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Moderator
 
Group: Moderators
Last Login: 11/17/2008 2:28:09 PM
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| Please -- before you go looking for disease books and try and find something wrong with your fish that you treat by dumping chemicals into your tank -- have you done a water change lately? Are the fish eating? Why is everyone always trying so hard to find something wrong with their fish that they can treat. Other than ick -- little white dots all over the fish -- or fungus -- white cottony growth or fuzzy ends of fins -- you really don't want to find a disease your fish have and treat it. Sorry for the rant. I just got done with my segment on the Blue Zoo Radio show about fish, and I'm a little wound up still.
*************************** Be warned -- everyone at college has a weird roommate. If you don't have a weird roomate -- then you're the weird roommate.
Conan O'Brien, Stuyvesant High School.
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Senior Member
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Last Login: Yesterday @ 8:47:38 PM
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| He's right. Your fish should NOT be sick unless something else is wrong with your tank conditions. Unless you're bringing in piscine-virulent bacilli on your shirtsleeves, it's likely that something is wrong with what you're doing. That sounds harsh, but it's not meant to be offensive - it might be something wrong with his diet, improper nutrition weakening his system. Or not enough water changes, the resulting nitrate buildup creating a breeding ground for bacteria and bringing down your fish's immunity. A lot of variables can affect your fish's stress level. And stress is the root cause of illness in these situations, because it drastically cuts your fishes' resistance to disease. So look into those factors mentioned. Do water changes, watch your temperature. And don't just throw medicine into your tank.
In the Mountains Of the Mountains For the Mountains
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New Member
Group: Forum Members
Last Login: 8/19/2008 6:31:16 PM
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| I checked the temperature and it is about 77 degrees. We were keeping it in the middel of the green band on the thermometer. We do have a heater but the tank has been in the high 70's so the heater is off. The blue Gourami looks worse today, he is near the bottom and appears to have a visible bump on his upper back behind his head. Looks like something internal is causing the bump/swelling.
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Senior Member
Group: Forum Members
Last Login: Yesterday @ 8:47:38 PM
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| There's nothing wrong with your tank being in the high seventies - you are keeping tropical fish, after all. A temperature that high would be a problem for goldfish or koi, not for angelfish or gouramis. In addition, the sinking temperature isn't good for your fish, especially the sick gourami. Turn your heater back on. Your gourami should probably be quarantined at this point, to save it the stress of being housed in too small a tank with another fish. If you can't move it to another tank, add plants or a flowerpot to provide the fish some shelter. Perform a 15-25% water change every day until the fish shows signs of improvement or presents more specific symptoms. And good luck.
In the Mountains Of the Mountains For the Mountains
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Junior Member
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David, People are the same when it comes to their own health, when I was in school and doing practicums in doctors offices, I was amazed at how mad people got when the doctor would not give them pills. It seems people treat their animals the same, in that medication must be the only cure.
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Senior Member
Group: Forum Members
Last Login: Yesterday @ 8:47:38 PM
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Quite right. And it's a shame, especially when you consider that aquarium medications are nowhere near as regulated as human-grade medicines. Ill-informed use of drugs by medicine-happy hobbyists is far too common, and a tremendous source of stress and even death on the part of the fish.
In the Mountains Of the Mountains For the Mountains
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