Snakehead question - Aquarium Advice

vlsh · 05-18-2005, 02:38 AM

hi there!!!
I am new to this forum and require help for a problem that has been recurring recently. I have been rearing a forest snakehead for almost a year and water quality has been deterioting. Looks like some kind of poisoning is happenning. Fortunately this fish is an air breathing fish so it still capable of tolerating it. I only discover the poisoning when i release live baby carps for the fish to feed. This baby carps will swim sluggishly and die within 30 minutes. The snakehead also seem to lost its appetite. Water condition extreamly clear. No signs of algee. No sign of foul smell of ammonia. The fish will recover to its normal state once water change is perform. This cycle repeats itself in 2 weeks. Please advice.

TCTFish · 05-18-2005, 06:14 PM

You need to test the water immediately for ammonia, nitrite, nitrate, and pH. Then start doing a series of small, but frequent water changes...about 10% to 15% every other day for at least two weeks. Don't offer any food for awhile. The fish can tolerate a fast. If it's not too big, you could put it in a [acronym:149bf51179="quarantine or quart depending on context"]QT[/acronym:149bf51179]. Bare tank, no gravel with a simple sponge filter, heater, clean water and a place for the animal to hide. When an animal loses it's appetite, it means ill health.

How bog isd the tank?
How long has it been set up?
How big is the snakehead?

vlsh · 05-18-2005, 10:18 PM

TCTFish,
Thanks for your reply.

My tank is a 2 X 1 feet. Fish length , approx 1 feet. Been setup for almost a year. Problem starts occuring, last month. Existing filter type, sponge filter and stones with a hole in the middle. Feeding pattern, once or twice a week. Diet, baby carp and frog.

What kind of test kit you use to test ammonia, nitrite, nitrate, and pH? How long should the fish fast??

TCTFish · 05-18-2005, 10:38 PM

You do realize the tank is way too small of an environment for the fish. The water volume makes it easy to fowl too. The filter is also very inadequate. You need a good bio filter.

Hagen and Aquarium Pharmacuticals have test kits with everything you need to test the water. Being you don't have a test kit immediately available, start on the water changes [acronym:2f855d8e81="As soon as possible"]asap[/acronym:2f855d8e81]. The fasting is to keep from putting in more waste. The fish will be fine for awhile, but it shouldn't fast for too long. Once we know the water quality, we'll be able to establish a feeding regimine that won't interfere with improving the water quality. You could bring in a sample of tank water to your local [acronym:2f855d8e81="Local Fish Store"]LFS[/acronym:2f855d8e81] for testing (about 1/2 a cup). Ask the person who does the test to explain the tests to you so when you get one of your own to have on hand, you'll understand it. Kits cost about $25. A small price to pay when trying to save your fish.

You can look at some power filters while your there too. You will need to think about the safety of the fish and whether you'll be able to house it properly in the appropriate size tank. Snakeheads can reach 2 feet or more and need ample room for movement. Anything short of a 75 gallon tank (minimum) would be too small. If you know you won't be able to house this animal, then you might want to think about giving it up. What ever you do, DO NOT release it out in the wild. Snakeheads are becoming very illegal in many states because of that. They can devastate natural populations with such a ravenous appetite.

Toirtis · 05-18-2005, 10:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by vlsh

The fish will recover to its normal state once water change is perform. This cycle repeats itself in 2 weeks. Please advice.

Which causes me to ask:

1 your tank is 2' x1' x ? ....what is the third dimension?

2. Are you filtering the water in the tank at all with an aquarium filter of some sort?

3. Just how often are you doing water changes, and how much each time?

vlsh · 05-19-2005, 12:26 AM

TCTFish,
For your info, I am writting to you from Malaysia. And is legal to release the fish into the wild because is a native fish. By the way, I have no intention to do so because this is my first forest snakehead caught by me. Forest snakehead are not common in my area and is worth keeping. There are many types of snakeheads and varies in behaviour too. I am not sure about the type of snakehead that is causing problem to your country but this snakehead don't grow to that size and it moves very little. Anyway I will try to look for test kit to determine the source of the contanimation.

