any problems when mine got
that wilte film, as I was told it was not anyhting to be concerned
abot that the fish was merely shedding some old slime coat..true or
not, the white film on mine went away by itself also. Was also told
that a bit of salt would allow fish to get back to normal quicker, but
doing nothing was approropriate as well. Go figure.



On Thu, 08 Dec 2005 14:14:34 GMT, "Jeff" >
wrote:
1. I had asked about my snail problem a while back and a few people
recomended Clown Loaches. The Petsmart recomended against them for a
community tank because they are agressive. Everyone who responded here
disagreed and said go ahead with the clown loaches, so I am. SO my
question
is 1 or 2? and do they eat anything different from the other tropical
fish
(Hopefully the snails)

2. I was changing the water in my tank this morning and while
siphoning
through the vacuum (I lost a piece, getting a new one today) I got a
mouth
full of tank water. Any danger in this? I just had a tetanus due to
working
for FEMA here in Southern MS.

3. A note on my Molly's. The white film on the female Black Molly's
fins and
tail is gone. I did absolutely nothing. Everything else looked normal,
but
the fish took a strange angled position in the tank, got the white
coloring,
and started hiding around the heater and she swelled up. Now she is
back to
normal, dont know what caused that.



--
\\\|///
( @ @ )
-----------oOOo(_)oOOo---------------


oooO
---------( )----Oooo----------------
\ ( ( )
\_) ) /
(_/
The original frugal ponder! Koi-ahoi mates....

[Koi-lo]

FYI - This is ~Roy from rec.ponds impersonating me.
X-Complaints-To:
--
Koi-Lo.... frugal ponding since 1995...
My Pond & Aquarium Pages:
http://bellsouthpwp.net/s/h/shastadaisy
~~~ }<((((o> ~~~ }<{{{{o> ~~~ }<(((((o>


"Koi-lo" > wrote in message
...
> 1. If your paranoid about clown loaches use a slice of zuchinni
> squash, in no time you can eaily rid any tank of snails. Place slice
> of zuchinni in tank just prior to lights out, and the next morning,
> have a net ready and scoop out zuchinni slice which will be loaded
> with snails. Rinse snails off slice and refridgerate until lights out
> time again and repeat process. Fish may even nibble at the zuchinni
> and snails will migrate to it, even in a heavily planted tank.
>
> 2. I doubt it. You probbaly put worse in your mouth daily without
> realizing it.
> 3. Mollys from what I have found, do get like that for no apparent
> reason, and I have never treated them for any problems when mine got
> that wilte film, as I was told it was not anyhting to be concerned
> abot that the fish was merely shedding some old slime coat..true or
> not, the white film on mine went away by itself also. Was also told
> that a bit of salt would allow fish to get back to normal quicker, but
> doing nothing was approropriate as well. Go figure.
>
>
>
> On Thu, 08 Dec 2005 14:14:34 GMT, "Jeff" >
> wrote:
> 1. I had asked about my snail problem a while back and a few people
> recomended Clown Loaches. The Petsmart recomended against them for a
> community tank because they are agressive. Everyone who responded here
> disagreed and said go ahead with the clown loaches, so I am. SO my
> question
> is 1 or 2? and do they eat anything different from the other tropical
> fish
> (Hopefully the snails)
>
> 2. I was changing the water in my tank this morning and while
> siphoning
> through the vacuum (I lost a piece, getting a new one today) I got a
> mouth
> full of tank water. Any danger in this? I just had a tetanus due to
> working
> for FEMA here in Southern MS.
>
> 3. A note on my Molly's. The white film on the female Black Molly's
> fins and
> tail is gone. I did absolutely nothing. Everything else looked normal,
> but
> the fish took a strange angled position in the tank, got the white
> coloring,
> and started hiding around the heater and she swelled up. Now she is
> back to
> normal, dont know what caused that.
>
>
>
> --
> \\\|///
> ( @ @ )
> -----------oOOo(_)oOOo---------------
>
>
> oooO
> ---------( )----Oooo----------------
> \ ( ( )
> \_) ) /
> (_/
> The original frugal ponder! Koi-ahoi mates....

