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About Chris Robbins
(Top Expert on this page)

Expertise
I have 25+ years of personal experience as a pet store employee and manager in the family pet store business. The main part of our business was Freshwater Fish. I can answer questions on; Fish care, diseases, parasites and fish identification, feeding your fish, breeding and sexing your fish, setting up your aquarium, cleaning your aquarium, and "what`s this weird stuff in my tank/on my fish" questions. I am not an African Cichlid expert, Plant expert or Brackish Expert. No Pond or Saltwater Questions Please.

Experience
I worked in and managed my family's fish and pet and fish store for 26 years and maintained the 35 aquariums. My experience also has included occasional in-home consultation and aquarium maintenance for my clients.

You are here: Experts > Animals/Pets > Pet Fish > Fish

Questions Answered By Expert Chris Robbins
In Category Fish

Subject	Date Asked

Beta Fish	4/30/2008
Q: This question comes from a coworker of mine. She just recently got a pet beta fish. We are assuming ... A: Male and female Bettas can't be together all the time. They can only be in the same tank when ...
Death of Lucy and Ethel	4/29/2008
Q: I recently bought a betta and 2 emerald green cory cats. I have a 5 gallon tank, completely cycled. ... A: Sometimes new fish die and there seems to be no obvious reason for it. I would try again. They may ...
2 fish; 1 sick	4/29/2008
Q: For about a year I have had a 10 gallon tank with 2 goldfish, which I won at a local fair, and one ... A: All the vigorous cleaning of the tank, filter and replacing of gravel has probably caused your tank ...
Poor pearlscale - cant swim and tail splitting and breaking off!	4/28/2008
Q: I've had a tank set up for 1.5 weeks. I've been pedantic about ensuring PH, ammonia, nitrite levels ... A: I would take him back to the store. Either he was already sick, or the other fish is picking at him. ...
is my guppy having babys	4/28/2008
Q: hi I have 3 guppys in my 10 us gallon tank one of my guppys has her gravid spot but she is flat what ... A: Sometimes what looks like a 'gravid spot' is actually just her internal organs. When there are ...
My sucker fish is hurt!	4/27/2008
Q: I noticed to day that my blue acara ciclid bit my sucker fishes tail and left a medium to little ... A: Fish have an amazing ability to heal. Just keep his water clean and he should do just fine. You can ...
White Spots	4/27/2008
Q: I have two very small (just under an inch long) goldfish in a 4 liter tank. I have had them for a ... A: The tank is going through the "Break-In Period" and it can be a very stressful time for fish. ...
Fish tank	4/26/2008
Q: my question is, I'm wondering why my fish tank is overflowing with water though I changed the filter ... A: It sounds like it is pretty crowded in there. Plecostamus are basically "eating and pooping ...
new goldfish sick	4/26/2008
Q: I bought a new goldfish 3 days ago. He is a very small shubunkin. He seemed OK until this morning ... A: I'm not sure what could be the problem except maybe he's just trying to get used to his new home. ...
Bubble on Goldfish head	4/25/2008
Q: My 10 month old oranda Gold is developing a translucent bubble on her head. She is perfectly healthy ... A: It could be the heat that's the trouble. Goldfish prefer cooler water. I would put an electric fan ...
Fish tank	4/25/2008
Q: my question is, I'm wondering why my fish tank is overflowing with water though I changed the filter ... A: It sounds like your fish are making more mess than your filter can keep up with. Could your tank be ...
Re: Injured Tin Foil	4/24/2008
Q: I have a question that I am hoping you can answer. I have a 12 year old big tin foil barb and he ... A: Poor guy. Fish eyes usually heal pretty well as long as they don't get infected. Keep the tank water ...
Wounded Angel Fish	4/23/2008
Q: Here are my tank info set up time - 9 months 32 gallons 2 Angel fish, 2 gouramis 4 Rasbora Espe, 6 ... A: The angels may be fighting with each other and the injured one now has mouthrot from the injuries. ...
my fish	4/23/2008
Q: ..i don't have a heater in my tank maybe they were to cold...and its only a small tank what should i ... A: Your tank is new so it will be going through the break-in period. Break-in, also called "cyclng" or ...
Goldfish!!!!	4/18/2008
Q: Do goldfish need a filter or heater? Does a goldfish need a specific temp.? Can I put goldfish in a ... A: Goldfish are hardy fish when cared for properly. They are a cold water fish so they don't need a ...
Danio	4/18/2008
Q: I got 3 danios (1 zebra, 1 leopard, 1 pearl..all longfin) and 1 blue dwarf Gourami in January and ... A: Unless it has been a long time since you changed any water I don't think that waiting did any harm. ...
Ballon Bellied Mollies	4/17/2008
Q: I bought 3 mollies and the lady that picked them out for me said that they were all males. well, ... A: Baby mollies are pretty easy to care for. Feed them 3 times a day. A commercially prepared baby fish ...
mucous-like algae	4/8/2008
Q: I have a 45gallon "tall" aquarium set up for angelfish. They lived for quite a while in a 10gallon ... A: The white stuff could be decaying excess food and waste. The decaying organic gunk then grows a ...
ick ?? now what?	4/8/2008
Q: I have a ten gallon tank that has been set up since March 10th. I have to lyre tail mollies, and ... A: It is best not to break down the tank and start over. Your tank will have to start over with the ...
goldfish trouble	4/7/2008
Q: I have a Atman Power liquid filter AT-f101 filter. I have been having many problems with it over the ... A: The good news is your fish isn't old at all. Goldfish live to be at least 10 years old, some well ...
Orange and white Parrot Fish	4/7/2008
Q: I was in a pet store once and saw an amasing Parrot fish. He was orange and white and darting in and ... A: If it was a fresh water Blood Parrot Cichlid, he will need at least a 30 gallon tank just for one ...
Fish	4/6/2008
Q: Two of my Bleeding heart tetras have developed a white bump/bubble on them just below their mouths. ... A: They could just be a callous, blister or wart. Sometimes fish will rub themselves or bite somewhere ...
Help...tank wiped out	4/5/2008
Q: We have a five gallon tank and we just killed all our fish :-(. I say we killed them, but it was ... A: I'm so sorry this has happened to you and your fish. At least you have been able to learn from it ...
chicklid-parrotfish	4/5/2008
Q: I have a 55 gallon aquarium with some tropicals as well as 2 parrot fish. They were very bright ... A: Maybe he is being bullied by the other parrot? Parrots are in the cichlid family and can be ...
foreign substance on gravel	4/4/2008
Q: Tank set-up: one year 10 gallons Some kind of barbs Had 6, now 4 Under gravel and Bio Bag not sure ... A: It could be a slime-mold if it's smooth and gel-like. They grow very fast and feed on waste and ...
behavior	4/4/2008
Q: I just got a crown beta a couple of weeks ago. The first week it seemed to act normal, like my other ... A: Crowntail Bettas are really no different than other bettas. Their name refers to their tail style. ...
guppies keep dying	4/3/2008
Q: I have a 70 l tank 10 weeks since set up. It contains 4 albino cory, 5 zebra danios, 6 tetras and ... A: You might try a different store. They might just have a problem there that you don't know about. It ...
Chilid died	4/3/2008
Q: i have the tank set up for like almost a year. it is a 55 gallon tank. the filter is a marineland ... A: The fish probably died from shock. A water change of 50% or more is a lot of water to replace all at ...
Bass Jaw	4/2/2008
Q: I was recently fishing and I tried to remove the hook and I heard some popping noises and thought it ... A: The jaw hinges on the sides of his mouth probably became overextended and became misaligned so they ...
betta tank mates	3/25/2008
Q: I've had a betta for a couple of months in a 10 gallon tank. I did some research online and asked ... A: Bettas can be very territorial, even with other fish besides bettas. Some bettas are just relentless ...
My goldfish died	3/25/2008
Q: Ive had my goldfish for over a year i have a 3 gallon tank and one day i looked and my fish was on ... A: Poor guy. I'm so sorry you lost him. Unfortunately, his tank was far too small. Goldfish are very ...
fish:swordies and snails	3/24/2008
Q: i just set up a 120 gallon tank.well i just started andi have 3 tiger barbs ,3 sharks, and2 ... A: The snail is probably fine in the tank. They have a hard shell and he will hide pretty well. There ...
Green water in my goldfish tank	3/24/2008
Q: Chris! After reading the types of questions you can answer, I related most to the section that ... A: If it's actually the water itself that's green and not just the glass, it's very difficult to get ...
Rhykin Fish	3/23/2008
Q: I have two fantail Rhykin gold fish, one of them has always had floatiation problems but this time ... A: Oh, I'm so sorry you lost Bobo. But please wait on getting more fish until the tank is through the ...