Toirtis,
Nice to hear from you!
The third dimension is 1 feet of water in height.
My aquarium water is constantly flowing through a sponge filter and stones with holes in the middle before returning to the aquarium.
I change the water once a month (before this problem occurs) for the past 10 months.
I change 1/3 of the water each time.
I presume the water is healthy before this by the fact the baby carps behave normal ,able to live for days before being eaten up and the snakehead appetite is good.

mattrox · 05-19-2005, 05:40 AM

I would say that the fish is now producing more waste that your filter can handle. Your two weeks cycle of getting better then getting worse is a sign of this. If you want to keep it healthy until you can get a bigger tank you will need to do a minimum of 2 water changes of 20% per week. You will need to keep testing for ammonia, nitrate and nitrate because it is quite likely that the water needs to be changed more often than that even. But testing will help you keep water quality in check and help you determine when you need to change the water.

Toirtis · 05-19-2005, 06:44 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by vlsh

Toirtis,
Nice to hear from you!
The third dimension is 1 feet of water in height.

OK, this is your first problem...not only is the tank far too small for a 1' snakehead to be even marginally comfortable in, the tiny volume of water means that ammonia and nitrite/nitrate levels are going to reach very deleterious levels within 1-3 days after a water change. For your forest snakehead, you require a tank with at least dimensions like 5' x 2' x 2'.

Quote:

My aquarium water is constantly flowing through a sponge filter and stones with holes in the middle before returning to the aquarium.

Second problem...unless that sponge filter is twice the size of the tank, it is far too small...it simply cannot handle the waste load.

Quote:

I change the water once a month (before this problem occurs) for the past 10 months.
I change 1/3 of the water each time.

Third problem....although water changes of 1/3 are the standard, they should be done at least weekly in a well-filtered, appropriately large tank...your tank is neither, so daily water changes of 1/3-1/2 would be needed to keep the water from becoming dangerously toxic.

Quote:

I presume the water is healthy before this by the fact the baby carps behave normal ,able to live for days before being eaten up and the snakehead appetite is good.

Its not...the carp are actually slowly dying from the toxic, damaging effects of ammonia/nitrite/nitrate, and your snakehead, despite its ability to breathe atmospheric air, is also suffering damage that will greatly shorten his lifespan and stunt his growth.

To sum up, you need a much bigger tank, a better filter, and larger, more frequent water changes.

BrianNY · 05-19-2005, 07:06 AM

Not to pick on you vlsh, but you've created a very stressful environment for that poor snakehead. The effects of ammonia or nitrite poisoning can permanently damage it's gills (among other things).

If you want to keep that fish, you're going to need a much larger aquarium.

vlsh · 05-19-2005, 08:07 AM

alright guys,
Points taken. I will take your advice and do what is needed. Thanks again to all.

05-18-2005, 06:14 PM	#2
TCTFish Aquarium Advice Addict Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Southern California, USA Posts: 1,470 Images: 20	You need to test the water immediately for ammonia, nitrite, nitrate, and pH. Then start doing a series of small, but frequent water changes...about 10% to 15% every other day for at least two weeks. Don't offer any food for awhile. The fish can tolerate a fast. If it's not too big, you could put it in a [acronym:149bf51179="quarantine or quart depending on context"]QT[/acronym:149bf51179]. Bare tank, no gravel with a simple sponge filter, heater, clean water and a place for the animal to hide. When an animal loses it's appetite, it means ill health. How bog isd the tank? How long has it been set up? How big is the snakehead? __________________ http://www.tricitytropicals.com ------------------------------------ We, as a people, know so much more about outer space than we do about our own oceans. This lack of knowledge can very well spell the dangers that lay in wait for us. The oceans surely would swallow us before a rock comes down to smite the planet of it's life. Nov/2004

05-18-2005, 10:38 PM	#4
TCTFish Aquarium Advice Addict Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Southern California, USA Posts: 1,470 Images: 20	You do realize the tank is way too small of an environment for the fish. The water volume makes it easy to fowl too. The filter is also very inadequate. You need a good bio filter. Hagen and Aquarium Pharmacuticals have test kits with everything you need to test the water. Being you don't have a test kit immediately available, start on the water changes [acronym:2f855d8e81="As soon as possible"]asap[/acronym:2f855d8e81]. The fasting is to keep from putting in more waste. The fish will be fine for awhile, but it shouldn't fast for too long. Once we know the water quality, we'll be able to establish a feeding regimine that won't interfere with improving the water quality. You could bring in a sample of tank water to your local [acronym:2f855d8e81="Local Fish Store"]LFS[/acronym:2f855d8e81] for testing (about 1/2 a cup). Ask the person who does the test to explain the tests to you so when you get one of your own to have on hand, you'll understand it. Kits cost about $25. A small price to pay when trying to save your fish. You can look at some power filters while your there too. You will need to think about the safety of the fish and whether you'll be able to house it properly in the appropriate size tank. Snakeheads can reach 2 feet or more and need ample room for movement. Anything short of a 75 gallon tank (minimum) would be too small. If you know you won't be able to house this animal, then you might want to think about giving it up. What ever you do, DO NOT release it out in the wild. Snakeheads are becoming very illegal in many states because of that. They can devastate natural populations with such a ravenous appetite. __________________ http://www.tricitytropicals.com ------------------------------------ We, as a people, know so much more about outer space than we do about our own oceans. This lack of knowledge can very well spell the dangers that lay in wait for us. The oceans surely would swallow us before a rock comes down to smite the planet of it's life. Nov/2004

