newbie panicking

jess wrote:
I am new to fishkeeping and am not sure what to do for the best. I
noticed this morning that my less than a year old comet, Dale, is
swollen mainly on the left side above the pelvic fin but perhaps a bit
on the right side also though not as much. He is sitting at the bottom
of the tank but will come up and swim around if I lift the lid then
when he realises nothing much is going to happen he goes back down
again. He is still eating and the water quality is within ok limits.
I have only had him and his tank mate, another comet, for 11 days so
cannot believe something has gone wrong already! Dale has always been
the slightly smaller of the two and the quieter and doesn't eat as much
but seemed perfectly healthy until this morning. I don't see any
raised scales or gasping or areas of soreness so what do you think it
could be and if it is possibly the start of a bacterial infection
should I start treatment straight away just in case. If so what to do
and should I isolate him or leave in tank to treat.


If you have only had the fish for 11 days then your comet could be any
age.....but this is besides the point....you say that your water quality
is within OK limits - what do you mean by this? If you have only had the
fish in the tank for 11 days the chances are that your tank is cycling
and it is toxins such as ammonia and nitrites that are making your fish
sick.....do you have any filtration in the tank? How big is it? Are
there any other fish or just the two comets you are talking about....Do
not go adding medication into the tank on a best guess.....first
determine what actually might be wrong - and without further information
my guess is that your tank is cycling....

For starters read the following:-

http://faq.thekrib.com/begin-cycling.html

Then go to your local LFS and buy a test kit - for ammonia and nitrites
at the very least - pH would also be useful and a nitrate kit would give
you the clue that the tank has actually started to complete cycling -
lucky for you most of these are bundled together in a freshwater test
kit.....then report back with the readings and more detail of your set
up.....ie. tank size and filter being used.....as a precaution do a 20%
change on your tank water using a suitable water conditioner (to remove
chlorine/chloramines/heavy metals).....

Gill

Advice from LFS that he is probably under a year according to size. I
did a 20% change on the 11th using a conditioner and readings today
were nitrate 10 mg/l, nitrite 1mg/l, gh 6, kh 3, ph 6.8. Tank is 6 UK
gallons and has a fluval plus 1 filter, gravel, a few larger pebbles
and some live plants. There is only the two comets in there and the
other one is his normal self. I know they will need a larger tank when
they grow but thought this would be ok for the next few months tillI I
move house. Since this afternoon he has mainly stayed at the bottom
and only occasionally swimming around although he is still eating and
has pooped. Even when moving his dorsal, pelvic and anal fins remain
close to his body so it is all very worrying.
Gill Passman wrote:
jess wrote:
I am new to fishkeeping and am not sure what to do for the best. I
noticed this morning that my less than a year old comet, Dale, is
swollen mainly on the left side above the pelvic fin but perhaps a bit
on the right side also though not as much. He is sitting at the bottom
of the tank but will come up and swim around if I lift the lid then
when he realises nothing much is going to happen he goes back down
again. He is still eating and the water quality is within ok limits.
I have only had him and his tank mate, another comet, for 11 days so
cannot believe something has gone wrong already! Dale has always been
the slightly smaller of the two and the quieter and doesn't eat as much
but seemed perfectly healthy until this morning. I don't see any
raised scales or gasping or areas of soreness so what do you think it
could be and if it is possibly the start of a bacterial infection
should I start treatment straight away just in case. If so what to do
and should I isolate him or leave in tank to treat.


If you have only had the fish for 11 days then your comet could be any
age.....but this is besides the point....you say that your water quality
is within OK limits - what do you mean by this? If you have only had the
fish in the tank for 11 days the chances are that your tank is cycling
and it is toxins such as ammonia and nitrites that are making your fish
sick.....do you have any filtration in the tank? How big is it? Are
there any other fish or just the two comets you are talking about....Do
not go adding medication into the tank on a best guess.....first
determine what actually might be wrong - and without further information
my guess is that your tank is cycling....