Breading of parrote fish	3/23/2008
Q: i have two 5.5"-6" red mail & femail Parrote fish, the femail fish is pregnant but i don't know how ... A: Parrot fish are cichlids and cichlids are very good parents so let them care for the babies, also ...
Pregnant fish and weird bubbles	3/22/2008
Q: i hope you can help. i have males guppies, female balloon guppies and neon tetras in my tank. I ... A: Tetras are egglayers so their eggs would most likely be eaten before they hatch or the the newly ...
Green Tiger Barbs not moving much.	3/21/2008
Q: I just recently bought 5 green tiger barbs, but when I put them in my "isolation tank" they just ... A: They are stressed for sure. Getting a new home can be a pretty serious thing for many fish. ...
My Fish Keep On Dying...	3/20/2008
Q: I have a freshwater tropical tank. My fish keep on dying. Especially if i get some new ones. ... A: I need more information before I can help; How many fish do you have right now? How big are they? ...
my fish died :(	3/19/2008
Q: Last week I bought a new biorb tank - 30 litres - and two baby fantails. I researched thoroughly how ... A: I retrieved your question from the "question pool" so I could help you know more about what's ...
too many mollies	3/18/2008
Q: Santa brought us a 5 gal. tank w/filter but no heater. We have two mollies. They don't look much ... A: Mollies will reproduce no matter what you do. It's what they are known for. I sure wish I could help ...
My crown tail beta has green stuff growing on him	3/17/2008
Q: I have had my betta fish for about 6 months or so and just in the past 2 months theres been green ... A: There are several possibilities. It might not be anything at all and is a natural color variation. ...
URGENT!! Gross skin on my fish and then they die.	3/16/2008
Q: I bought two different kinds of catfish. One being a Pictus Catfish and the other an Iridescent ... A: It could be some kind of bacterial infection. Some can spread very fast, especially one called ...
Bala Shark	3/16/2008
Q: I've had my Bala Shark for only about two weeks and he's starting to seem different. First off, his ... A: It could be fin rot, water conditions/chemistry are off, or his fins are being nipped by other fish. ...
Recently changed tank	3/15/2008
Q: This is a two part question. The first part is mainly description. I recently went away to college ... A: It might seem like a logical the thing to do to clean out a tank and let it start over but it ...
sick dempsey	3/15/2008
Q: I have a 55 gallon tank with 3 fish, 2 jacks and plecosimis.Just yesterady i noticed 1 jack acting ... A: It's probably from fighting. Jack Dempseys can be very aggressive even with fish they seem to do ...
new tank setup with algae eater???	3/14/2008
Q: I recently swithed from a 30 gallon to a 90 gallon tank. I presently have 28 fish. (varius tetras, 6 ... A: He might be hungry. You could give him cucumber slices, zucchini slices, cooked green beans, or ...
eyes have swelled up	3/14/2008
Q: "Hello sir I have a fish tank of dimension 1.5x1x1.5ft. I have 7 guppies and 2 Mollies and 2 ... A: It sounds like popeye. With redness there may be a bacterial infection in the fish. Here is a web ...
Elephant Nose sick! Please help!	3/14/2008
Q: My elephant nose got some kind of slime coat on his head. Yesterday he was fine. What kind of ... A: Avoid adding medication, he may not be sick at all. Sometimes Elephant Noses develop a hazy look to ...
Please Help!	3/13/2008
Q: I have a ten gallon fresh water tank with 2 guppies, 2 dwarf gouramis, 3 tiger barbs and 1 algae ... A: She may be getting bullied by the barbs and could be really stressed trying to find a safe place to ...
fish	3/13/2008
Q: i have newborn fish and dont know the species how do i care for it A: Feed it crushed fish food flakes or frozen baby brine shrimp several times a day. Keep the little ...
Pignose Puffer Problems!	3/13/2008
Q: I recently purchased a Pignose Puffer (aka. Arrowhead Puffer/ Tetradon Suvatti). He is housed in a ... A: If the tank is fairly new you might want to check the ammonia and nitrites just to be sure they are ...
Dying tropical fish	3/12/2008
Q: I have rescued 2 tanks from an elderly man who could no longer cope with them. I do not know a lot ... A: The white-spot parasite may be responsible for the deaths and not actually the medicine itself. The ...
ANOTHER ONE DIES TODAY	3/12/2008
Q: I'VE HAD A 10G GLASS AQUARIUM FOR A COUPLES MONTHS NOW. HEATED AT 78 DEGREES WITH WHISPER FILTER. ... A: There are several possibilities that could be causing the fish to have trouble; The guppies may ...
Plecostmus Fish	3/11/2008
Q: Are there any plecostmus fish that don't like to eat live plants in a fresh water aquarium. A: Goldspot, Zebra, and Queen Arabesque are just three of the carnivorous plecos that don't usually ...
Brown spots on Goldfish-not ammonia	3/10/2008
Q: The tank has been set up for a couple of months. There was some bouncing around of chemicals, but ... A: "Melanophore migration" is common in goldfish that are in new tanks. Even after controlling most of ...
betta, siamese fighting fish	3/10/2008
Q: I have had a siamese fighting fish for about five months, and he lives in a fish bowl about eight ... A: It's probably just oils from your fish's body or from maybe his food. Some bettas have that "oil ...
white filmy areas on red velet swordtail	3/9/2008
Q: I'm a little concerned about my female red swordtail. First, here's the background info you ... A: It could be a reaction to the elevated nitrites but it could be a bacterial infection so watch to be ...
Sick Goldfish	3/9/2008
Q: My tank has been running for about 4 1/2 months, it is 14 gallons, i have 3 fantailed gold fish ... A: It sounds like a case of failed swim bladder. It can really look bad but it isn't usually life ...
Male or Female??	3/9/2008
Q: I have 3 fantail goldfishes. 2 of them are orange and the other one is a calico fantail. I just got ... A: It's very difficult to tell male and female goldfish, and it's pretty much impossible while they are ...
fish lice	3/8/2008
Q: Chris I hope you can help me. I have a ten gallon tank with breeding guppies. I breed and feed ... A: You may be right about them being fish lice. They usually have small spots on them, are pretty flat ...
skinny fish, with pineconeing?	3/3/2008
Q: I have a 12 gallon tank with a bio-wheel filter system. I only have 2 female platys. It's been set ... A: That's very strange for a fish to have distended scales but be very thin. I don't recall ever seeing ...
floating beta fish at top of tank	3/2/2008
Q: My wife and I bought a Beta fish from the pet store 7 days ago. He has not ate since we brought him ... A: It sounds like a swim bladder problem. If he isn't eating it's very hard to treat. In bettas it is ...
New fish!	3/2/2008
Q: Im not sure if you will be able to answer this but i got a new fish today and i totally forgot what ... A: The link worked great so I saw your excellent picture of your "Pink-Tailed Chalceus", or 'Chalceus ...
cat and fish	3/2/2008
Q: Hey, one of my cats fished out my betta and I found him on kitchen floor, still alive... I placed in ... A: I'm so happy he's survived so far. Appetite at this point is a very good sign. Most bettas don't eat ...
cichlids	3/1/2008
Q: The other day I noticed a tumor like thing behind the fin of my convict and it seems to be growing ... A: It could indeed be a tumor or it could be a wart-like lesion caused by a virus called lymphocystis. ...
fin rot	3/1/2008
Q: Sorry this is so long. I have a 130 gal tank that has been up for aprox one year. I had 3 bala ... A: You may have some fin-nippers in the bunch. Many times, balas will nip fins as they squabble with ...
my sick fishie	2/29/2008
Q: I rescued a one eyed fish(goldfish) from a pet store about a month ago. He was there for about 5 ... A: You're very welcome! The water changes are probably enough for now so as long as he seems okay you ...
oscars sex	2/28/2008
Q: i hae 2 oscars and i can tell the difference but i googled it and it said the male would have dark ... A: Oscars are one of the cichlid types that don't have any obvious sexual differences. Each fish is ...
cat and fish	2/28/2008
Q: Hey, one of my cats fished out my betta and I found him on kitchen floor, still alive... I placed in ... A: Poor guy. Cats are pretty persistent, aren't they? Your little betta guy needs time to recover in ...
feeding my fish	2/27/2008
Q: sorry i just sent u a question about my green spotted puff fish...and i forgot to ask u how often i ... A: I can't see what kind of green puffers you have so I can't tell you what the size will be or what ...
chiclids	2/27/2008
Q: Do chiclids sometimes die after they have their babies? We don't which chiclid they belong to(we ... A: Cichlids are egglaying fish and usually both parents aggressively guard the nest of eggs and babies ...
My betta's sickness	2/27/2008
Q: We've had Fishy for about 3 months. The tank is no bigger than the size of a miniature dictionary. ... A: Poor guy. Just keep up with the daily water changes and use "Maracyn Two". If what you have now is ...