[Mary Burns]

"Jeff" > wrote in message
...
> 1. I had asked about my snail problem a while back and a few people
> recomended Clown Loaches. The Petsmart recomended against them for a
> community tank because they are agressive. Everyone who responded here
> disagreed and said go ahead with the clown loaches, so I am. SO my
> question
> is 1 or 2? and do they eat anything different from the other tropical fish
> (Hopefully the snails)
>
> 2. I was changing the water in my tank this morning and while siphoning
> through the vacuum (I lost a piece, getting a new one today) I got a mouth
> full of tank water. Any danger in this? I just had a tetanus due to
> working
> for FEMA here in Southern MS.
>
> 3. A note on my Molly's. The white film on the female Black Molly's fins
> and
> tail is gone. I did absolutely nothing. Everything else looked normal, but
> the fish took a strange angled position in the tank, got the white
> coloring,
> and started hiding around the heater and she swelled up. Now she is back
> to
> normal, dont know what caused that.
>
>
>

Other smaller loaches eat snails too. You need to consider the other
tankmates as they are very boisterous!!! They love swimming around other
fish, and it may bother bigger slower fish like angels or gouramis, they try
to get hold off their longer fins sometimes. They are not agressive, just
always on the go being playful. I moved my angels out and made my 65g
specially for clowns with little fish for company or acting as dither fish.
My group has gone from 3 to 5 to 6 to 8 and now 10 over 2 years, so 5 are
medium size and 5 little ones.It is the more the merrier, they just love big
groups. I would say 5 is the minimum to see them at their best and not just
a fish to eat your snails. The snails will soon go and your clowns will live
for many years, some have 8 or 9" clowns that are 13 years old. They need a
very mature tank, a place to sleep in, hollow tubes to swim through, other
daytime places to play in. I have a large castle ornament for sleeping in,
they get right into the spires, a huge tree trunk ornament in centre where
the go in and out all day, and a further dark place under internal filter on
right. This appears to have made them feel safe enough to be out all day,
everyday!!! They don't like too much light, my 1 watt per gall is fine, live
plants struggle and go flying as they play. They need a varied diet as they
grow quickly to about 4" and then slow down, loving live bloodworm/daphnia,
krill,brine shrimp, and adore algae wafers/cucumber. They need veggies and
high protein foods. They will need a 6' tank when they get to about 5",
sooner but not later. They are one of the most attractive fish to watch,
eternal Peter Pans as breeding is not their minds till they get really big.

[hlessi]

YOU DRANK TANK WATER?!!!! MAN YOU ARE SO GOING TO DIE. GET THEE TO THE
ER, STAT!!!

[Justice]

Jeff wrote:
> 1. I had asked about my snail problem a while back and a few people
> recomended Clown Loaches. The Petsmart recomended against them for a
> community tank because they are agressive. Everyone who responded here
> disagreed and said go ahead with the clown loaches, so I am. SO my question
> is 1 or 2? and do they eat anything different from the other tropical fish
> (Hopefully the snails)
>
Yah, they tend to eat most meaty foods, I feed mine bloodworms, brime
shrimp, I am tring to get them to try some krill but they don't seem to
touch it yet. It may take a while for them to eat the snails. What I did
was fast them for 2 days and they started to go crazy on the snils in my
tank.
> 2. I was changing the water in my tank this morning and while siphoning
> through the vacuum (I lost a piece, getting a new one today) I got a mouth
> full of tank water. Any danger in this? I just had a tetanus due to working
> for FEMA here in Southern MS.
If it's ok for the fish it's ok for you by the mouthful, just don't
start to fill a glass with it and chug it ;)
>

> 3. A note on my Molly's. The white film on the female Black Molly's fins and
> tail is gone. I did absolutely nothing. Everything else looked normal, but
> the fish took a strange angled position in the tank, got the white coloring,
> and started hiding around the heater and she swelled up. Now she is back to
> normal, dont know what caused that.