For starters read the following:-

http://faq.thekrib.com/begin-cycling.html

Then go to your local LFS and buy a test kit - for ammonia and nitrites
at the very least - pH would also be useful and a nitrate kit would give
you the clue that the tank has actually started to complete cycling -
lucky for you most of these are bundled together in a freshwater test
kit.....then report back with the readings and more detail of your set
up.....ie. tank size and filter being used.....as a precaution do a 20%
change on your tank water using a suitable water conditioner (to remove
chlorine/chloramines/heavy metals).....

Gill

jess wrote:
Advice from LFS that he is probably under a year according to size. I
did a 20% change on the 11th using a conditioner and readings today
were nitrate 10 mg/l, nitrite 1mg/l, gh 6, kh 3, ph 6.8. Tank is 6 UK
gallons and has a fluval plus 1 filter, gravel, a few larger pebbles
and some live plants. There is only the two comets in there and the
other one is his normal self. I know they will need a larger tank when
they grow but thought this would be ok for the next few months tillI I
move house. Since this afternoon he has mainly stayed at the bottom
and only occasionally swimming around although he is still eating and
has pooped. Even when moving his dorsal, pelvic and anal fins remain
close to his body so it is all very worrying.

From the figures that you give it certainly sounds as if the tank is
cycling - the symptoms that you are describing could well be nitrite
poisoning (clamped fins). It would be helpful if you could get the
ammonia reading for the tank as this would indicate what stage you are
at in the nitrogen cycle - it could be that the cycle is advanced as you
are now getting nitrate readings but this information would be valuable
in suggesting the next course of action. You are looking for 0
ammonia/nitrite and a positive reading on nitrates. Your pH is
relatively low which is good - ammonia is more toxic with higher pH's.
You could try adding some aquarium salt into the tank - this will
eleviate any nitrite poisoning (not cure) and make your fish more
comfortable - I've used 1/2 the recommended salt solution before to
treat parasites with no ill effect (but this was with tropicals). Cut
back on your feeding all the time that you are getting positive nitrite
or ammonia readings - try fasting them for a day and then feeding a
small amount daily (or even every other day) until the tank is cycled -
you can then gradually increase it - however hungry the fish make you
think that they are they will not suffer

If possible try and get some used filter medium or gravel from a friend
or your LFS - this will have the effect of "seeding" your tank and
speeding up the cycle.

Good luck
Gill

Thanks Gill will take your advice on board, much appreciated
Jess
Gill Passman wrote:
jess wrote:
Advice from LFS that he is probably under a year according to size. I
did a 20% change on the 11th using a conditioner and readings today
were nitrate 10 mg/l, nitrite 1mg/l, gh 6, kh 3, ph 6.8. Tank is 6 UK
gallons and has a fluval plus 1 filter, gravel, a few larger pebbles
and some live plants. There is only the two comets in there and the
other one is his normal self. I know they will need a larger tank when
they grow but thought this would be ok for the next few months tillI I
move house. Since this afternoon he has mainly stayed at the bottom
and only occasionally swimming around although he is still eating and
has pooped. Even when moving his dorsal, pelvic and anal fins remain
close to his body so it is all very worrying.

From the figures that you give it certainly sounds as if the tank is
cycling - the symptoms that you are describing could well be nitrite
poisoning (clamped fins). It would be helpful if you could get the
ammonia reading for the tank as this would indicate what stage you are
at in the nitrogen cycle - it could be that the cycle is advanced as you
are now getting nitrate readings but this information would be valuable
in suggesting the next course of action. You are looking for 0
ammonia/nitrite and a positive reading on nitrates. Your pH is
relatively low which is good - ammonia is more toxic with higher pH's.
You could try adding some aquarium salt into the tank - this will
eleviate any nitrite poisoning (not cure) and make your fish more
comfortable - I've used 1/2 the recommended salt solution before to
treat parasites with no ill effect (but this was with tropicals). Cut
back on your feeding all the time that you are getting positive nitrite
or ammonia readings - try fasting them for a day and then feeding a
small amount daily (or even every other day) until the tank is cycled -
you can then gradually increase it - however hungry the fish make you
think that they are they will not suffer

If possible try and get some used filter medium or gravel from a friend
or your LFS - this will have the effect of "seeding" your tank and
speeding up the cycle.