RE: Orandas	2/25/2008
Q: I just left a question for you about the oranda sitting at the bottom, and upon further inspection ... A: Black marks are from ammonia burns. Ammonia is from fish waste. I remember from your last question ...
Oranda	2/25/2008
Q: I have 2 oranda goldfish in a 20 gallon tank. We've had the tank for about 10 weeks and the fish for ... A: It sounds like a swim bladder disorder. The swim bladder is an organ inside the fish below the spine ...
Angelfish	2/25/2008
Q: I have a couple of Angelfish questions. I have had 5 Angelfish in my 27 gallon hexogan tank for ... A: Angels live to be 10 or more years old. They are aggressive guys in the cichlid family so maybe the ...
white growth on fish	2/24/2008
Q: we also have white growth on our big goldfish around his ey and now beginning to get on his fins.we ... A: The poor guy does have an infection for sure. He really should be isolated for treatment though. You ...
Sick fish	2/23/2008
Q: I bought a chocolate oranda from Petsmart about a month ago. The little guy looked good at the ... A: He probably needs a stronger medicine such as tetracycline or erythromycin. Tank Buddies tend to be ...
Ich	2/23/2008
Q: I just found Ich on my fish, but there are so many different types of treatments out there. What ... A: I like to use an ich remedy called "Quick Cure". It has malachite green and formalin. I've used it ...
mollies	2/23/2008
Q: Hey, I have 4 female Mollies (black Mollies) and one male in a 60 gallon tank. I just had babies (12 ... A: Ho Sarah; Mollies have babies about every 6 weeks. When a female molly is close to getting ready to ...
freshwater fish disease	2/22/2008
Q: I have a 90 gallon freshwater tank set up with south american cichlids. The tank has been set up ... A: They are actually just harmless creatures like planarians or nematodes. They aren't a danger to the ...
Betta fish	2/22/2008
Q: My Betta fish has done very well in the last 8 months. I'm not sure what's going on with him, but ... A: It sounds like finrot and possibly constipation too. Here are some web pages to see if that's what ...
Help!	2/21/2008
Q: A few days ago my beta fish went from appearing healthy to not so much. Whenever he stops swimming ... A: It sounds like it could be constipation that is affecting his swim bladder. Here is a good web page ...
Sick fish	2/21/2008
Q: Here's a little history: I haven't been the "best" fish owner... my water changes haven't been as ... A: If the spots look like your fish have been sprinkled with salt, they have a case of ich. It's a ...
Healthy fish!	2/20/2008
Q: So i had alot of fish in my 10 gallon tank- they died off cause of ick. And the two that survived ... A: Ich spores are present in many of our tanks all the time but it only attacks fish that are stressed. ...
fish	2/20/2008
Q: 4 1/2 years 100 gallons 1 Plecostomus 8 inches 2 iridescent sharks 3 inches each 1 black fin shark ... A: Angelfish are nice fish but they would make a lunch out of guppies and neons as they mature, or at ...
lethargic betta fish	2/20/2008
Q: I have only had my betta fish a few days. He is in a half-gallon tank with no filter. He is in ... A: There are several possibilities. Bettas aren't always really active so it may just be his normal ...
Angelfish breeding... mold on fins	2/19/2008
Q: I've got a 30gal tank with two plecos and 3 6mo old Angelfish (freshwater). There's a tank divider ... A: It sounds like there was some injury or irritation to the fins and it then became open to infection ...
my gouramie	2/19/2008
Q: ! i have a 10 gallon that has been set up for about 2 months now and i have 5 fish:my dwarf ... A: Your gourami could just be shy, being bullied by the others or he is being irritated by the ammonia. ...
crowntail beta	2/18/2008
Q: I'm just wondering about my crowntail beta, Frederick. He has really buggy eyes. Is this normal for ... A: He has a condition known as "popeye". Here is a web page about it; ...
breeding mollies	2/18/2008
Q: I have 2 ballon mollies. Can I put them together in a container for fry to get them to mate?? If not ... A: Mollies have live babies. The male breeds with the female by getting up close to her and putting his ...
Dying fish	2/17/2008
Q: I have a 55 Gallon Freshwater Fish Tank. I have about 15 fish in the tank of various sizes and ... A: It was just too much water changed all at once. More than 25% in one day can cause shock for sure. ...
Treating Ick with Ick Clear	2/16/2008
Q: First of all, thank you so much for providing this wonderful service to all of us. I have two tanks ... A: Sorry, I forgot to actually answer that part of your question. The instructions say to give one dose ...
Treating Ick with Ick Clear	2/16/2008
Q: First of all, thank you so much for providing this wonderful service to all of us. I have two tanks ... A: The reviews on Ick Clear are really not very good. Better products for ick have formalin and ...
Is my fish going to die?	2/16/2008
Q: Is my fish going to die? I know he has ick but I have been treating it for 48 hours now. I think ... A: It sounds very bad for sure but I really can't help without more information. The link you gave me ...
my fish are dying	2/15/2008
Q: my fish are dying and i don't know what to do. we wased out the tank, used bottled water, bought a ... A: I think you are just over-cleaning your tank and it never really becomes biologically balanced. ...
tank home	2/15/2008
Q: would real plants be better for fish so it could circulate the oxygen better i just added a few ... A: Plants are healthy for aquariums but Goldfish are very hard on plants. Especially the new shoots if ...
flower horn disease	2/14/2008
Q: Question I have aflowerhorn and it is developing wound like feature around its mouth.I need your ... A: It could just be his natural color developing as he matures. If he's eating okay and not acting sick ...
Pacosstamus	2/14/2008
Q: I am kind of a new tank owner. I have a ten gallon tank with freshwater community fish in it. I ... A: Since the snails are being so prolific the trouble is probably from overfeeding. We all do it from ...
oscars	2/14/2008
Q: tank has been moved is now stable in place for about 3 months now one of the three mid size in the ... A: Oscars are aggressive breeders so it is nearly impossible to tell if their behavior is from breeding ...
My goldfish has a really swollen mouth..	2/13/2008
Q: I've had 2 goldfish for atleast 1 year and a half. One of the goldfish (sugar) started to grow ... A: It sounds like a bacterial infection in his head. I would put the sick one back in the smaller tank ...
Fancy Guppies and bacterial diseases	2/13/2008
Q: I recently purchased some fancy Guppies for my 15 gallon tank. Years ago, I gave up on them because ... A: It's a bacterial infection known as Columnaris, Flexibacter, Cotton-Wool, etc. It is caused by a ...
my discus fish in a community tank	2/13/2008
Q: This is a 2 part question! Anyway, I have a 75 gallon fish tank, theres actually various fish in ... A: Discus are cichlids and cichlids can be very aggressive towards each other. They will "pair off" too ...
Constipation and Black Molly	2/4/2008
Q: Lately almost all of my fish have had really long poop. They get to be almost 2 inches long before ... A: It sounds like your mollies need a change of diet with more fiber. Mollies need to nibble veggies at ...
white blotch and fin and tail rot on my parrot fish	2/4/2008
Q: Hey Chris Robbins, I have a blood parrot fish that has been sick for about 2 weeks now. It has white ... A: You could try tetracycline. It's a broad-spectrum antibiotic that can cure many different bacterial ...
oscar fish and green or white fog in tank	2/3/2008
Q: My name is Noah Calderon and I've done some research on the oscar fish before I purchased him or her ... A: Oscars will sometimes have a greenish tint to their skin. It's almost a "sheen" really. Just to be ...
snails	2/3/2008
Q: today i went to walmart and bought 2 yellow snails(no clue what type) i brough them home and put ... A: It sounds like you have Apple Snails. Sometimes they don't come out of their shells for awhile, ...
white blotch and fin and tail rot on my parrot fish	2/3/2008
Q: Hey Chris Robbins, I have a blood parrot fish that has been sick for about 2 weeks now. It has white ... A: They need to be separated permanently. The midas is going to just stress that guy to death and ...
Fancy Guppies	2/2/2008
Q: First of all, I purchased a pair of fancy guppies from our local fish store (they only sold in ... A: Your female may be an old fish or perhaps she is just infertile. It's really hard to say. Other ...
fish discoloring	2/2/2008
Q: why is my placostamos discoloring she about 7in long ANSWER: Hi Paul; It could be one of many ... A: You're right, it probably was from stress and/or shock. As long as she is looking better now I ...
Betta	2/2/2008
Q: I have a male Betta in a 20 gallon tank. He looks healthy and eats well, but he no longer swims ... A: It may be a swim bladder problem related to age, but even young bettas can have the same trouble. ...
Is my Black Molly sick?	2/1/2008
Q: I've had my tank for a couple months, it's 10 gallons and i have 7 fish and 1 snail. I have a medium ... A: If your molly has tiny dots that look like salt specks, it is a parasite called ich. You will need a ...