>
sorry, no comment here.
>
>

[Marco Schwarz]

Hi..

> 1. I had asked about my snail problem

Mostly self-made.

> a while back and a
> few people recomended Clown Loaches.

Adults: > 25 cm / 10", a group need 500 Liter / 130 gallon.
I don't know how big your tank actually is, how many fish
you have. They like dens, roots, stones and plants to hide,
space to swimm along. How is your tank built?

> Everyone who responded here disagreed and
> said go ahead with the clown loaches

Shure? You might manage your snail problem in a different
way.

> question is 1 or 2? and do they eat anything different
> from the other tropical fish (Hopefully the snails)

A _big_ tank and 5-10 clown loaches.

> 2. I was changing the water in my tank this morning and
> while siphoning through the vacuum (I lost a piece,
> getting a new one today) I got a mouth full of tank water.

Mouth-showering strengthens the gums. ;-)

> 3. A note on my Molly's. The white film on the female
> Black Molly's fins and tail is gone. I did absolutely
> nothing. Everything else looked normal, but the fish took
> a strange angled position in the tank, got the white
> coloring, and started hiding around the heater and she
> swelled up. Now she is back to normal, dont know what
> caused that.

Water temperature? How strong is the filter flow?
Flowswimming is strength-robbing to sick or pregnant fish.
--
cu
Marco

[Jeff]

"Marco Schwarz" > wrote in message
...
> Hi..
>
> > 1. I had asked about my snail problem
>
> Mostly self-made.
>

Not mostly, totally. I didnt notice (Being a novice) that there were snails
in the vegetation I purchased from Petsmart. Then I though one snail, what
could it hurt..by the time I figured out what it was (I didnt know) and
asked here and was told to get rid of it or I would have a million of em..it
was too late. (Revers that order) I asked here, first, found out it was a
snail and then was told to get rid of it.

[Koi-lo]

Just who the hell am I impersonating CArol...do you have a god damed
-atent or copyright on the name I use that I am violating.Have I
stirred up the pot like you have in other goroups huh, have I, you
limp brained bimbo slut!
On Thu, 8 Dec 2005 11:19:02 -0600, "Koi-lo" >
wrote:
FYI - This is ~Roy from rec.ponds impersonating me.
X-Complaints-To:

--
\\\|///
( @ @ )
-----------oOOo(_)oOOo---------------


oooO
---------( )----Oooo----------------
\ ( ( )
\_) ) /
(_/
The original frugal ponder! Koi-ahoi mates....

[Koi-lo]

Hey I have given a heads up notice I was going to use ther name
Koi-lo, so unless you can put a piece of paper on me with a copyright
infringement on it to the fact, shove your personal problems where the
sun does not shine........come on in the ponds forum and I'll tell you
what you can really do!

On Thu, 8 Dec 2005 11:19:02 -0600, "Koi-lo" >
wrote:
FYI - This is ~Roy from rec.ponds impersonating me.
X-Complaints-To:

--
\\\|///
( @ @ )
-----------oOOo(_)oOOo---------------


oooO
---------( )----Oooo----------------
\ ( ( )
\_) ) /
(_/
The original frugal ponder! Koi-ahoi mates....

[Koi-lo]

I seem to think my post has enhanced the posts you may have copied and
pasted anyhow..........looser, so now see what yoiu have started with
the **** pot you stirred up in this forum ljust like the rec ponds
forum....so keep it up, I have not done anything to complain to abuse
about, but then again your so apt to be so assinine and narrow minded,
as everyone is Jabbers out to get your skin and nail it to a
wall........

On Thu, 8 Dec 2005 11:19:02 -0600, "Koi-lo" >
wrote:
FYI - This is ~Roy from rec.ponds impersonating me.
X-Complaints-To:

--
\\\|///
( @ @ )
-----------oOOo(_)oOOo---------------


oooO
---------( )----Oooo----------------
\ ( ( )
\_) ) /
(_/
The original frugal ponder! Koi-ahoi mates....