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05-18-2005, 02:38 AM	#1
vlsh Aquarium Advice Newbie Join Date: May 2005 Location: KL Malaysia Posts: 4	hi there!!! I am new to this forum and require help for a problem that has been recurring recently. I have been rearing a forest snakehead for almost a year and water quality has been deterioting. Looks like some kind of poisoning is happenning. Fortunately this fish is an air breathing fish so it still capable of tolerating it. I only discover the poisoning when i release live baby carps for the fish to feed. This baby carps will swim sluggishly and die within 30 minutes. The snakehead also seem to lost its appetite. Water condition extreamly clear. No signs of algee. No sign of foul smell of ammonia. The fish will recover to its normal state once water change is perform. This cycle repeats itself in 2 weeks. Please advice.

05-18-2005, 10:18 PM	#3
vlsh Aquarium Advice Newbie Join Date: May 2005 Location: KL Malaysia Posts: 4	TCTFish, Thanks for your reply. My tank is a 2 X 1 feet. Fish length , approx 1 feet. Been setup for almost a year. Problem starts occuring, last month. Existing filter type, sponge filter and stones with a hole in the middle. Feeding pattern, once or twice a week. Diet, baby carp and frog. What kind of test kit you use to test ammonia, nitrite, nitrate, and pH? How long should the fish fast??

05-19-2005, 12:26 AM	#6
vlsh Aquarium Advice Newbie Join Date: May 2005 Location: KL Malaysia Posts: 4	TCTFish, For your info, I am writting to you from Malaysia. And is legal to release the fish into the wild because is a native fish. By the way, I have no intention to do so because this is my first forest snakehead caught by me. Forest snakehead are not common in my area and is worth keeping. There are many types of snakeheads and varies in behaviour too. I am not sure about the type of snakehead that is causing problem to your country but this snakehead don't grow to that size and it moves very little. Anyway I will try to look for test kit to determine the source of the contanimation. Toirtis, Nice to hear from you! The third dimension is 1 feet of water in height. My aquarium water is constantly flowing through a sponge filter and stones with holes in the middle before returning to the aquarium. I change the water once a month (before this problem occurs) for the past 10 months. I change 1/3 of the water each time. I presume the water is healthy before this by the fact the baby carps behave normal ,able to live for days before being eaten up and the snakehead appetite is good.

05-19-2005, 05:40 AM	#7
mattrox Aquarium Advice Addict Moderator Emeritus Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Adelaide, Australia Posts: 1,328 Images: 36	I would say that the fish is now producing more waste that your filter can handle. Your two weeks cycle of getting better then getting worse is a sign of this. If you want to keep it healthy until you can get a bigger tank you will need to do a minimum of 2 water changes of 20% per week. You will need to keep testing for ammonia, nitrate and nitrate because it is quite likely that the water needs to be changed more often than that even. But testing will help you keep water quality in check and help you determine when you need to change the water.

05-19-2005, 07:06 AM	#9
BrianNY Aquarium Advice Addict Moderator Emeritus Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: NY Posts: 4,259 Images: 18	Not to pick on you vlsh, but you've created a very stressful environment for that poor snakehead. The effects of ammonia or nitrite poisoning can permanently damage it's gills (among other things). If you want to keep that fish, you're going to need a much larger aquarium.

05-19-2005, 08:07 AM	#10
vlsh Aquarium Advice Newbie Join Date: May 2005 Location: KL Malaysia Posts: 4	alright guys, Points taken. I will take your advice and do what is needed. Thanks again to all.