Bala Sharks	2/1/2008
Q: I have 5 Bala Sharks, they range in size from 3-5 inches. They ar in a 55 gallon tank with a few ... A: It sounds like a bacterial infection. Bacterial infections are usually caused by water conditions ...
fish discoloring	2/1/2008
Q: why is my placostamos discoloring she about 7in long A: It could be one of many things so I need more information from you; What color was she before and ...
albino channel catfish	1/31/2008
Q: i really appreciate it ill give all the details i can. The fishtank is a 125 gallon tank. The ph is ... A: Poor guy. Once they get that sick there really isn't much you can do. When their spine bends so ...
Bubble Cheeks- Gold fish	1/31/2008
Q: I have a 10 gal. aquarium. Has been going now for a few weeks. I have 2 young bubble cheek gold ... A: They are probably being overfed. Goldfish are natural-born gluttons so it is pretty common. ...
betafish	1/30/2008
Q: My beta sparky has seemed to develop a large buldge just behind his gills where his two streamers ... A: That's actually where his stomach is. Sparky may be eating too much and/or becoming constipated. ...
plecostomus disease	1/30/2008
Q: in my classroom I have 2 plecostomus. got a baby brother that died within the week.(it got large ... A: I don't think it's a disease or your other one would have been infected by now. Holes in fins are an ...
baby fish	1/30/2008
Q: i have a 10g tank and three dalmation mollies,2 platies and a albino cory catfish...well my platy ... A: When the baby fish is too big to be eaten, usually tripled in size from birth, it is okay to put it ...
sick betta?	1/29/2008
Q: I have had my betta for 2 weeks in about a 1 gallon bowl, temp is 75F, I have a real plant in it. I ... A: Sometimes a fish is developing finrot when the fins are just kind of glued together. They don't ...
Bettas	1/29/2008
Q: We will be getting a Betta soon and already have a 2.5gal tank with a small filter (Mini-Bow 2.5). ... A: Once you know the filter is running properly you can add fish right away. Just be sure to acclimate ...
Why do my fish keep biting the dust?	1/28/2008
Q: I have a 55 gallon tank with 4 gouramis, one kingtail catfish, 4 platys, 3 mollys, 3 rosy barbs, 1 ... A: If it is a newly established tank I would say the deaths are from toxins that build up during the ...
5 year old oscar dying	1/28/2008
Q: i have a 5yr old oscar which i love dearly and he seems to be dying.he is starting to have spasms ... A: I can recommend a method of euthanasia but are you sure he's actually dying? Oscars have a much ...
lethargic fish after water change	1/28/2008
Q: I changed my water 50% due to a very heavy breakout of algea, I also cleaned my rocks with water. ... A: Your fish are probably in shock from too large a water change. No more than 25% should be replaced ...
my fish	1/27/2008
Q: so my 2 year old nephew put 4 pieces of smarties in my fish tank, and they are basically sugar.is ... A: Oops! I have four kids and also ran a pet store for more than 25 years so I've seen some pretty odd ...
Algae in my Betta tank	1/27/2008
Q: I've had Betta for 16 month. He is alone in a 10 gallon tank. The tank only has plastic plants. I ... A: Reduce the number of hours that your tank lights are on and algae growth will probably slow down. ...
Cichlids	1/26/2008
Q: The male seem's as though he's having some problems he hides behind the plant's all the time around ... A: Africans are just not my specialty. There are so many different types that look so similar I just ...
pleco	1/26/2008
Q: i have 3 tanks and 9 plecos,i recently bought 2 new plecos and 1 seems to have seizures and is ... A: There are many possibilites here. The first one I can think of is that perhaps he is being attacked ...
Cichlids	1/26/2008
Q: The male seem's as though he's having some problems he hides behind the plant's all the time around ... A: Cichlids are very aggressive breeders but it's usually the male that's more so. It's also very ...
long fin mollie	1/25/2008
Q: i purchased a few mollies almost 2 yrs. ago one of the mollies has a beautiful long hanging fin. it ... A: Sounds unusual for sure! I'm not aware of any different types of mollies that would grow such a ...
ich or velvet?	1/25/2008
Q: I have a betta that I purchased from Petsmart for about two weeks now. His name is Pluto. Last ... A: It's really hard to tell by the photos but it could be natural coloration that he is developing as ...
albino channel catfish	1/25/2008
Q: i have an albino cat fish i think he's gone blind , he has reddish around his body i think he is ... A: You didn't give me much information to go on such as; tank size, fish size, how long the tank has ...
Platy Breeding and Care	1/24/2008
Q: I'm just wondering if a sunrise Platy and a mickey mouse Platy can mate with each other or will the ... A: Different colors and types of platies all breed with each other. They are all the same fish, just ...
pregnant dalmation mollies	1/24/2008
Q: how can you tell if your female molly is pregnant. she looks fat and is resting on the bottom of the ... A: If her belly takes on a "boxy" look to it she is probably ready soon. Her sides and bottom of her ...
water problems	1/22/2008
Q: I just got a 90 gallon fish tank and am having some problems with it. The tank has a refugium ... A: Tina told me about you so I came over here to the question pool to see what I could do to help. The ...
Is my dalmation molly pregnant?	1/22/2008
Q: I have had my dalmatian molly for about 3 and a half weeks now, and I'm not sure if it is pregnant. ... A: It is hard to see the "gravid spot" in some types of livebearers. You pretty much have to watch for ...
Aquarium cycle	1/21/2008
Q: I was just wondering if I should vacuum the water or get under the stones? I have a 10 gal. tank ... A: You need an aquarium siphon with a gravel vacuum on it. Change about 25% of the water while ...
why my 3-month-old molly fish can't close their mouths?	1/21/2008
Q: I'm a beginning in the whole fish thing. Currently, I have a 5 gallon tank, with 1 adult female ... A: Poor little guys. It sounds to me like genetic deformity. You could try an antibiotic such as ...
persistent ammonia levels	1/21/2008
Q: I've had my 10 gallon tank set up about a month now (just at the end of December). I started with ... A: Your aquarium's system just needs time to stabilize. Washing most of the gravel and changing filters ...
my fish won't eat	1/20/2008
Q: I have a green terror who won't eat, and hasn't eaten in weeks. when i first bought him i put him in ... A: That's very unusual for a green terror. Poor guy. He may need to be in a tank by himself but I ...
how many fish	1/20/2008
Q: How many fish will I be able to keep in my 14 (I think) gallon tank. I get conflictin advice some ... A: You are doing great with water changes and maintenance. Keep doing the weekly water changes from now ...
white spot on fish	1/19/2008
Q: We have a 30 gallon tank with 1 green barb, 2 tiger barbs, and 4 rosey barbs. We just did a partial ... A: If it looks like a speck of salt, it is a parasite called "Ich" and there are probably more in the ...
Mysterious Corydora Death	1/18/2008
Q: Just to get the facts of my tank out of the way first. I have a 5 gallon tank with, now, 2 ... A: I retrieved your question from the "Question Pool" because I see something you may want to change. ...
Fish Store Maintaince	1/18/2008
Q: I was curious as to your advice on how to care for fish Store tanks. I work for a pet store and am ... A: This will be a long letter, and there may be a few random and rambling thoughts, but here ...
Baby Platy	1/18/2008
Q: We found one fry in the tank that we have a male and female. It was small but doing well. But what ... A: If they look like teeny-tiny fish they are probably baby platies. If not, they are probably a ...
sucker fish emergency!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!	1/17/2008
Q: I hope that you get this soon....My sucker fish has been doing fine and now he is barely moving. His ... A: Poor guy. Once they become unresponsive there really isn't much you can do for them I'm afraid. ...
my beta has something growing on him	1/16/2008
Q: i've had a male crown tail beta named johnny for about a year now. i've been very worried because he ... A: Poor guy. It sounds like his swim bladder has failed and he may also have an infection on his face. ...
Goldfish swimming odd	1/16/2008
Q: I have a baby biOrb (4gal) aquarium with three faintail goldfish that I have maintained with no ... A: The twitching may have been a seizure or muscle cramping. They really just need a bigger tank. ...
Gravel for aquarium	1/16/2008
Q: I like the look of gravel in my tank and it seems to give my fish something to entertain ... A: Many experts recommend that gravel pieces be too large for the fish to pick up in their mouths or ...
Black mark under the Lower Caudal Lobe	1/15/2008
Q: I just got my first aquarium and I have 3 - 1" Fantail and 4 guppies. One of the Fantails is ... A: Fantails are a fancy type of goldfish. Sometimes black on goldfish can be from ammonia burns. ...
my baby fish are dying!	1/15/2008
Q: My gold fish recently gave babies and i had them shifted to a new 2 gallon tank with a mini filter, ... A: Poor guys. The tank is just too small and ammonia is building up quicker than you can remove it. I ...
ammonia	1/15/2008
Q: I have a 55 gallon and a 20 gallon. I had a few issues a bit back when I transferred some 3 month ... A: Check the label on the test kit to be sure the ammonia reagent is not nessler based. You want one ...
