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About Karen Fields
(Top Expert on this page)

Expertise
I own and maintain a large number of tanks with many various tropical fish species. During my fishkeeping past I have learned a lot of the myths and truths about tropical fish care. Currently I keep a wide range of species and have a lot of experience in; Severum cichlids, gouramis, platies, goldfish, bettas, tetras, paradise fish, Angelfish, Corydoras catfish, and many others as well as a couple of years with brackish water. If you have a question on tropical fish keeping I`ll be sure to answer it in the simplest way I can, and if I don`t know the answer, I`ll research the answer for you. Happy fish keeping!

Experience
I have experience in setting up fish tanks, what to feed certain species, compatible species in my experience, cleaning the tank,
and all around tropical fish care. I also have learned the truth of many of the myths of tropical fish keeping in the past. I have also contributed articles to the new pet-keeping website http://www.petplacestation.com/
Happy fishkeeping!

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

Questions Answered By Expert Karen Fields
In Category Freshwater Aquarium

Subject	Date Asked

Water problem.	10/15/2008
Q: Had withe flakes in the tank (looked like cotton) which killed all my 10 gold fish just in a few ... A: sounds like then that there was a bunch of leftover food hiding around the tank that caused all the ...
my blue betta	10/15/2008
Q: I have a blue betta who's began to lose his color. I just got him 2 weeks ago and this problem has ... A: Bettas can undergo amazing color changes as they get older. I don't really think it is an illness or ...
competition	10/15/2008
Q: hi i live in stony plain alberta i have a 200g chiclid aquarium and i would like to enter a ... A: Wow your tank sounds amazing! Unfortunately I'm sorry to say that I am not aware of any ...
Air Stone?	10/15/2008
Q: I just recently set up an Eclipse Hex 5 aquarium with a bio-wheel filter and added three danios on ... A: Hey and you're welcome! Airstones can be put pretty much anywhere in your tank. They look best if ...
My dalmation balloon belly mollie female dying tonite	10/14/2008
Q: She is large, has had 4 babies in the past 8 months, and has a orange mate. One odd thing I have ... A: I'm really sorry to hear about that... :( I know the little fish is probably lost by now but please ...
Sick betta fish	10/14/2008
Q: six days ago I noticed my betta (who lives in a one gallon bowl)was not acting right. I have had ... A: This is a difficult situation. Because its very difficult to diagnose bloated fish. His swimming ...
Water problem.	10/14/2008
Q: Had withe flakes in the tank (looked like cotton) which killed all my 10 gold fish just in a few ... A: I don't think it would be the well water. The white flakes are unusual. You say they look like ...
PLEASE HELP!!!	10/14/2008
Q: .. I have a 75 gallon established freshwater tank. Things have been going very well up until a few ... A: Sorry to hear about your trouble... :( While bacteria may have infected the one platy's gills. I'd ...
hi (about my flower horn fish)	10/14/2008
Q: Shes been sick for 2 weeks or more,i notice that she cant swim in balance before and have a dark ... A: That poor flowerhorn! She looks so sad! I hope we can help her. The rolling over problem makes me ...
missing mollyes	10/14/2008
Q: first off we have a 45 or 55 gal high tank. we used to have 2 parrot fish in the tank. they were old ... A: My parrot fish has eaten fish quite easily before. And usually there will be no signs and it'll be a ...
swordtails	10/14/2008
Q: I have a 60 gallon community tank...and i do partial water changes every week. I noticed one of my ... A: Hey there, Female swordtails can be get pretty bashed up if there are males in the tank or very ...
swordtails	10/13/2008
Q: I have a 60 gallon community tank...and i do partial water changes every week. I noticed one of my ... A: If the swordtail's skin doesn't look fuzzy or stringy its not a fungus hopefully. Scale-loss is ...
ROPE FISH	10/13/2008
Q: we have a 75 gal set up with about 18 fish, mollies, guppies, a spotted catfish ,two ropes and a red ... A: Sounds like either a bite from another fish such as in a territorial or cave conflict. Or it could ...
Air Stone?	10/13/2008
Q: I just recently set up an Eclipse Hex 5 aquarium with a bio-wheel filter and added three danios on ... A: Airstones are great for good water circulation and aeration. Especially for overstocked aquariums or ...
Help!	10/13/2008
Q: I have a 3ft tropical fish tank which used to contain around 14 fish but it wasn't to overcrouded. ... A: The main cause of the most fish deaths is poor water quality (high ammonia in an unestablished tank ...
