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Post by sammiesam on Jan 21, 2009 21:48:28 GMT -5
:S
Alright so, Fred died last week...my oldest living fish
My second oldest living fish is McSpiff a swordtail, who is probably close to the same age as Fred was, I got him a month or two after I got Fred (almost 3 years ago)
Anyways he's having issues and I don't think it's to do with age.
So he has a history of picking fights, he's a little bugger and a year ago or so when I got my first loach, mcspiff would try and play with him and they would end up chasing each other and picking at each other. Mcspiff had little bite marks all over his body and got a bit swollen, I was giving him baths and eventually the two of them backed off from each other and don't bother each other anymore
Last night I was watching the tank and noticed McSpiff had yet again some bite marks on him. I have 3 loaches now and he was bugging paddington, both him and the other swordtail were trying to play with im and chase him around and then paddington would get annoyed and nip at their sides. Nemo though doesn't have any marks on him (that's the other swordtail, or the loach paddington)
And so i decided to keep an eye on him, and tonight he was hiding in the plant on the side of the tank, and his body is very swollen. His scales are like 'sloffing' off and a bit poofed because of the swelling, but I'm not sure if this counts as a pineconing dropsy or not.
Either way he doesn't look good, he's really really swollen, almost looks like a balloon molly! And he's having problems swimming, he just kinda sits himself on the bottom, or where ever he can rest himself.
So I know how you guys feel about jumping right into meds but i did anyways because I had been watching him and waiting anyways.
He is sitting in bath right now of some meth. blue, a bit of melafix and some neomycin. I figured if the bite marks were infected this could help, and the neomycin could help with dropsy if that is what the swelling is all about.
Either way, any other tips, or ideas? I can try n get some pics later tonight and post em for you guys.
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Post by bikeguy33 on Jan 21, 2009 21:54:36 GMT -5
it is most probable that he is old....now that his system is slowing down...the others may be taking advantage of the situation and trying to speed up the process of age by biting and nipping. the swelling isnt good tho...the treatment you are doing will do good or at least no harm except the stress of removal
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Post by sammiesam on Jan 21, 2009 21:58:00 GMT -5
Oh I didn't take him out of the tank really, I have one of those isolation cubes you can hang inside the tank off the side, and I have a big ladel spoon I use instead of a net, and I just gently scooped him up with it and put him in it, he didn't even leave the water.
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Post by Carl on Jan 21, 2009 22:14:07 GMT -5
it is most probable that he is old....now that his system is slowing down...the others may be taking advantage of the situation and trying to speed up the process of age by biting and nipping. the swelling isnt good tho...the treatment you are doing will do good or at least no harm except the stress of removal I was thinking just this while reading your post.  Even the #1 fish will often become a victim when he gets old (in fact I too have an old sword that was at one time very "bossy" but has since fallen considerably in the pecking order). I definitely agree with the baths, also let me clarify, there is a time to wait to medicate and a time to jump right in and I think you took the correct action. The only thing I would add is to use salt in the baths (if you are not already) and add salt to at least 1 tablespoon per 5 gallons in the tank. Melafix also is more effective as an in-tank treatment than in the bath. Carl |
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Post by babygeige on Jan 21, 2009 22:52:09 GMT -5
Sorry to hear about McSpiff! I remember on the old forum when you posted a picture of him with his name and I thought that was the coolest name! I hope the treatments work!
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Post by sammiesam on Jan 21, 2009 22:58:14 GMT -5
lol thanks babygeige  Btw after talking with bill on msn for awhile, I decided to move mcspiff out of the 20gal into the 10gal with percy my betta and the two frogs. I am currently still slowly adapting him to the new tank, and I hope that percy doesn't go bananas or I will have to move him back. This tank doesn;t have the loaches, which are the main problem...they are bugging him alot, not really nipping at him but since he is laying on the bottom, they just plow him over when they are swimming and playing around  I felt bad for him, I didn't really want to take him from Nemo the other sword because they get along well, but I think it'll be better, theres less current in the 10gal as well so he can rest more, so long as percy leaves him alone |
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Post by Suzie Q (Lori) on Jan 22, 2009 15:39:01 GMT -5
Sam...Im sorry to hear about McSpiff. I too remember him from the old forum!
I hope he gets better. It sounds like you are doing all the right things for him. Good Luck!
LOVES,
Lori
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Post by goldenpuon on Jan 22, 2009 17:40:20 GMT -5
Sorry to hear about McSpiff not doing well. Best of luck with him! Hope he gets better.