Strange Parasite	1/14/2008
Q: This question has been cross-posted to other forums and experts. I have a 7 gallon tank which ... A: Your fish probably have a parasite known as "Anchor Worm" aka "Lernea". Your fish may be too small ...
Suddenly dead goldfish	1/13/2008
Q: (Daughter came home from fair with goldfish in a baggie - couldn't flush him, couldn't consign him ... A: It may have been some sort of bacterial infection, often columnaris is the culprit. The prevention ...
Suddenly dead goldfish	1/13/2008
Q: (Daughter came home from fair with goldfish in a baggie - couldn't flush him, couldn't consign him ... A: Poor guys. I'm so sorry you lost them. Hopefully we can figure this out in time to save your last ...
Opaque water.	1/12/2008
Q: I have two 20 gal. fish tanks. I've had them for about 2 years. One of them is just baby guppies and ... A: The cloudiness is from unprocessed fish waste. Beneficial bacteria lives in the filter that usually ...
ich and need help fast	1/12/2008
Q: 3 days ago I introduced two small Plecos into my tank from the fish store. Today we found one of ... A: It is very hard to get what you need in Germany as an English speaking person. I've heard the same ...
help	1/12/2008
Q: I have a fish that seems to be very sick. She is lying on the bottom and seems to be trying to ... A: I need a lot more information before I can help. Make a 25% water change in her tank first in case ...
betta fish- changing to a new tank	1/11/2008
Q: I had a betta previously, years ago that lived to be 4.5 yrs old and looking back, I wasn't the ... A: It's fine to use a tank with a filter for a betta. He will get used to the current from it just ...
Black Moor with Reddish Sore on Mouth	1/11/2008
Q: He shares the tank with a Calico Fantail, a Plectostomus and a smaller Black Moor. I had another ... A: I really can't tell anything because the photos aren't very clear. Fish are tough to shoot aren't ...
New born Dempseys..	1/11/2008
Q: I bought two full grown Dempseys from the pet store a few months ago and put them in my tank with ... A: The parents are very good at caring for their young so you could leave them alone for a couple of ...
What to do with my tank after a fish dies	1/10/2008
Q: I have a 30 gallon tank with 2 orandas that are about 3 inches a piece in it that has been set up ... A: I'm so sorry you lost him. It is hard to lose our fishy friends. There is no way to really know ...
Fat Beata fish	1/10/2008
Q: My Beata fish's stomach has suddenly become very big is this some kind of disease? if so what can be ... A: There usual two possibilities when a Betta is bloated or it's stomach is enlarged; Constipation or ...
Betta Breeding	1/9/2008
Q: I have a male and a female betta fish in a 5 gallon tank that i have set up for breeding with a ... A: She probably wasn't fully ready but they went through the motions anyway. Your fish need to be ...
problems with fish tank	1/9/2008
Q: I have recently reinstated a small Jebo 331 around 10L self filtering fish tank, I cleaned all the ... A: You have received some very bad advice I'm afraid. Your tank is just too small for so many fish so ...
swtiching beta to a 5 gallon tank with filter-help!	1/9/2008
Q: We have a male beta who is in a 1.5 gallon tank. Its too cold in our house so I just bought a 5 ... A: I'm glad he's happy in his new little home. His finrot will probably go away with all that new clean ...
hole in the head	1/8/2008
Q: How do I treat my 13" oscars craters in his head.If I need meds, can I administer with other fish in ... A: Hole in the Head is actually a dietary and/or chronic water quality related problem so you don't ...
Molly is bting the Gouramis	1/7/2008
Q: I have set up a 35" X 30" X 16" tank for the fishes. I have 8 gouramis, 10 tiger barbs and got a few ... A: Mollies and gouramis usually are compatible. There are exceptions to every rule however and the ...
Re: Meds for Tin foil barbs	1/7/2008
Q: I am writing I have a 40 gallon tank with some barbs in it and 3 tin foil barbs, one is 10 years ... A: I would test the water to be sure ammonia or nitrites haven't risen. It happens sometimes when using ...
cure	1/7/2008
Q: know why. we think he had or is having a stroke because hes only moving on 1 side and hes laying on ... A: It sounds like his swim bladder has failed. It isn't usually fatal, it just looks very bad. Here is ...
Sick Angelfish?	1/6/2008
Q: The other morning my girlfriend woke up to find our Angelfish lying upside down in one of our ... A: His swim bladder has failed for some reason. He can't defend himself and compete for food in the ...
New Tank Problems?	1/6/2008
Q: The tank has been set up since Sunday, Dec 30. The tank is 36 gallons. I have 3 fish. 2 Fantails, ... A: It is all from 'Break-In' for sure and is right on schedule actually. Ammonia comes up and then as ...
Very sick betta...what do I do?!	1/6/2008
Q: I know this is terrible, but I had accidently left my betta in my dorm room for two weeks and i ... A: Change his water if you haven't already, but be sure the new water is the same temperature as the ...
cycling a new tank	1/5/2008
Q: I have a 90 gal tank and would like to know how many fish and what type should I use to cycle the ... A: As many rocks and plants from the old tank as possible would be very helpful in getting the bacteria ...
Skin issue with Bosemani Rainbow	1/5/2008
Q: 10Gal Bosemani Rainbow 5 carbon ? - Had tested a while back and pet store said water was perfect. ... A: He may have an internal injury and it is swelling, or it could be organ failure. It's really hard to ...
bubble fish	1/5/2008
Q: I just bought a bubble fish and was told fish like these were created by cross breeding. I was ... A: Your bubble fish is really a "Bubble-Eye Goldfish" and not actually a cross-breed of any other type. ...
fresh water fish behavior	1/4/2008
Q: my tank has been set up for 2 months my tank is 46 gallons fresh water fish charcol filter not sure ... A: Breathing at the top is an indication that they are lacking oxygen or there is something burning ...
Platy concern?	1/4/2008
Q: I bought my girlfriend one of those Regent 5 gallon aquarium kits from Walmart for Christmas. I set ... A: Your platy may still be trying to get used to it's new tank. Sometimes mollies can be bullies too ...
Flowerhorn	1/4/2008
Q: he usually healthy and active. he's swimming all over his tank, but suddenly one night i saw him ... A: Make a 25% water change right away. It sounds like something could be wrong with the water. Make ...
Sick female betta	1/3/2008
Q: I just bought three female bettas and according to the petstore it was enough space for them. One of ... A: She may have been injured when she was transported or the other females may be bullying her. ...
beta fish sucking air	1/3/2008
Q: We have a beta fish, owned it for almost 2 years, that is living in a large glass vase, no ... A: Bettas normally spend a lot ot time at the top but he should only be getting an air bubble from the ...
venustus emergency	1/2/2008
Q: i went away for a few days for new years and i have come back to a very sick venustus. he has a lot ... A: Did someone feed your fish while you were gone? If so, they may have overfed and polluted the tank ...
ph	1/2/2008
Q: I just set up a new 10 gallon aquarium. The pH is very high(8.6). How does this affect the fish (I ... A: I don't usually recommend messing with the pH at all but 8.6 is a little on the high side. It is ...
jack dempsey breeding	1/2/2008
Q: hey i have a 4ft with 1 big gold servum, small oscar, 4 jack dempsey (2 have paired off) 2 ell tail ... A: The eggs hatch in about 3 days. The parents will care for the eggs and then take care of the babies ...
sick goldfish	1/2/2008
Q: I bought a goldfish a week ago and it was fine until the third day. On the third day I saw that the ... A: Without many details I can only guess at what could be going on in there. Since you did mention ...
pregnant goldfish	1/1/2008
Q: does she need to be separated from the other fish A: Goldfish are egglayers and really don't "get pregnant". If she does have eggs and you separate her, ...
I think I'm going to accidently kill my fish.	1/1/2008
Q: It's been set up for about three to four months. It's 20 gallons. They told me it was called a fancy ... A: I think most of what you were told was just fine. Your fish is in a good size tank, and you know not ...
my black moor fish died	12/31/2007
Q: today my sister me and her friend changed our black moors tank. his tank was only about 2inches by ... A: Poor little guy. I'm so sorry you lost him and so sorry you didn't get good advice on how to care ...
jack dempsey breeding	12/31/2007
Q: hey i have a 4ft with 1 big gold servum, small oscar, 4 jack dempsey (2 have paired off) 2 ell tail ... A: It's hard to say how big the dempseys will need to be when they are able to breed. Maturity doesn't ...
ick and some other stuff on my baby flowerhorn	12/30/2007
Q: so i just got a 10 gal tank around 2 weeks ago. and just 2-3 days ago i spoted a very small white ... A: I think the eye problem is related to the ick and is also probably related to "New Tank Syndrome" ...