Snail overpopulation and green/brown algae everywhere	10/13/2008
Q: I have two somewhat unrelated problems. The first one is snails. They appeared out of nowhere and ... A: The most common snails to get into our aquariums are Red/brown Ramshorn snails which are ...
pelco	10/13/2008
Q: i have a pelco for about 2 years and is in a 120 gallon tank with a couple of other small fish ... A: Sounds like a type of fin irritation, fin rot, or Septicemia which is basically a bacterial ...
betta aquarium	10/13/2008
Q: It has been a pleasure to read your suggestions and solutions to fish caretaking. I have 2 bettas ( ... A: I'm very sorry to hear about the female betta... I don't know why fish must jump out of their ...
Panda Cory question	10/13/2008
Q: I am in the process of cycling a new 10 gallon fish tank. I've never gone below a 20 gallon before ... A: I am worried the cories might not be around for 6 weeks. :( Since they are so tiny (didn't know they ...
Freshwater Flounder	10/12/2008
Q: I just obtained a Freshwater Flounder from a friend who couldn't keep it anymore, he had it in ... A: Freshwater flounders are so interesting. They do in fact prefer brackish water which is only genuine ...
gouramis	10/12/2008
Q: I think i would like to put some gouramis into my 11 gallon tank, but i'm not on: How many? Which ... A: Let it be known that sometimes larger gouramis are not so tolerant of dwarf gouramis. You may have a ...
Panda Cory question	10/12/2008
Q: I am in the process of cycling a new 10 gallon fish tank. I've never gone below a 20 gallon before ... A: Panda Cories are too adorable. But unfortunately they aren't hardy enough to be cycling fish. The ...
catfish	10/11/2008
Q: I was wondering if I could get anymore fish. I was thinking about getting a type of catfish like a ... A: I would go with the pictus. Silver tip sharks are more a brackish water fish (which means a ...
Beta can't chew food pellets	10/11/2008
Q: I've had 2 beta fish for about 6 weeks. I use the large, clear vases as their bowl. I change the ... A: Its very possible the pellets are just too much for him or he may have a sore throat/mouth that ...
how to humanely euthanize large oscar	10/11/2008
Q: I have a large Oscar about 12inches long. He has these large knots on his side and they have been ... A: Wow, I just had to go through what you got to do about a month or two ago. I had a large Oscar of 12 ...
Sunfire Platy	10/11/2008
Q: I have a 10 gallon tank/starter kit with the whisper filter system that I bought about a week ago. I ... A: Sounds like a bad water quality issue. Most likely an ammonia problem common with all new setups as ...
gouramis	10/11/2008
Q: I think i would like to put some gouramis into my 11 gallon tank, but i'm not on: How many? Which ... A: The most common gouramis available are- Three-spot gouramis (and the color variants of this ...
skinned fish! HELP ASAP!!	10/11/2008
Q: I have a pearl scale goldfish and she has been acting normal and good up to tonight. When I got home ... A: She surely has swim bladder disorder. The skin problem may be due to skin being exposed to air due ...
fish deaths	10/11/2008
Q: I've been running a 120 litre tank for 3-4 years now with very few problems. A few weeks ago the ... A: Ok, that helps clear things up! Sounds like you are doing a wonderful job and i'm glad the plecos ...
skinned fish! HELP ASAP!!	10/11/2008
Q: I have a pearl scale goldfish and she has been acting normal and good up to tonight. When I got home ... A: How long have you had this fish and is this a new tank? She may have be having a terrible response ...
Tiger barbs	10/10/2008
Q: most of my fish died in my tank so i would like a few more. I was thinking about a school of tiger ... A: Sorry to hear your fish died. :( Tiger barbs are neat fish. But they do have a reputation as ...
aquarium parasites	10/10/2008
Q: I have 10 tanks ranging in size from 1-20 gallons. I do not generally lose fish and therefore have ... A: (Thank you for your wonderful compliments!) The long white string is most likely waste from the ...
fish deaths	10/10/2008
Q: I've been running a 120 litre tank for 3-4 years now with very few problems. A few weeks ago the ... A: Its always possible the fly spray may have somehow gotten into your tank through the air or even ...
Queen angel fish	10/10/2008
Q: Hey karen, Im currently trying to finish my marine studies assignment on bony fish and i was just ... A: Queen Angelfish are a beautiful species! But since they are marine, I don't have much experience ...
