I have two Orandas in my fish tank (60 L). One's fairly new (got him a couple months ago) and white with an orange head and the other (Orangey) is fairly old (my 1st fish - got him almost 4 years ago), Orange with no bumpy head, and much bigger than the white one at 11 cm! Sam's about 7 cm from head to tail tip (the white fish).
For the last couple of weeks Sam's Orange head has had a big white bump in the centre but seems fine, and Orangey's head has got a smaller white patch. I didn't want to do this but had to - just quickly touched Sam's bump to see what it was like. It was soft and not like normal fish feel (I don't think I stressed him out too much). A few weeks ago I put a new waterplant in there.
On Saturday night one of my Hong Kong Plecs died and on Sunday we buried him. I haven't seen the other one in a while either. I hadn't done a water change for a coupe of weeks but on Sunday I did one, scraped the algae off, replaced a filter cartridge (3 in a HOB), and cleaned all the filter stuff out to let it flow freely. Every night after school since I've used the jug to get water from the tank and put it back in and repeating to help aerate it (as the bubbler's not doing a good job). I put one tablespoon of salt in on Sunday and am hoping to make a sponge filter on Saturday, take out the HOB cartridges, and use some antibacterial + antifungal medicine to help with the white bump patches.
But today when I saw Orangey he was lying on his side looking all dead. I've heard u tell the difference between an asleep and dead fish by whether they're floating on top - lucky he wasn't. But this is false as my Hong Kong Plec that dies wasn't at the top - he was at the bottom. So I checked by tapping the glass lightly (I know I shouldn't but I had to to check) but he was alive. Quickly though he settled down into the dead-looking position. I moved him gently using the jug but still once he settled back down he was dead-looking again.
I don't know what's wrong! Should I wait until Saturday and use the meds, or what? Any help will be appreciated. Thanks.
Sorry about this looooooooooooong post but u need the info. Thanks for any help once again.
For the last couple of weeks Sam's Orange head has had a big white bump in the centre but seems fine, and Orangey's head has got a smaller white patch. I didn't want to do this but had to - just quickly touched Sam's bump to see what it was like. It was soft and not like normal fish feel (I don't think I stressed him out too much). A few weeks ago I put a new waterplant in there.
On Saturday night one of my Hong Kong Plecs died and on Sunday we buried him. I haven't seen the other one in a while either. I hadn't done a water change for a coupe of weeks but on Sunday I did one, scraped the algae off, replaced a filter cartridge (3 in a HOB), and cleaned all the filter stuff out to let it flow freely. Every night after school since I've used the jug to get water from the tank and put it back in and repeating to help aerate it (as the bubbler's not doing a good job). I put one tablespoon of salt in on Sunday and am hoping to make a sponge filter on Saturday, take out the HOB cartridges, and use some antibacterial + antifungal medicine to help with the white bump patches.
But today when I saw Orangey he was lying on his side looking all dead. I've heard u tell the difference between an asleep and dead fish by whether they're floating on top - lucky he wasn't. But this is false as my Hong Kong Plec that dies wasn't at the top - he was at the bottom. So I checked by tapping the glass lightly (I know I shouldn't but I had to to check) but he was alive. Quickly though he settled down into the dead-looking position. I moved him gently using the jug but still once he settled back down he was dead-looking again.
I don't know what's wrong! Should I wait until Saturday and use the meds, or what? Any help will be appreciated. Thanks.
Sorry about this looooooooooooong post but u need the info. Thanks for any help once again.