Re: Meds for Tin foil barbs	12/30/2007
Q: I am writing I have a 40 gallon tank with some barbs in it and 3 tin foil barbs, one is 10 years ... A: He really needs something with tetracycline in it but if you can't get it you could try the Triple ...
2 Gal. aquarium W/O Heater	12/30/2007
Q: My Child got a small hexagon 2 Gal aquarium, with an undergravel filter system. I was wanting to ... A: It's really too small for a thermostatically controlled heater to be in it safely. Coldwater fish ...
betta fish constipated	12/29/2007
Q: Hi, my crown tail betta who eats a variety of foods, and lives in a 1 gallon tank , air pump, ... A: Just "fast" him for 2 to 4 days and then feed him peeled green peas for after that. Fasting means no ...
Slime on Water Surface	12/29/2007
Q: I've had a male betta in a one-gallon bowl for about a year now, no problems. Within the last ... A: Some bettas do seem to create an "oil slick" on their tank water via their waste. It is probably ...
Re: Meds for Tin foil barbs	12/28/2007
Q: I am writing I have a 40 gallon tank with some barbs in it and 3 tin foil barbs, one is 10 years ... A: They may not have a parasite. It sounds more like dirty water or could be a bacterial infection ...
oscar tank and babies	12/27/2007
Q: I just bought and albino and an oscar and they are currently in a 5 gal tank both fish just lay on ... A: The tank is way too small, even for babies. They might only be in shock for now because of being ...
General Questions concerning Moor Goldfish	12/27/2007
Q: My tank is 10g, It has been set up for 2 weeks, I have a single Black moor in it, the filter is a ... A: Black is a really unstable color and it's very hard to keep it dark. Most black goldfish turn a ...
betta fish	12/27/2007
Q: I have two Bettas in my home, the same style tank, feed them the same food etc....everything is ... A: Poor little guy. I think the water temperature is just fine so that should not be a problem. He may ...
Ulcer or infection?	12/26/2007
Q: My goldfish (comet) has a ulcerated lesion, about 1.5cm x 1.0cm, on its side with loss of scales and ... A: Keep his water very clean and get a product called "MelaFix". It is a natural fish remedy made by ...
What do paradise fish eat in the wild?	12/25/2007
Q: I'm just interested, and I'm also interested, how much food should I feed my paradise fish each day? ... A: Paradise fish eat small aquatic animals and small fish in the wild. They also eat bugs. Feed your ...
American Flag Fish (aka Florida Flag Fish)	12/25/2007
Q: I have a 29 gallon tank with a about 10 fish, some tetras a small pleco and a few Danios, I now ... A: "Jordanella floridae" have been known to get a bit nippy but I have never kept them myself. They ...
Goldfishes eyes have disappeared!	12/25/2007
Q: I have cleaned my goldfish tank today (just the 1 in the tank) & have noticed its eyes seem to have ... A: How terrible. It's very unusual for a fish to lose it's eyes when it is alone in the tank. I really ...
White "Egg Sac" ?	12/24/2007
Q: Chris; I recently purchased a blue female betta, and I believe she was quite young... Two questions ... A: The "new" fins are probably just her ventral fins becoming longer as she matures. If she has her ...
Male Betta Fish	12/24/2007
Q: Tonight, just now, I noticed my male beta that I've had for a couple weeks extending his gills. Like ... A: As long as he can relax his gills the rest of the time he is probably just fine. He may be just now ...
koi and freshwater fish	12/24/2007
Q: i got a 90 gallon tank with 4 koi in it...we just started the tank with them but want to get regular ... A: If by "regular fish" you mean goldfish, they can be mixed but your tank is actually not even large ...
possibly pregnant molly	12/24/2007
Q: i have a 10 gal. tank with 4 Mollies (1 male, 3 female). i just got them today. one of them is alot ... A: I would let her out into the main tank and put lots of live plants for her to hide in. Being moved ...
goldfishes	12/23/2007
Q: hi im vanessa and i have 12 goldfish but not i have 9 because some of them died becouse of white ... A: Your little tank is just too small for more than one goldfish. If any of your fish are still alive, ...
sexing my comet	12/23/2007
Q: from mitch A: There are most likely both sexes there given the number you have so they will breed if you give them ...
Oscar Fish	12/23/2007
Q: my tiger oscars are suddenly kind of fighting with their mouths. ive heard this lip locking phrase. ... A: Oscars fight that way but their courtship ritual is the same. The only way to know is how it turns ...
Betta fish and cancer?	12/22/2007
Q: I have a Betta that is peach colored so it is very light colored. It has a black spot that seems to ... A: It's hard to say what it could be. Cancer is certainly a possibility. The only treatable cause I can ...
fish	12/22/2007
Q: I found a fish on my doorstep this morning I think it could be a carp. My cat was close by so I ... A: Poor thing. I can't say if it will survive after such a trauma but he definitely needs more oxygen. ...
sorry i didnt put the whole e-mail	12/21/2007
Q: i accidentally left out part of my e-mail address on that question i had about my dragon goby.This ... A: I regret that I really don't know anything about dragon gobies. For any fish that stops eating ...
My Dragon Goby stopped eating	12/21/2007
Q: I have a beautiful Dragon Goby that I have had for about four months.It has been eating fine,mostly ... A: I regret that I really don't know anything about dragon gobies. For any fish that stops eating ...
Re: Dying Bettas	12/21/2007
Q: I have had a betta that lived for 1 year, then he died. I purchased another one and it was doing ... A: It sounds like he has temperature shock, which can also cause them to die. Is the water temperature ...
Fish is listless, weak & scales are sticking out	12/20/2007
Q: My sons fish, Elvis(a white fish with red quiff-like lump at front of it's head) has become weak & ... A: Poor Elvis. Since he is listless and weak I would assume he probably is suffering. There is indeed a ...
My Oscars fins are turning black	12/20/2007
Q: I have had my oscar for about a months, he is white and has a bit or orange on him, he is small , ... A: I would suspect either a natural color change or ammonia burns. Oscars are very messy guys and it's ...
guppies	12/20/2007
Q: I have had plenty of fish before some raindow tetras, zebra danios and an angel fish all living in ... A: I would start with at least a 20 gallon tank for the parents and have at least one smaller tank of ...
my fish won't eat!!!!!	12/19/2007
Q: My poor siamese fighting fish won't eat!! I've read the e-mail about Maxine and Terry. My fish is ... A: Snails do clean up algae and extra food but they make more waste behind them than there was before. ...
my fish won't eat!!!!!	12/19/2007
Q: My poor siamese fighting fish won't eat!! I've read the e-mail about Maxine and Terry. My fish is ... A: Don't warm his water unnaturally. It could shock him and it will go down again if the lamp can't ...
Fish is listless, weak & scales are sticking out	12/18/2007
Q: My sons fish, Elvis(a white fish with red quiff-like lump at front of it's head) has become weak & ... A: I'm so sorry he is sick. It's a very serious condition too and usually treatment is not successful. ...
My goldfish	12/18/2007
Q: I am a fairly inexperienced on knowledge of goldfish,,, We bought the 10 gallon tank about 2 months ... A: Oh my. You really do need some help. Hopefully we can get this all fixed up... Your sick fish ...
my fish won't eat!!!!!	12/18/2007
Q: My poor siamese fighting fish won't eat!! I've read the e-mail about Maxine and Terry. My fish is ... A: Could he be too cold? Put his bowl in a warmer spot to get his water temperature up to 76f or ...
My fishies won't eat anymore!	12/17/2007
Q: I have five fish: four fancy goldfish (telescope eye, oneida, bubble eye, fan tail) and a sucker ... A: You didn't give me much information to go on but until you can get back to me, make a 25% water ...
Fancy Guppy	12/17/2007
Q: I have a tank with a heater, and a filter, and a 'bubble' block as well. (just in case you needed ... A: It can take 6 weeks for her to have babies so it may just not be time to see a lot of growth yet. ...
Betta in need of medical help.	12/17/2007
Q: I have a betta and this morning he was laying on the plant and his breathing looked stressed. I ... A: Try feeding the squished peas on the end of a toothpick. They often drop too quick for them to get. ...
Goldfish	12/16/2007
Q: We received a single goldfish as a prize from Alex's elementary school, about a month ago. We ... A: I'm so sorry this has happened to you and your fish. Goldfish just can't live in a tank that small. ...
My Betta's belly	12/16/2007
Q: I have had my betta fish for about 4 months now and about a month ago I brought him home where my ... A: You are doing great with maintenance so keep doing what you are doing, especially if your tank ...
am i doing ok???	12/15/2007
Q: ok heres what i got going: -20 gallon tank(running on for about 5-6 months) -fish:2 zebra fish, a ... A: It sounds okay, a bit crowded though. Just avoid overfeeding and keep the tank clean and they will ...
plecostamus	12/15/2007
Q: I have a 120 gallon tank in it I have a Oscar, 3 goldfish, and Chinese algae eater and had two ... A: That's a shame. I'm so sorry you lost them. I really could use more information about the size of ...