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Post by sammiesam on Jan 22, 2009 18:29:55 GMT -5
Alright so now I feel like a horrible person, because when I came home this afternoon poor poor Mcspiff was attacked by percy and his tail is all frayed and ripped up and yeah. So I have no idea what to do with him, he is currently in an isolation cube, the ones you put on the side of the tank. I have an old 5 gal in a box, and I am thinking of setting it up, taking water from one of the tanks and putting it in the 5 gal, then using the second filter i have set up on the goldie tank for that tank, since i have two in the goldie tank. I have some old gravel and plants. I'm gunna start working on it now, but let me know you guys don't think I should, but he can't be anywhere else because everyone is picking on the poor guy |
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Post by eve on Jan 22, 2009 18:49:46 GMT -5
i would definitely go ahead and setup the 5 gallon tank as you planned on doing since you have a filter already established, that's perfect, and your tank won't have to go through the cycling process don't know, if percy is a betta or any other fish, sorry if i missed that info somewhere, but if it's a betta, i would put the betta in the 5 gallon and leave your sword to heal in the 10 gallon tank good luck |
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Post by sammiesam on Jan 22, 2009 18:55:12 GMT -5
ummm, he is a betta but the 10gal is his tank with the two frogs I moved mcspiff last night to see if they would get along better than the three loaches that were picking on him and running him over and stuff since he was on the bottom of the tank. And obviously he's not doing well in this tank either. I set up the tank already, I didn't add gravel just because its all dry and put away nicely and I really didnt think it mattered too much it was bare bottom or not since the filter is already set up and ready to go. I've already added meds to the 5 gal and stuff so I will transfer mcspiff to it, plus I think it would be better because he has a smaller space and doesn't have to move around as much, and he's got more hiding spots in this 5 gal with the ornaments I have. So I think it'll be okay to move him into it. I'm just going to give him his bath and then transfer him slowly. Btw he looked better this morning a bit, he was more active etc. but then after this attack he doesn't look great, specially his poor poor fins and tail I feel like a horrible fish mom for putting him in there. |
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Post by eve on Jan 22, 2009 19:03:20 GMT -5
you're not a horrible fish mom at all you tried and it didnt' work out, that's just how it goes unfortunately when keeping fish it's all a trial and error experience, but once you got it right, it's the most enjoyable hobby out there IMO ok, i get your point that makes sense, didn't know you had frogs in the 10 as well, so the 5 will be perfect for him to get back up again fingers crossed |
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Post by bikeguy33 on Jan 22, 2009 19:56:22 GMT -5
good luck sam.... i had hoped my suggestions would have worked but they didnt.....the 5 is perfect
let me look in my box of aqua goodies....may have a small HOB for ya
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Post by brenda on Jan 22, 2009 21:27:05 GMT -5
Goodluck with McSpiff Sam..>We all know you are a good fish mom so don't sweat it, we know you're doing your best!
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Post by murdock6701 on Jan 22, 2009 21:42:19 GMT -5
is he that beautiful sword who's pic was posted on the forum board? am sorry he's not well - he is about that age so going out in a blaze of glory is what swordtails are all about - hope he recovers and has learned his lesson - silly old man.....
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Post by Carl on Jan 22, 2009 22:48:44 GMT -5
is he that beautiful sword who's pic was posted on the forum board? am sorry he's not well - he is about that age so going out in a blaze of glory is what swordtails are all about - hope he recovers and has learned his lesson - silly old man..... Neat sentiment John! Sam you are good fishy-fishy Mom too I cannot really add anything but to encouragement since others have already given you great advice. BTW, is this McSpiff?  Carl |
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Post by sammiesam on Jan 23, 2009 0:20:04 GMT -5
Yes that's my McSpiff |
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Post by murdock6701 on Jan 23, 2009 10:32:11 GMT -5
sends goosebumps up and dowm my arms! incredibly beautiful - remember his pic from the old site! I found some pure bright yeoolow ones a while back I didn't buy - not a hint of any other color, but McSpiff is by far one of the most beautiful swords I've ever seen!
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Post by goldenpuon on Jan 23, 2009 17:18:06 GMT -5
Very nice picture of him! I hope he gets better soon. Fingers crossed.
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Post by sammiesam on Jan 23, 2009 18:34:37 GMT -5
There's not going to be any getting better I'm afraid...
He's still alive this afternoon, I just checked, but he's not doing good at all.
The sword part of his tail fell off! and his damaged fins from percy are just getting worse
I'm feeling really bad for him right now, and I can't really watch him much cause its so upsetting to see, but I really don't think he'll make it another day, let alone get better.
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I felt bad for him, I didn't really want to take him from Nemo the other sword because they get along well, but I think it'll be better, theres less current in the 10gal as well so he can rest more, so long as percy leaves him alone
