AboutBenty Expertise GOT A QUESTION ABOUT:
Basic needs for specific fish, illnesses, best tankmates, breeding, water chemistry, tricks to safely cut corners, and/or “stupid” questions? Maybe I can help! :)
I like to explain why you do things in aquariums (like why to use spring instead of distilled, or what pH numbers mean, ect.) so you understand why and not just taking someone’s word for it. I also like giving answers where you have two choices so you can choose which is best for the time and money you can commit to your fish. I understand how tight money can be and how expensive fish related things get.
I will NEVER leave you with an “I don’t know.” Ever. I hate that. That would waste your time and that's just mean. :)
Puedo contestar tus preguntas en español también.
Experience I have had tropical fish since 1999. I currently have: a 55gal, ten 10gal, 3 five gallons, three 2gal, and a bunch of jars and bowls. At the time I'm typing this, I have: 14 angels, 13 goldfish, 73 bettas, 12 barbs, 5 catfish, too many guppies, 4 gouramis, 2 plecos, 10 loaches, bunch of swordtails, and probably a few others, lol.
I love to rescue fish. I've had everything from mutant danios, to one eyed goldfish, to my newest adoptee, a 2 year old betta with a MASSIVE tumor problem. He was brought to a pet shop and left there because the lady didn't know what to do with him. He's pretty scary looking. One of the guys at the store there I know let me have him. :D YAY! Elephant Man lives in a gallon bowl with pretty stones in my bathroom.
Plus!!!
I sell: veil, delta, halfmoon, plakat, and crowntail bettas as well as halfblack and blonde tuxedo fancy guppies. Ask me about it sometime.
Question Please help! My 3 year old ryukin was very injured when he got caught in the filter when nobody was home. I just started treating him with melafix as well as feeding him green peas,(i believe his swimbladder is hurt as well b/c he can't right himself). However he has now developed a thick film over most of his body and one eye. Does this mean he is healing or is this bad news? I love him so much but i don't want to make him suffer. Any information you can give me will be a huge help! Thank you so much!
Answer Hey Jacqueline,
I'm so sorry this happened to your fishy! :( I'll see if I can help any.
First, Melafix is made from a low dose of tree oil that is actually poisonousness. (We have them all around here. They stink.) Most medicines are just poisons that are weak enough to not kill your fish, but to kill everything else. Melafix is wonderful for healing torn fins. They grow back very fast. BUT! It's not much good for anything else I've used it on. Bacteria need stronger stuff. If he has any torn fins from this ordeal, use some but hold off for right now.
The film is actually a bacteria attacking the slime coat of the fish. It's trying to kill the fish. Not good. Treat with (if you can find it) Kanamycin, Ampicillin, or, Tetracycline. Trisulfa is ok but those three (in that order) are the best. Maracyn is very weak and won't really help at this point. Don't get food meds unless you KNOW your fish will eat them. Most sick fish won't touch the stuff.
Petco has:
Trisulfa by Mardel (it has a yellow chiclid on it).
and
Tetracycline by Mardel. (I will say tetracycline will turn your water to a tea color and foam up at the top what look like toasted marshmallows.)
Petsmart has:
Maracyn-TC. (That's tetracycline.)
You can ask around at pet shops and see if anyone has any. Saltwater fish stores should carry it too. If you have any around.
Change about 25% before you start treating him. If he'll eat peas, feed him some with some flakes or pellets or whatever but he need some protein to rebuild too. Peas don't have much.
