Care for the Elderly (fish)

[Deleted]

Greetings All,

Carl, is there a section on your site for Care of the Elderly Fish?

I would like to have a spot where I can quickly find tips for helping Elderly Fish. 
I have three elderly rainbows right now (a male Boesemani, a male Emerald and a female Kamaka) that will die of old age. I would like to see tips on keeping them comfortable. I did put the Boesemani in a Methylene Blue/Salt bath yesterday for a just 15 minutes (and will increase it next time - adding more salt). The immune system of all three rainbows is very strong. The Boesemani did get a little patch of bacteria (Columnaris?) on his chin several weeks ago....after a couple treatments of Bio-Bandage (and my trusted product in the water), there is no sign of the bacteria. The Emerald made it through the Great Death of 2011 and never did show any sign of illness - ever. He is the only rainbow that ate the whole time during treatment back in 2011- swimming with the silver dollars (who also never got sick). The Emerald is named "The Wizard". The Kamaka female was a full grown fish when I bought her (I did get her at half price as the store had the two female Kamaka a very long time), so I have no idea how old she really is (as Kamaka rainbows grow slowly - most rainbows grow slowly). She is simply "the Lady of the Lake". I did loose her "sister" (the "Ugly Step Sister" -- well, she was no Cinderella -- the store was thrilled to get rid of her -- chuckles) a year or so ago as she choked on a piece of Cobalt Veggie Round (and I learned my lesson...no more Cobalt Veggie Rounds -- the rainbows liked those too much. I returned to Omega One Veggie Rounds).

None of these fish need to be moved to an isolation tank.... They are under no stress from the other tank mates.....So.... List your suggestions on how I can make the rest of their lives more comfortable. Add to the list:

1. Methylene Blue Bath - with added salt up to 1 teaspoon per gallon - for improved gill function (I assume that is the benefit).

[Carl]

No, not currently.

Maybe someday in the future this could be added to the Aquarium Disease Prevention article.
Reference:
www.americanaquariumproducts.com/Aquarium_Disease.html

One reason I have not, as this is not the first time this question or a similar question has been brought to my attention is that this is a mostly subjective subject and I prefer to keep most of my article more objective based.

That said, I still may in the most objective way I can, so thank you for the suggestion

Carl

[Deleted]

Hi Carl/All,

I found the page I read a week ago or so.... I didn't do the right search to find it earlier today (needed to use as fish ages rather than elderly fish):

www.fishchannel.com/fish-health/what-to-do-as-your-aquarium-fish-ages.aspx


Judy D.

[devonjohnsgard]

I would think keeping a healthy Redox for the fish would be best for a elderly fish. Good food, comfortable living space. Maybe their own tank. Low light. Good O2... Cant really think of anything else you would do different that you wouldn't do for a healthy fish. Kinda goes along with the article you provided.

[Deleted]

Hi Devon,

Good to know I am doing everything right (smile). These fish can't have their own tank since I only have a ten gallon hospital tank (that is occupied right now). The rest of the fish in the 75 gallon respect these seniors- so that is a good thing.

My huge tinfoil barbs had a problem with the Wonder Shells when I first starting using them....but they have adapted.

When I made the initial post, I couldn't find the article and thought it may not be online anymore. I just used the wrong key words. I actually copied the article to my machine once I found it again.

[Carl]

As per your suggestion Judy, I finally broke down and added a section about geriatric fish care in the "Aquarium Disease Prevention" article.

Here is a link to the new section:
www.americanaquariumproducts.com/Aquarium_Disease.html#old_age

Carl

[devonjohnsgard]

Oct 23, 2014 15:46:35 GMT -5 Carl said:

As per your suggestion Judy, I finally broke down and added a section about geriatric fish care in the "Aquarium Disease Prevention" article.

Here is a link to the new section:
www.americanaquariumproducts.com/Aquarium_Disease.html#old_age

Carl

Nice read Carl.

[Deleted]

Thanks Carl,

I am adding a UV Sterilizer to my Christmas Wish List.
Would the SUNSUN CUV-107 be sufficient for my 75 gallon? I have a Rena xP3 filter.

Judy D.

[Carl]

While the 7 Watt would likely be sufficient, for a little bit more $, the 9 Watt version would be money well spent

Product Resource:
www.americanaquariumproducts.com/CompactUVSterilizer.html#9watt

Regards;
Carl

[devonjohnsgard]

Oct 24, 2014 11:16:21 GMT -5 @judy4fish said:

Thanks Carl,

I am adding a UV Sterilizer to my Christmas Wish List.
Would the SUNSUN CUV-107 be sufficient for my 75 gallon? I have a Rena xP3 filter.

Judy D.

I have the CUV-118 (18 watt) for my 40 gallon. I just wanted level two sterilization for the tank. 9 watt would be great for your 75.

[Deleted]

Just a quick note to let you know my "Lady of the Lake" (the elderly Kamaka rainbow) got to try the Methylene Blue with extra salt (a little more than 1 tablespoon salt per five gallon) bath Sunday. She loved it (or so it seems). Her color is better and her swimming pattern has improved (her spine is showing her age). This time, the Goyder River (my acrobat fish), elderly male Boesemani and the female Kamaka got close to 30 minutes prior to the two fish from the hospital tank (they got a full 30 minutes).

The two fish in the hospital tank still have good appetites, so no need to put them down. They can't go back to the 75 gallon as they have some serious erosion of their mouths (from mouth rot). They still get some spot treatments with hydrogen peroxide, but will not get any harsh/stronger medicines. My trusted all natural treatment has kept their condition from getting any worse.

I will pick up some more RO water so the fish can have another bath this week. I use water from the 75 gallon for the bath treatments (but have to wait a good 24 hours after the last does of the all natural treatments).

The good news is the nitrate level in the 75 gallon is now down to 40 ppm again....doing an extra 25% water change did the trick. I need to get the nitrates lower though as the featherfin catfish doesn't like nitrates even as high as 40 ppm. She showed me her eyes today. She is the only fish that is somewhat sensitive to nitrates. She has calmed down, so I will reward her. She didn't like the extra salt at all (last time I used almost a full tablespoon of salt per each five gallon bucket -- for only three buckets though so still not the full amount in the aquarium - as I usually use 1/2 tablespoon per each five gallon bucket).... I only added 1 teaspoon of salt per each five gallon bucket with this last water change.

[Deleted]

Greetings All,

After the hospital tank is no longer needed for sick fish, the three elderly rainbows will get their own space. Currently, the tank is on the floor by to my 75 gallon.... which makes it difficult to clean the bottom. I had no idea it would be there this long when I set it up there. I have a hard time getting to the Rena xP3 filter, too - cramped space. I will be clearing off the desk in my office and will get another power strip. I will also get some gravel for it. They old folks can keep me company while I type at my computer (chuckles).

Judy