[Koi-lo]

With as many times as yu change usier names (nym shift) it should not
matter much, as you use a ton of alias names as well as keep a barn
full of psock puppets on remailers and change your name like most
people change their underware just to keep yourself from being kill
filed ...............Carol your a dyed in the wool looser from the day
you were conceived.......your marraige record and relationships with
people show that plain as the nose on your mug!
--
\\\|///
( @ @ )
-----------oOOo(_)oOOo---------------


oooO
---------( )----Oooo----------------
\ ( ( )
\_) ) /
(_/
The original frugal ponder! Koi-ahoi mates....

[NetMax]

"Mary Burns" > wrote in message
...
>
> "Jeff" > wrote in message
> ...
>> 1. I had asked about my snail problem a while back and a few people
>> recomended Clown Loaches. The Petsmart recomended against them for a
>> community tank because they are agressive. Everyone who responded here
>> disagreed and said go ahead with the clown loaches, so I am. SO my
>> question
>> is 1 or 2? and do they eat anything different from the other tropical
>> fish
>> (Hopefully the snails)

I think Mary captured the essence of Clowns very well. They are not
really agressive, but they are boisterous, a characteristic which is not
well appreciated by certain slow moving fish, such as Angels.

>> 2. I was changing the water in my tank this morning and while
>> siphoning
>> through the vacuum (I lost a piece, getting a new one today) I got a
>> mouth
>> full of tank water. Any danger in this? I just had a tetanus due to
>> working
>> for FEMA here in Southern MS.

If it was more dangerous, there would be a lot less of us here writing
today ;~). Note to Gill, if you submerge the hose underwater so that it
fills with water, and then keep your thumb on the end as you relocate the
end into the pail, you should not have to use your mouth (especially
handy for siphoning gasoline, which is not at all tasty).

>> 3. A note on my Molly's. The white film on the female Black Molly's
>> fins and
>> tail is gone. I did absolutely nothing. Everything else looked normal,
>> but
>> the fish took a strange angled position in the tank, got the white
>> coloring,
>> and started hiding around the heater and she swelled up. Now she is
>> back to
>> normal, dont know what caused that.

Tail & Fin rot is sometimes bacterial (nasty) but more typically fungal,
which clean warm water usually cures. Mollys are a bit more suceptible
to this, perhaps because of their brackish origins (I noticed this with
other brackish water fish as well). A fish's fins end in a more exposed
row of cells which are sometimes targetted by pathogens, and non-optimal
water condtions (high NO3, DOCs, cold water, NH3) accelerate the effect.
--
www.NetMax.tk

> Other smaller loaches eat snails too. You need to consider the other
> tankmates as they are very boisterous!!! They love swimming around
> other fish, and it may bother bigger slower fish like angels or
> gouramis, they try to get hold off their longer fins sometimes. They
> are not agressive, just always on the go being playful. I moved my
> angels out and made my 65g specially for clowns with little fish for
> company or acting as dither fish. My group has gone from 3 to 5 to 6 to
> 8 and now 10 over 2 years, so 5 are medium size and 5 little ones.It
> is the more the merrier, they just love big groups. I would say 5 is
> the minimum to see them at their best and not just a fish to eat your
> snails. The snails will soon go and your clowns will live for many
> years, some have 8 or 9" clowns that are 13 years old. They need a very
> mature tank, a place to sleep in, hollow tubes to swim through, other
> daytime places to play in. I have a large castle ornament for sleeping
> in, they get right into the spires, a huge tree trunk ornament in
> centre where the go in and out all day, and a further dark place under
> internal filter on right. This appears to have made them feel safe
> enough to be out all day, everyday!!! They don't like too much light,
> my 1 watt per gall is fine, live plants struggle and go flying as they
> play. They need a varied diet as they grow quickly to about 4" and then
> slow down, loving live bloodworm/daphnia, krill,brine shrimp, and adore
> algae wafers/cucumber. They need veggies and high protein foods. They
> will need a 6' tank when they get to about 5", sooner but not later.