Good luck
Gill

"jess" wrote in message
oups.com...
I am new to fishkeeping and am not sure what to do for the best. I
noticed this morning that my less than a year old comet, Dale, is
swollen mainly on the left side above the pelvic fin but perhaps a bit
on the right side also though not as much. He is sitting at the bottom
of the tank but will come up and swim around if I lift the lid then
when he realises nothing much is going to happen he goes back down
again.

This doesn't sound too good.

He is still eating and the water quality is within ok limits.

Can you tell us what you checked so far? How is the Ammonia and Nitrites?

I have only had him and his tank mate, another comet, for 11 days so
cannot believe something has gone wrong already!

Things can go wrong very quickly, see
http://faq.thekrib.com/begin-cycling.html - in an uncycled tank. The
swelling doesn't sound normal. You can also check out www.koivet.com for
more information.

Dale has always been
the slightly smaller of the two and the quieter and doesn't eat as much
but seemed perfectly healthy until this morning. I don't see any
raised scales or gasping or areas of soreness so what do you think it
could be and if it is possibly the start of a bacterial infection
should I start treatment straight away just in case. If so what to do
and should I isolate him or leave in tank to treat.

Before you do anything - what are the ammonia and nitrite levels? What is
the PH of the water? Was if very different than the water at the petshop?
--
ZB....
Frugal ponding since 1995.
rec.ponder since late 1996.
My Pond & Aquarium Pages:
http://tinyurl.com/9do58
Troll Information:
http://tinyurl.com/9zbh
~~~~ }((((* ~~~ }{{{{(ö ~~~~ }((((({*

Give i t up CArol.........your a daya late and a dollar short plus
your a dumbass whithout a clue who is pronbe to telling lies or ad
libbing or lieing about what you post since its always phlagarized sp?


On Sun, 14 Jan 2007 17:59:09 -0600, Zëbulon
wrote:


"jess" wrote in message
legroups.com...
I am new to fishkeeping and am not sure what to do for the best. I
noticed this morning that my less than a year old comet, Dale, is
swollen mainly on the left side above the pelvic fin but perhaps a bit
on the right side also though not as much. He is sitting at the bottom
of the tank but will come up and swim around if I lift the lid then
when he realises nothing much is going to happen he goes back down
again.

This doesn't sound too good.

He is still eating and the water quality is within ok limits.

Can you tell us what you checked so far? How is the Ammonia and Nitrites?

I have only had him and his tank mate, another comet, for 11 days so
cannot believe something has gone wrong already!

Things can go wrong very quickly, see
http://faq.thekrib.com/begin-cycling.html - in an uncycled tank. The
swelling doesn't sound normal. You can also check out www.koivet.com for
more information.

Dale has always been
the slightly smaller of the two and the quieter and doesn't eat as much
but seemed perfectly healthy until this morning. I don't see any
raised scales or gasping or areas of soreness so what do you think it
could be and if it is possibly the start of a bacterial infection
should I start treatment straight away just in case. If so what to do
and should I isolate him or leave in tank to treat.

Before you do anything - what are the ammonia and nitrite levels? What is
the PH of the water? Was if very different than the water at the petshop?



-------
I forgot more about ponds and koi than I'll ever know!

"Tristan" wrote in message
...
Give i t up CArol.........your a daya late and a dollar short plus
your a dumbass whithout a clue who is pronbe to telling lies or ad
libbing or lieing about what you post since its always phlagarized sp?


Give i t up Roy "TRistan" Hauer.........your a daya late and a dollar short
plus
your a bigger dumbass whithout a clue who is pronbe to telling lies or ad
libbing or lieing about what you post since its always phlagarized sp? Your
trolling is getting old and as you can see.... no one cares.........