Angelfish	12/14/2007
Q: We have about 8 angelfish. Started with 2. We read on what to do, and 6 fry lived. They are about a ... A: That's great! What a lucky break to get a bonded pair right away! The rest of us have to get several ...
Fish troubles	12/14/2007
Q: I have a 2.5 gallon tank--recently I have had 3 fish die, a Blue-Red Colombian Tetra, a cory cat and ... A: The tank is just far too small for the types of fish you are trying, and too many also. A tank that ...
55 gallon tank	12/14/2007
Q: Will this work for a 55 gallon tank? 1 black ghost knifefish 4 female clown loaches 4 fancy ... A: Your goldfish will develop health problems in tropical temperatures over time but it's more than ...
Orange marks	12/13/2007
Q: The are just coldwater fish and do not have any kind of filter. I use tap safe in their water ... A: I know goldfish will change colors over time and they are coldwater fish. They can change color for ...
Tiger Lilly is lethargic and has what looks like an ulcer...	12/13/2007
Q: I have (2) goldfish, Tiger Lilly and Travis Bickle, I think they are Calico Fantails, in a 10 gal. ... A: Your fish need a water change for sure. All tanks need a 25% water change and a gravel vacuuming ...
suckerfish	12/13/2007
Q: I have a 6 gal. Eclipse tank for ca. 4 years. I have "Sucki", my suckerfish, for ca. 2 years (I ... A: The temperature and food are just fine. His tank is too small to add a friend for him though. It's ...
My Fish Just Got Sick and Died in 4 HOURS. WHY?	12/12/2007
Q: I have had my betta for 4 months in a one gallon tank (no filter). Today, I cleaned his tank out ... A: I'm so sorry you lost him. That's a shame. It is very possible he was already starting to get sick ...
55 gallon tank	12/12/2007
Q: Will this work for a 55 gallon tank? 1 black ghost knifefish 4 female clown loaches 4 fancy ... A: Goldfish are coldwater fish and your others are tropical. The others are compatible with each other, ...
Cleaning tank of limescale.	12/12/2007
Q: I have a two year old, established, 29-gallon, freshwater tank that has some serious limescale ... A: If you have a clean bucket (fish only - no soap or cleaners ever used in it) or very large jar to ...
2 fantail goldfish fish with swollen bellies	12/11/2007
Q: I purchased 2 goldfish the other day from the petstore....I thought that maybe they were ready to ... A: It definitely isn't normal for them to swim upside down. In new fish it is a sign of stress or a ...
new fish for tank	12/11/2007
Q: I have a 29 gallon tank with 2 lepoard danios, 2 zebra danios, 6 cardinal tetras, 3 neon tetras, 1 ... A: Actually your tank is pretty well-stocked. A 29 gallon can handle safely up to about 30 inches of ...
Betta in need of medical help.	12/10/2007
Q: I have a betta and this morning he was laying on the plant and his breathing looked stressed. I ... A: It sounds like a case of swim bladder failure. It isn't usually fatal but it is frustrating for the ...
My Betta's Belly	12/10/2007
Q: I got my fish in July. <BR>the tank is fairly small, big enough for one fish. <BR>He is a betta. ... A: The belly would usually be uniformly bulging all over the belly in both constipation and dropsy. ...
is my fish sick?!?!?!	12/9/2007
Q: My fish always looks like its gasping for air :S .. i cant tell whats wrong, its always opening its ... A: Poor guy. I'm so sorry you were misinformed about what goldfish need. They can't live in bowls. Your ...
Dying fantail	12/9/2007
Q: I've read through the past answers and I'm still not sure what I should do next. My poor fantail is ... A: I'm so sorry your fish is sick. Hopefully I am not too late and can help... He really needs more ...
fancy guppies/ghost shrimp	12/9/2007
Q: i just had a few questions reguarding fancy guppies. First, how long does it take for a female ... A: Guppies are sexually mature anywhere from 4 to 6 months old. They can have babies while still pretty ...
pregnant platy	12/8/2007
Q: ..I think one of my platys is pregnant. I noticed it two days ago. How long from the time that ... A: There's no way to tell for sure how long it will be when the babies are ready to be born. There are ...
babu guppies	12/8/2007
Q: How long does it take for baby guppies to be about as big as a adult guppies? A: Maturity rates vary depending on genetics, space provided, diet, care, water quality, etc. Baby ...
Sick Ranchu	12/8/2007
Q: It has been a week since I have my ranchu in a separate 10 gallon tank. He's been having an open ... A: Redness usually indicates a bacterial infection. I would hit it with some "Maracyn Two". It's a fish ...
Parrot Cichlid sloughing scales?	12/7/2007
Q: I'd like to start by saying a BIG THANKS to the help from previous answers on sickness and disease ... A: Scales falling off is definitely not normal. I would suspect Snowball is scratching on things in the ...
Black Ghost Knife fish	12/7/2007
Q: Chris, I have just become the proud owner of a Black Ghost Knife fish (his name is Boo). A very ... A: Ghost Knife often require live food. Sometimes they will eat flakes or pellets but not usually. ...
Black moor, disease	12/6/2007
Q: I have a 3 year old Black Moor. For the past 2 months he has been floating on the surface of the ... A: Poor guy. It sounds like an internal infection of some kind. He is very sick indeed. The only ...
tetras missing an eye	12/6/2007
Q: I've recently upgraded my community tank to a larger setup, I set everything up and let the water ... A: It may be a bacterial infection called Columnaris. It looks very much like fungus but is treated ...
is my fish sick?!?!?!	12/6/2007
Q: My fish always looks like its gasping for air :S .. i cant tell whats wrong, its always opening its ... A: I need more details in order to help; Does he do this at the top of the water or just wherever? ...
fish	12/5/2007
Q: Help, my fish has been laying on the bottom of the tank all day for the past week and a half. I ... A: Poor guy. It sounds like a water problem or a very bad bacterial infection. Change his water and see ...
Black Moor seems ill	12/5/2007
Q: 29 gall. tank 4 goldfish only and 4 algae eaters Change water probably every month and a half ... A: If his eyes have a whitish coating over them I would suspect irritation, injury or infection. He may ...
tetras missing an eye	12/5/2007
Q: I've recently upgraded my community tank to a larger setup, I set everything up and let the water ... A: A disease really can't cause the loss of eyes like that. I would suspect you have an aggressive fish ...
Vacation Betta	11/27/2007
Q: I am going out of town for 8 days and am worried about my beta, is there anything that I can buy ... A: He would probably be just fine for 8 days with no food at all. Healthy fish can easily go a week ...
platys	11/26/2007
Q: I just got a few platys from walmart today and the lady said one was pregnant.I don't know if she is ... A: Female platies are pretty much pregnant all the time if they have ever been with a male. There isn't ...
Vacation feeding	11/20/2007
Q: I am a middle school science teacher who has an oscar in my classroom for the first time. I have ... A: Welcome to AllExperts! It is perfectly fine to even go up to a week without feeding your oscar. A ...
pregnant platy	11/20/2007
Q: Our pregnant female platy (already had two large successful pregnancies recently - back to back) is ... A: Poor little thing. Hopefully she will have the rest of the babies even though they are probably ...
goldfish	11/20/2007
Q: my goldfish has been acting weird for a few months now! he just lays on the bottom of the tank on ... A: The red spots are from irritation, maybe bacterial infection, after being too close in contact with ...
My Oscar tiger fish skin flaking of	11/19/2007
Q: it would be much appreciated if you can help me i don't want the Oscar to die first he is not eating ... A: Oscars are very territorial and can really harm each other if they decide they want the other fish ...
Sick goldfish	11/19/2007
Q: Please help? I have two small goldfish in bowl that holds about 14 pints. I do regular water changes ... A: Poor guys. I'm so sorry you were misinformed about what goldfish need. They can't live in bowls. ...
Goldfish	11/19/2007
Q: i have a science fair coming up and i needed some information on goldfish like what the like to ... A: Below are some web page links you can use for research to give you the information you need. From ...
Tank PH	11/18/2007
Q: I have an issue with PH. My Tap water has a High KH about 220 and my PH is about 9. My ammonias, ... A: Mollies actually like a higher pH so they should be fine on a long-term basis. The concern is pH ...
Dying Fish?	11/17/2007
Q: I have a goldfish that I just got at Walmart back in July. It is currently in a 6 gallon tank and ... A: Poor guy. It sounds pretty bad I'm afraid. Change his water and see if that helps, using a water ...
