Ok. So. I'm a petsmart fish parent. My knowledge and habits come from shallow research and info from NON professionals. I've learned more in the last week about parenting fish than I have my entire adult life... please be kind!
My family has had this Oranda for 2 years. "His" name is Michaelangelo (because "he" is orange) but after my research this week, I'm pretty sure he's a she. Not the point...
For 2 years, he's been active and healthy. Thriving in a 2.5gallon tank.
The week of July 4th, we upgraded to a 10g tank. Added a black moor and a sucker fish. And a bubble strip. Followed protocol as we understood it to introduce the new fish. The black moor didn't make it. The sucker (Joyle) and Michaelangelo seemed fine.
Week of July 15, the tank started losing water. We assumed a leak, got a new tank and started the whole process over again. Turned out not to be the tank but a defect in the filter that overflowed the water instead of filtering it back into the tank. My husband decided not to put a filter in it after the change to prevent overflow.
We went out of town 7/19-23. Leaving a family member to care for the animals. Returned home to find Michaelangelo turning black.
I scoured the internet looking for causes. Landed on ammonia poisoning. Got a test kit from Walmart, just strips no real info. In 5 days, we've done two 40% water changes. Removes the bubble strip. Clean filter in. According to the strips, ammonia is at 0 again. But Michaelangelo is not back to normal.
I've watched for the symptoms I read online. He occasionally gasps but not at the top. He's definitely less social but I didnt notice any lethargy until today. I did see his gills spazzing 2 days ago but nothing consistent or since.
I attached pictures...
I'm thinking to get real testing stuff to see if any further water treatment needs done. Then just watch and see if his behavior gets better/worse. Mostly - I don't want him to be suffering. We may not have been knowledgeable in his proper care, but we did our best with what we had and we love him.
Any advice would be so helpful!!!
My family has had this Oranda for 2 years. "His" name is Michaelangelo (because "he" is orange) but after my research this week, I'm pretty sure he's a she. Not the point...
For 2 years, he's been active and healthy. Thriving in a 2.5gallon tank.
The week of July 4th, we upgraded to a 10g tank. Added a black moor and a sucker fish. And a bubble strip. Followed protocol as we understood it to introduce the new fish. The black moor didn't make it. The sucker (Joyle) and Michaelangelo seemed fine.
Week of July 15, the tank started losing water. We assumed a leak, got a new tank and started the whole process over again. Turned out not to be the tank but a defect in the filter that overflowed the water instead of filtering it back into the tank. My husband decided not to put a filter in it after the change to prevent overflow.
We went out of town 7/19-23. Leaving a family member to care for the animals. Returned home to find Michaelangelo turning black.
I scoured the internet looking for causes. Landed on ammonia poisoning. Got a test kit from Walmart, just strips no real info. In 5 days, we've done two 40% water changes. Removes the bubble strip. Clean filter in. According to the strips, ammonia is at 0 again. But Michaelangelo is not back to normal.
I've watched for the symptoms I read online. He occasionally gasps but not at the top. He's definitely less social but I didnt notice any lethargy until today. I did see his gills spazzing 2 days ago but nothing consistent or since.
I attached pictures...
I'm thinking to get real testing stuff to see if any further water treatment needs done. Then just watch and see if his behavior gets better/worse. Mostly - I don't want him to be suffering. We may not have been knowledgeable in his proper care, but we did our best with what we had and we love him.
Any advice would be so helpful!!!