> They are one of the most attractive fish to watch, eternal Peter Pans
> as breeding is not their minds till they get really big.

[Marco Schwarz]

Hi..

> Not mostly, totally. I didnt notice (Being a novice) that
> there were snails in the vegetation I purchased from
> Petsmart. Then I though one snail, what could it hurt..by
> the time I figured out what it was (I didnt know) and
> asked here and was told to get rid of it or I would have a
> million of em..it was too late. (Revers that order) I
> asked here, first, found out it was a snail and then was
> told to get rid of it.

I personally like and generally accept snails in tank.

I even know people keeping nothing but snails. By the way
snails are useful.

In Europe Physella acuta is very common in pond and aquaria:
http://www.wirbellose.de/arten.cgi?action=show&artNo=114

Dip some green salad (a leaf) into boiling water, than into
cold water, and fix it afterwards in the tank. Snails will
come. 1-3 hours later you are able to remove the leaf
covered by snails. Repete the procedure weekly to control
the population. Good luck!

--
cu
Marco

[Robert C.]

"Marco Schwarz" > wrote in message
...
> Hi..
>
>> Not mostly, totally. I didnt notice (Being a novice) that
>> there were snails in the vegetation I purchased from
>> Petsmart. Then I though one snail, what could it hurt..by
>> the time I figured out what it was (I didnt know) and
>> asked here and was told to get rid of it or I would have a
>> million of em..it was too late. (Revers that order) I
>> asked here, first, found out it was a snail and then was
>> told to get rid of it.
>
> I personally like and generally accept snails in tank.
>
> I even know people keeping nothing but snails. By the way
> snails are useful.
>
> In Europe Physella acuta is very common in pond and aquaria:
> http://www.wirbellose.de/arten.cgi?action=show&artNo=114
>
> Dip some green salad (a leaf) into boiling water, than into
> cold water, and fix it afterwards in the tank. Snails will
> come. 1-3 hours later you are able to remove the leaf
> covered by snails. Repete the procedure weekly to control
> the population. Good luck!
>
> --
> cu
> Marco

I didn't know of this trick.

[Fish2Keep]

"NetMax" > wrote in message
.. .
> "Mary Burns" > wrote in message
> ...
>>
>> "Jeff" > wrote in message
>> ...
>>> 1. I had asked about my snail problem a while back and a few people
>>> recomended Clown Loaches. The Petsmart recomended against them for a
>>> community tank because they are agressive. Everyone who responded here
>>> disagreed and said go ahead with the clown loaches, so I am. SO my
>>> question
>>> is 1 or 2? and do they eat anything different from the other tropical
>>> fish
>>> (Hopefully the snails)
>
> I think Mary captured the essence of Clowns very well. They are not
> really agressive, but they are boisterous, a characteristic which is not
> well appreciated by certain slow moving fish, such as Angels.
>
>>> 2. I was changing the water in my tank this morning and while siphoning
>>> through the vacuum (I lost a piece, getting a new one today) I got a
>>> mouth
>>> full of tank water. Any danger in this? I just had a tetanus due to
>>> working
>>> for FEMA here in Southern MS.
>
> If it was more dangerous, there would be a lot less of us here writing
> today ;~). Note to Gill, if you submerge the hose underwater so that it
> fills with water, and then keep your thumb on the end as you relocate the
> end into the pail, you should not have to use your mouth (especially handy
> for siphoning gasoline, which is not at all tasty).
>
>>> 3. A note on my Molly's. The white film on the female Black Molly's fins
>>> and
>>> tail is gone. I did absolutely nothing. Everything else looked normal,
>>> but
>>> the fish took a strange angled position in the tank, got the white
>>> coloring,
>>> and started hiding around the heater and she swelled up. Now she is back
>>> to
>>> normal, dont know what caused that.