Fantail	11/17/2007
Q: we have a 10 gallon tank with 3 fantails in it and the biggest one is acting weird it is swimming a ... A: It sounds like a swim bladder problem. Here is a link to info about it and what you can do to help ...
beta fish	11/16/2007
Q: I had two beta fish my first beta fish's tank cracked so I put it in a plastic bowl on my dresser ... A: I'm so sorry you lost them both. Bettas and all other fish really should have covers on their tank ...
jack dempshey	11/16/2007
Q: he is about 11 years old, he is the only fish in a 50 gallon tank, he is about 8'' long. he has ... A: Poor guy. It's really hard to say what has happened. Fish can indeed suffer strokes, heart attacks, ...
Algae & Betta fish	11/15/2007
Q: We purchased 2 Betta fish about a month and a half ago and so far they are doing great. The Betta ... A: It sounds like the beginnings of finrot and some algae has attached itself to it. Algae doesn't grow ...
Something that took two of my bettas	11/15/2007
Q: I need serious help. Two of my Siam Fighters died, they both had their heads down (COMPLETELY ... A: Poor little guy. Are there any other signs of illness? Any swelling of the belly, or do his eyes ...
Beta	11/14/2007
Q: I have had my beta for a little under one year and in the past week after i washed his bowl, i ... A: Poor guy. It sounds like a swim bladder problem and/or possibly finrot. Take a look at the following ...
fantail goldfish disease	11/13/2007
Q: My tank has been set up for 3-4 years. I believe it is a 55gal tank. The fish I am concerned about ... A: It sounds like a bacterial infection that is inside of her. The best way to treat internal ...
fish	11/13/2007
Q: how long does it take for a female betta to have her eggs and if you can not tell me please tell me ... A: A female betta needs a male who is ready to spawn with her in order to lay eggs. There really isn't ...
Goldfish fed peas yet STILL upside down :(	11/12/2007
Q: Hey there, I have a goldfish (approx 15cms long, from head to end of tail, poss fantail goldfish?? ... A: Our pet fish are our little friends. It's perfectly understandable to have feelings for them. I ...
Sick Oscar Fish	11/10/2007
Q: I have a sick Oscar fish who is either upside down or floating on his side. He freaks out and tries ... A: That isn't much information for me to go on but I would first make sure the water chemistry is ...
Goldfish fed peas yet STILL upside down :(	11/10/2007
Q: Hey there, I have a goldfish (approx 15cms long, from head to end of tail, poss fantail goldfish?? ... A: She may have a genetic deformity of her swim bladder. It's common in fancy goldfish as they are bred ...
Breeding Molly's	11/8/2007
Q: How do you tell the difference between male and female Molly's? A: Look at the bottom back fin. In the male it's pointed and on the female it's fanned out and sort of ...
Cold winter for Betta fish	11/8/2007
Q: Last Christmas (about a year ago), my mom gave me a betta fish. At the time I lived on a college ... A: It will be difficult to keep it warm enough with just a lamp and the temperature may fluctuate quite ...
molly help!	11/7/2007
Q: My tank has been set up for about.. 2 months. It is a 30 gallon tank I have 2 silver mollies and 3 ... A: It sounds like a swim bladder problem. The swim bladder is an organ inside the fish below the spine ...
Can you classify my fish?	10/26/2007
Q: I am not even sure what kind of fish I have. Sounds dumb, but she is really cool. She has the ... A: It does indeed sound like a gourami. The pretty ones are usually males though, and you don't want to ...
female swordtail	10/26/2007
Q: i have noticed that my female swordtail is just lying on the bottom of he tank behind all of the ... A: Sometimes female livebearers have a difficult time recovering after babies. I would make a water ...
Fish dieing within a day.	10/26/2007
Q: First I just listed all the stuff that you would want to know about my tank. -Been set up for about ... A: It might be a good idea to check the pH. Also test the pH of the water your new fish are in. If it's ...
Periscope with balance problems	10/22/2007
Q: 2.5 Gallon tank (college dormroom) 1 fantail goldfish, 1 periscope (about 3 inches each) 2 fish ... A: They need a larger tank I'm afraid. Even just one goldfish needs a ten gallon tank. It's also in the ...
Sailfin Mollies	10/21/2007
Q: I am thinking of buying Sailfin Mollies. I have never kept fish before and I am just wondering how ... A: Welcome to the wonderful hobby of fish keeping! Before you get started you should do some research ...
tench	10/21/2007
Q: my tench have stop feeding and just sit on the bottom i have tired some live food from the pet shop ... A: Fish can be nervous and stop eating if they are new to the tank or other new fish are added to the ...
Fish sick -ich?	10/21/2007
Q: my betta is sick! Symptoms include either racing around his bowl or lying listlessly on his plant, ... A: Many pet stores do have fish supplies. Your fish needs medication right away so you might want to ...
diffrence in sex	10/20/2007
Q: how can you tell the diffrence in the sex of an oscar? I have four of them, I just added the last ... A: The original oscars are just defending their territory. They are very aggressive fellas and it's ...
is my fish sick?	10/20/2007
Q: I got my fish tank about a month ago, added the bacteria, the fish - it got cloudy, cleared up.. all ... A: Tiger barbs can be very nippy fish. They need to be in groups of three or more so that they will ...
Goldfish problem	10/19/2007
Q: Tank is approximately 200 Litres, it is inside a wall of our house. We have 9 fish in this tank, 3 ... A: Your white one with the red hood is called a "Red Cap Oranda". Poor little guy. He isn't going to ...
Orandas	10/19/2007
Q: The hood of my friend's oranda has completely covered it's eyes. The person at the fish store ... A: The "hood" or "wen" of an oranda can be trimmed but in my opinion it is surgery that should be done ...
Lion head Oranda that is pregnant	10/18/2007
Q: First experience with a pregnant fish! Getting cold here in WI and time to bring her indoors along ... A: Goldfish really don't get "pregnant", just full of eggs. Usually the eggs are re-absorbed if they ...
Swollen Eye	10/18/2007
Q: I have a 10 gallon tank.In it I have a paradise fish a gala shark and two tiger barbs. One of the ... A: It sounds like a case of Pop-Eye. There are several possible causes. Injury, internal infection, ...
Dalmation Mollie Disease	10/17/2007
Q: I have have a Dalmatian Mollie for about 8 months and all of a sudden it has gotten sick. -8 months ... A: It sounds like a bacterial infection has attacked your molly. It will need antibiotics. See what ...
Bubble-Eye Goldfish Has Discolored Sac	10/17/2007
Q: How long has your tank been set up? - Around 6 months How big is your tank? - 30 gallons What type ... A: He may be injuring himself or rubbing it on something and causing irritation. I have never opened ...
sick algae eater	10/17/2007
Q: my names Jack and i have two algea eaters and a baby molly in a ten gallon tank thats pretty well ... A: It doesn't sound good. Make a partial water change of 25% right away and then give me more details ...
Betta discoloring	10/16/2007
Q: I just got a new tank, it's been set up for about a week It's two gallons I have one Beta I change ... A: He's probably fine. It's normal for fish to fade while the lights are out. They become darker again ...
Floating Veiltail Goldfish	10/16/2007
Q: I have a Veiltail breed goldfish and him for about 3 month's and today was the first time I ever ... A: It sounds like a swim bladder problem. It is usually related to constipation. Try feeding some ...
Goldfish with red spots	10/16/2007
Q: my goldfish has been developing some red spot and blotches on it's head and down the back. These ... A: Red blotches, spots or ulcers indicates irritation from dirty water or bacterial infection. ...
fish breeding	10/15/2007
Q: hey, im doin a school report, and i was wondering if u can help. wat made you want to start a fish ... A: I never had a fish breeding business actually. My family bought an established full-line retail pet ...
Cleaning tank after ick infestation	10/15/2007
Q: I have a 10 gal aquarium. Usual story brought home a couple of new fish from the pet store. I did ... A: It is common for new fish to get sick with ick because of the stress of being moved to a new home. ...
pregnant dalmation fish, i think	10/14/2007
Q: I just got my dalmation fish today, and i think she's pregnant because she's sorta fat. there's only ... A: A dalmatian molly will have anywhere between 10 to 50 babies usually. There isn't anything you can ...
can't get rid of snails	10/13/2007
Q: I've got a 30 gal. tank with 7 tetras and 3 bottom feeders. We got overran by snails, so cleaned ... A: Snails can be quite a plague, that's for sure. Avoid overfeeding and that will be half the battle. ...
gouramises	10/13/2007
Q: I have a recently new tank mind you Im only a beginner at this so anyway i have only a 30 litre tank ... A: Keep in mind that your new tank will need several weeks to break-in and you can only have one or two ...
one goldfish hogs others' food	10/13/2007
Q: i have two goldfish in a 10 gallon tank, and i have had problems feeding them. one of the goldfish ... A: That's a hard one for sure. You could put a divider between them when they eat. Or, get one of those ...
I hurt my goldie with a syphon	10/12/2007
Q: Had my tank about 4weeks, 38gal. I have 2 pea