On Fri, 04 Feb 2005 02:56:41 GMT, "Peter Demski"
wrote:


I am new coming back to the hobby however I always had an aquarium
when I was younger. Although back then I knew nothing about the
nitrogen cycle. So I got a 28 Gallon tank for xmas and got it all setup and
running. I did a lot of reading to try and just prepare myself since it is
a lot
more complex than I remember. I ended up purchasing two Zebra Danios
to start the tank cycling since I have ready they are fairly hardy fish.
Now
that my tank has cycled I have added 2 more Zebra's. However when I
first got the second pair of Zebra's home I noticed one was a little more
pale than the other one. I didn't think much of it at the time however that
fish had died by the next morning. I didn't notice anything special about
it
however I don't really know anything more than the most common diseases
which I didn't notice. I have since replaced it with an additional fish
however
I have noticed that there seems to be a long(1-2inch) white string hanging
out
of the back of the fish. Then it seems to have disappeared by the time I
get home from work. This has happened on different fish for the last couple
days and I am a little concerned that they might have caught something.
Any advice would be appreciated.

Thanks!

Peter


Hi Peter, I had the same opinion of Zebra Danios, that they are hardy
and ordered 4 via Internet to start a new 10 gallon tank I bought via
eBay. Three died within months and the 4th died after a year. I have
5 Harlequin Raspora Cyprinids in the same tank that have had no
problems what so ever.

"White string" is normally ****. It may be that you are over feeding,
a very easy thing to do. Fish are really gluttons and it is so
satisfying to watch the rascals feed, but that is not to say they need
all the food. They are just as bad as humans about over eating.

Fish do get constipation. I don't know if any of my fish have been
constipated, but others report this condition. Epson salts, 1
teaspoon per 5 gallons (so I have read) is recommended.

dick