Input needed for ill fish/coral Q list

[Menagerie]

This is odd posting in the Saltie's forum!! I made a list of commonly asked Qs in the FW unhealthy fish forum. I know the needs of SW are different. What else would you ask or not ask of someone new that has an ill fish/coral? Would you need two different lists--one for coral, one for fish?

I heard there was an interest/need for a SW Q list

This is FW Q list:

Answer these Qs to ensure we have as much information as possible about your ailing fish and its environment:

1~What type of fish is afflicted? In addition, please describe what is wrong with the fish to the beset of your ability (i.e. cotton like growth, bloated, etc.).
2~What are your tank parameters (ammonia, nitrites, nitrates, temp, pH)? Please give exact values.
3~ How large is the tank? How long has the tank been set up?
4~What type of filtration are you using? Please give the name and number (i.e. Fluval 304) and amount of gph if known.
5~How many fish are in the tank? What kinds of fish are they and what are there current sizes?
6~When is the last time you did a water change and vacuum the gravel? How often do you do this? How much water do you remove at a time?
7~How long have you had the fish? If the fish is new, how did you acclimate it/them?
8~Have you added anything new to the tank--decor, new dechlorinator, new substrate, etc.?

 

[quarryshark]

For saltwater fish, the following are relevant questions that will help us, to help you with any problems you may be having. Please provide as much of this info as you can in your post.

1. How long have you had the fish?
2. Is the fish eating? If so what does it eat?
3. What are the water parameters? PH, ammonia, nitrite, nitrate, SPG?
4. Is the fish showing any physical signs of disease, grain of salt size spots, discoloration, raged fins, misting or spots on the fins, cuts, cloudy eyes, etc?
5. Is the fish "flashing" (scratching or rubbing on rocks, decorations or substrate)?
6. Did you use quarantine? If so for how long and did you have a need to treat for any ailments? Is it in qt now? Are you currently treating with any medication(s)?
7. How long has the fish been in the tank? What are the tankmates? Any agression? What size system?
8. How is the fish acting? Is it swimming around, or just hovering in one spot or corner of the tank?
9. what type of filtration do you use? Do you have any live rock or sand?
10. do you use any additives? Have you used any sort of meds in the main tank?
11. Do you know if it was wild caught, or tank raised?

 

[Menagerie]

Does anyone have anything to add to quarryshark's list?

 

[austinsdad]

On Qsharks list, maybe the fish stocking order might be helpful to know. Which fish went in from first to last (that could get lengthy though) might help diagnosing troublemakers or more disease succeptible additions. Something added in question #7 to that effect maybe?

On Q #3, would frequency and volume/percentage of water changes help to know?

 

[Salttanker]

Along with the water parameters, how about "Do you have a saltwater test kit? If so, what kind?"

Mike

 

[Menagerie]

For saltwater fish, the following are relevant questions that will help us, to help you with any problems you may be having. Please provide as much of this info as you can in your post.

1. How long have you had the fish? Do you know if it was wild caught, or tank raised?
2. How long has the fish been in the tank? What are the tank mates? Any aggression?
3. Is the fish eating? If so what does it eat?
4. What are the water parameters? pH, ammonia, nitrite, nitrate, SPG? What saltwater test kit are you using?
5. Is the fish showing any physical signs of disease, grain of salt size spots, discoloration, ragged fins, misting or spots on the fins, cuts, cloudy eyes, etc?
6. Is the fish "flashing" (scratching or rubbing on rocks, decorations or substrate)?
7. How is the fish acting? Is it swimming around, or just hovering in one spot or corner of the tank?
8. Did you use quarantine? If so for how long and did you have a need to treat for any ailments? Is it in qt now? Are you currently treating with any medication(s)?
9. What size system? What type of filtration do you use? Do you have any live rock or sand?
10. Do you use any additives? Have you used any sort of meds in the main tank?




I put Qs that I thought go together to make the list only 10 questions long. Let me know if this looks good. After that, it will be by itself as a sticky.

 

[Salttanker]

Looks like a great list.

Mike

 

[austinsdad]

#5 sb "ragged"

 

[quarryshark]

torn would work too.