On Sun, 14 Jan 2007 17:59:09 -0600, Zëbulon
wrote:


"jess" wrote in message
legroups.com...
I am new to fishkeeping and am not sure what to do for the best. I
noticed this morning that my less than a year old comet, Dale, is
swollen mainly on the left side above the pelvic fin but perhaps a
bit
on the right side also though not as much. He is sitting at the
bottom
of the tank but will come up and swim around if I lift the lid then
when he realises nothing much is going to happen he goes back down
again.

This doesn't sound too good.

He is still eating and the water quality is within ok limits.

Can you tell us what you checked so far? How is the Ammonia and
Nitrites?

I have only had him and his tank mate, another comet, for 11 days so
cannot believe something has gone wrong already!

Things can go wrong very quickly, see
http://faq.thekrib.com/begin-cycling.html - in an uncycled tank. The
swelling doesn't sound normal. You can also check out www.koivet.com
for
more information.

Dale has always been
the slightly smaller of the two and the quieter and doesn't eat as
much
but seemed perfectly healthy until this morning. I don't see any
raised scales or gasping or areas of soreness so what do you think
it
could be and if it is possibly the start of a bacterial infection
should I start treatment straight away just in case. If so what to
do
and should I isolate him or leave in tank to treat.

Before you do anything - what are the ammonia and nitrite levels?
What is
the PH of the water? Was if very different than the water at the
petshop?



-------
I forgot more about ponds and koi than I'll ever know!

Does your family and Dr and wife and neighboirs know you harass and stalk
and slander and try to intimidate old women and vets in wheelchairs online?
Get back on your Thorazine Roy Tristan Hauer.... before eveyone knows what a
lowlife scumbag you really are.

Not that theyre not aware you have serious mental issues.

Your already looking damn bad in the eyes of the public what with
slandering old women and tormenting disabled old vets. When you abuse and
troll others Roy Hauer... others just may just decide to harass you back.
Get back on yor meds. Get back in treatments.

Tristan, the slandering net stalking psycho 4Fer is Roy Hauer.

"Tristan" wrote in message
...
Give i t up CArol.........your a daya late and a dollar short plus
your a dumbass whithout a clue who is pronbe to telling lies or ad
libbing or lieing about what you post since its always phlagarized sp?


On Sun, 14 Jan 2007 17:59:09 -0600, Zëbulon
wrote:


"jess" wrote in message
legroups.com...
I am new to fishkeeping and am not sure what to do for the best. I
noticed this morning that my less than a year old comet, Dale, is
swollen mainly on the left side above the pelvic fin but perhaps a
bit
on the right side also though not as much. He is sitting at the
bottom
of the tank but will come up and swim around if I lift the lid then
when he realises nothing much is going to happen he goes back down
again.

This doesn't sound too good.

He is still eating and the water quality is within ok limits.

Can you tell us what you checked so far? How is the Ammonia and
Nitrites?

I have only had him and his tank mate, another comet, for 11 days so
cannot believe something has gone wrong already!

Things can go wrong very quickly, see
http://faq.thekrib.com/begin-cycling.html - in an uncycled tank. The
swelling doesn't sound normal. You can also check out www.koivet.com
for
more information.

Dale has always been
the slightly smaller of the two and the quieter and doesn't eat as
much
but seemed perfectly healthy until this morning. I don't see any
raised scales or gasping or areas of soreness so what do you think
it
could be and if it is possibly the start of a bacterial infection
should I start treatment straight away just in case. If so what to
do
and should I isolate him or leave in tank to treat.

Before you do anything - what are the ammonia and nitrite levels?
What is
the PH of the water? Was if very different than the water at the
petshop?



-------
I forgot more about ponds and koi than I'll ever know!