Betta Fish feeding	10/10/2008
Q: , I have had a Betta fish for 20 months. He has always eaten good, except when he is in his ... A: Lets hope its nothing dangerous like an illness and your betta is only chubby from eating too much. ...
We have Angel Fish Eggs	10/10/2008
Q: we are very new to this. We have a 45 gallon fish tank, with tiger barbs, silver dollar, rosy barb ... A: How exciting! I remember when I discovered my first batch of angelfish eggs. But you must either ...
My fish is eating rocks	10/10/2008
Q: Hey, ever since I got my redbellied pacu,she has been eating rocks.Every body says im under feeding ... A: Since Pacus are fast growers and put on a lot of bulk, your little pacu needs more to eat. Pacus ...
Help with dying fish	10/9/2008
Q: About 5 weeks ago I replaced my 55 gallon freshwater aquarium with an Aqueon 125 gallon overflow. I ... A: I've found that even when transferring water and the filters into your new aquarium from the old you ...
goldfish	10/9/2008
Q: I have to 60 liter bio orb aquariums, one has the normal goldfish with the straight fins, 2 which ... A: Dealing with reoccurring cloudy water is tricky and takes some investigating, as there are several ...
African Cichlid swimming erratically	10/9/2008
Q: We have a 29 gal tank with 10 young African cichlids. It has been set up for approx. 2 months. The ... A: While usually this would be a cause for concern. If you water tests turn out good with ZERO for ...
driftwood	10/9/2008
Q: I recently found a piece of driftwood at a local lake. I have a 55 gallon tank, and mostly guppies ... A: Yes, its safe in most cases. I've done this plenty of times. Just try to soak the driftwood in a ...
my kissing fish wont move!	10/9/2008
Q: well i have to kissing fish ones a girl and the other a boy! the girl[alie] will not move my mom ... A: She definitely sounds scared/stressed. When fish hide behind something like a filter and won't eat ...
Livebearers population control	10/9/2008
Q: Good evening, I would love to start a community tank of some livebearers, perhaps platys, guppies, ... A: I agree with you. Awful as it seems, sometimes you have to use your other fish to keep your ...
biggest fish?	10/8/2008
Q: I have an 11 gallon tank, i think it would look really nice if i put in just one big fish, but i'm ... A: Well... its difficult to say since the majority of fish that might fit in your 11 gallon may not be ...
random fish death	10/8/2008
Q: I have had a fish tank for a few mounths now. I had a problem at first with new tank syndrome. A few ... A: That is always possible. Water companies are almost constantly changing the amount of chlorine and ...
help?	10/8/2008
Q: i have a 29 gallon freshwater tank set up with two 5-15 filters. will this work out well for ... A: I think the two filters will work fine and likely just as well as a one big filter rated for a ...
going green- tank cleaning	10/8/2008
Q: First off, I want to say this site is priceless. I have never posted a Q/A to it but I use it almost ... A: I'm with you on not wanting to waste all that water down the drain. So that's why I use an extra ...
asian community fish	10/8/2008
Q: I have got a 30 gal rectangle tank and am wondering if I can stock with (3)Pearl Gouramis (1 male, 2 ... A: Have you made sure that the tank will be cycled before you start stocking it? The fish that are on ...
Betta care - regulating water temperature	10/8/2008
Q: I am having some trouble regulating the temperature in my 5.5. gal tank. I was using an Elite 25 ... A: Actually yes those two heaters are very similar. The stealth is actually a bit better, it is ...
Betta care - regulating water temperature	10/8/2008
Q: I am having some trouble regulating the temperature in my 5.5. gal tank. I was using an Elite 25 ... A: You're welcome! While I haven't ever used the Via Aqua submersible heater you are considering, it ...
asian community fish	10/7/2008
Q: I have got a 30 gal rectangle tank and am wondering if I can stock with (3)Pearl Gouramis (1 male, 2 ... A: Oh that sounds like a wonderful combination and I think it will work out great. I think you have ...
random fish death	10/7/2008
Q: I have had a fish tank for a few mounths now. I had a problem at first with new tank syndrome. A few ... A: Most likely something in the water is killing them. Think very hard and do some investigating. Check ...
Betta care - regulating water temperature	10/7/2008
Q: I am having some trouble regulating the temperature in my 5.5. gal tank. I was using an Elite 25 ... A: Very unusual... Visitherm brand heaters usually never fail. I've had the best of luck with that ...