>
> Tail & Fin rot is sometimes bacterial (nasty) but more typically fungal,
> which clean warm water usually cures. Mollys are a bit more suceptible to
> this, perhaps because of their brackish origins (I noticed this with other
> brackish water fish as well). A fish's fins end in a more exposed row of
> cells which are sometimes targetted by pathogens, and non-optimal water
> condtions (high NO3, DOCs, cold water, NH3) accelerate the effect.
> --
> www.NetMax.tk
>
>> Other smaller loaches eat snails too. You need to consider the other
>> tankmates as they are very boisterous!!! They love swimming around other
>> fish, and it may bother bigger slower fish like angels or gouramis, they
>> try to get hold off their longer fins sometimes. They are not agressive,
>> just always on the go being playful. I moved my angels out and made my
>> 65g specially for clowns with little fish for company or acting as dither
>> fish. My group has gone from 3 to 5 to 6 to 8 and now 10 over 2 years,
>> so 5 are medium size and 5 little ones.It is the more the merrier, they
>> just love big groups. I would say 5 is the minimum to see them at their
>> best and not just a fish to eat your snails. The snails will soon go and
>> your clowns will live for many years, some have 8 or 9" clowns that are
>> 13 years old. They need a very mature tank, a place to sleep in, hollow
>> tubes to swim through, other daytime places to play in. I have a large
>> castle ornament for sleeping in, they get right into the spires, a huge
>> tree trunk ornament in centre where the go in and out all day, and a
>> further dark place under internal filter on right. This appears to have
>> made them feel safe enough to be out all day, everyday!!! They don't like
>> too much light, my 1 watt per gall is fine, live plants struggle and go
>> flying as they play. They need a varied diet as they grow quickly to
>> about 4" and then slow down, loving live bloodworm/daphnia, krill,brine
>> shrimp, and adore algae wafers/cucumber. They need veggies and high
>> protein foods. They will need a 6' tank when they get to about 5", sooner
>> but not later. They are one of the most attractive fish to watch, eternal
>> Peter Pans as breeding is not their minds till they get really big.
>
>

Clown Loach will each snails, but sometimes it's a bit hit and miss - some
seem to enjoy doing it, while you may have others that show little interest
in eating them. What I would say though it if you have Discus Fish don't use
Clown Loach

--
http://www.fish2keep.com
Share your fish keeping skills!!!

[Dr Engelbert Buxbaum]

Jeff wrote:

> 1. I had asked about my snail problem a while back and a few people
> recomended Clown Loaches. The Petsmart recomended against them for a
> community tank because they are agressive. Everyone who responded here
> disagreed and said go ahead with the clown loaches, so I am. SO my question
> is 1 or 2? and do they eat anything different from the other tropical fish
> (Hopefully the snails)


Some snails are actually usefull, mass reproduction is usually the
result of overfeeding. Thus you don't need loaches to controll snail
population.

However, if you choose to keep these interesting fish, you need to
provide for them. Under good conditions, loaches can become 30 years
old. Loaches are very social, they need to be kept in groups of at least
5-6. Clown loaches look small, when you buy their babies in the shop,
but grow to about 30 cm (approx. 1 ft). Thus you'd need a tank of about
200-300 l to keep them. Other loach species stay smaller (approx. 10
cm), e.g. Botia striata and B. lohaichatu.

Botia ssp are quite omnivorous, so keep their diet varied: they eat food
flakes, life food of various kind (also frozen), snails...
>
> 2. I was changing the water in my tank this morning and while siphoning
> through the vacuum (I lost a piece, getting a new one today) I got a mouth
> full of tank water. Any danger in this?

Not unless you are immuno-compromised, in which case atypical
mycobacteria would pose a real thread. In that case you should not keep
a tank (or any other animals, for that matter). Of course this applies
to normal tank water, if you were treating with some kind of chemical
you'd have to read the label.

> 3. A note on my Molly's. The white film on the female Black Molly's fins and
> tail is gone. I did absolutely nothing.

Important lesson learned: In some cases doing nothing is the best course
of action. The key of course is to know which cases that are ;-]