I have had my 4 inch Leucistic Axie for about 2 weeks. He live is a 20 gallon long, fully cycled aquarium. Water parameters are fine. Temp is about 19 degrees Celsius. Has been eating 1 cube of blood worms, and a similar amount of mysis shrimp daily. Tank has a black sand/florite subsrate, with several live plants, and floating duckweed. I woke up this morning and he was floating. I thought he was dead, but when I touched him with the turkey baster I use for feeding he swam away (down to the bottom). I figured it was a fluke and he was just resting, but I came back a few mins later, and he was... half floating? Ill post a picture, but what i mean is he was suspended, unmoving in the water column.
The first day I had him he poohed out a 1 cm blue rock, from the pet store. He has poohed 3 or four times since then, which I immediately cleaned up. I have been doing 20 percent water changes 2 times a week. The plants seem to be sucking up any of the ammonia and nitrates in the tank. There are a few snails in the tank, but none over 2 mm. They hitchhiked in on some of the plants, and I intend on taking them out as they grow. I had a few feeder fish in the tank (was recommended by the girl at the store) I got 5, three were gone within the first week. The other 2 are still alive.
I am afraid that he may have another piece of gravel impacted inside him somewhere. I have put him in the fridge. Temperature in a bowl of water inside is approx 7 degrees. He is at the bottom of his dish in the fridge and no longer appears to be floating. I have several questions. How long should I keep him in for? Should I be feeding him while he is in there? He ate yesterday, but I have not fed him today. He last poohed about 2 or three days ago. But his appetite seems fine. I read I should change his water once per day. Should I be using tank water for that? Or should It be tap water. (de-chlorinated of course) What it the process of taking him out of the fridge? How often should I check on him and what should I be looking for? Should I put a hiding spot in the Tupperware for him?
Thanks.
Jill.
The first day I had him he poohed out a 1 cm blue rock, from the pet store. He has poohed 3 or four times since then, which I immediately cleaned up. I have been doing 20 percent water changes 2 times a week. The plants seem to be sucking up any of the ammonia and nitrates in the tank. There are a few snails in the tank, but none over 2 mm. They hitchhiked in on some of the plants, and I intend on taking them out as they grow. I had a few feeder fish in the tank (was recommended by the girl at the store) I got 5, three were gone within the first week. The other 2 are still alive.
I am afraid that he may have another piece of gravel impacted inside him somewhere. I have put him in the fridge. Temperature in a bowl of water inside is approx 7 degrees. He is at the bottom of his dish in the fridge and no longer appears to be floating. I have several questions. How long should I keep him in for? Should I be feeding him while he is in there? He ate yesterday, but I have not fed him today. He last poohed about 2 or three days ago. But his appetite seems fine. I read I should change his water once per day. Should I be using tank water for that? Or should It be tap water. (de-chlorinated of course) What it the process of taking him out of the fridge? How often should I check on him and what should I be looking for? Should I put a hiding spot in the Tupperware for him?
Thanks.
Jill.