Oranda Goldfish	10/7/2008
Q: I have an oranda goldfish which is just over 2 years old. She (I think!) lives in a 55 gallon ... A: What a doll she is! Its sad to see her sickly :( Its very unusual that she has a bubble-growth ...
Black Molly losing color?	10/4/2008
Q: I have a 10 gallon tank with 2 molly juveniles, and 6 juvenile platies. Since I have so many fish ... A: Very strange, it could be a response to some water quality issue. If you are having ammonia trouble ...
wound on left side towards rear	10/3/2008
Q: I have a 60 gallon tank containing three iredescent shark fish, one tricolor shark fish, and one ... A: I'm sorry to hear that. Likely either the other fish did that to the ID shark or he self inflicted ...
Is Fred stressed?	10/3/2008
Q: For over a year, Fred, which is actually Fredetta, has lived in a bowl in my office. He lived ... A: It's so good you got fred into an actual aquarium rather than a bowl. He sounds a little uneasy or ...
ill Siamese fighter	10/2/2008
Q: I have a male Siamese fighter who has not looked well over the past week. He is always resting ... A: Try to check your ammonia and nitrite levels. With the white spot treatment, its possible the ...
Starting a tank, Catfish,Sand	10/1/2008
Q: I am planning on starting a 20 gallon tank with a sand bottom. I really enjoy the Pictus Catfish and ... A: Yes, as far as I know, Playsand is common sand used in aquariums and should work very well. Just ...
Starting a tank, Catfish,Sand	10/1/2008
Q: I am planning on starting a 20 gallon tank with a sand bottom. I really enjoy the Pictus Catfish and ... A: Its amazing how long some catfish can live. Their life spans are usually quite long. Pictus ...
Needlefish?!?!	9/30/2008
Q: My husband and I have a 55 gallon fish aquarium with African Cichlids. His friend recently saw our ... A: As you have found out, Needlefish are very much carnivorous and will take anything they think will ...
fiddler crabs	9/29/2008
Q: where can i buy a fiddler crab in nc? i was looking for a purchase under $10.00 A: They should be at your local petstore. If not, ask the petstore if they might be able to order some ...
Bettas and Dwarf Frogs tank buddies	9/28/2008
Q: Hey, I have questions about tank buddies. I have an male betta and an Dwarf African frog in a 10g. ... A: You can certainly add a sucker fish. Just be careful of the species. Common plecostomus grow too ...
cory cat	9/27/2008
Q: I have had my albino cory cat for about 5 months with a emerald cory cat, 3 neon tetras, and 3 red ... A: That's odd. I would say the Red Minor tetras could be responsible since they have been reported as ...
Flower Horn Fish.	9/26/2008
Q: MY NAME IS KETAN. I'M LIVING IN MUMBAI, INDIA. I HAVE 2 FT. LONG & 15" HEIGHT TAN. I PURCHASED A ... A: Your Flowerhorn may be stressed. That's probably why he went off his food. Its hard to say if he is ...
Betta behavior	9/26/2008
Q: I've had my betta for about 2 years and he has been perfectly happy and healthy up until now. ... A: Sadly, one thing that may be causing him to behave sickly is his old age, bettas often start slowing ...
red tail shark	9/25/2008
Q: I have a red tail shark and he seem to scratch himself against rock on its side. I noticed this for ... A: If you could make sure your ammonia and nitrites are 0 and your nitrates or below 20, ideally below ...
brackish water conditions	9/25/2008
Q: I have a dragonfish; well two. I have them in freshwater right now with about 80 degree temp. I know ... A: It's great that you are converting them to brackish water. They will be so much healthier for it! ...
New Aquarium	9/24/2008
Q: I was just wondering about a few things regarding a new tank I'm believing to get. I've been ... A: :) Wow, a new bowfront! very cool! Well, I suppose before we get into the detailed fishstocking ...
algae indentification	9/23/2008
Q: I have aplanted tank for about 2 years and its very healthy tank with four discus and 1 algae eater. ... A: Wow, I'm not really sure. Could you get a picture? If so, I could send it to other people that might ...
Goldfish has mouth rot	9/23/2008
Q: I am new to goldfish. I have a fish with a bad case of mouth rot. I had my water tested and it ... A: I might continue treating for as long as your goldy seems to have an infection in her mouth (redness ...
Water change	9/22/2008
Q: I have a 150 gallons tank and 10 fishes middle size inside. I would like to know how often I should ... A: There really is no general rule but only guidelines. The best thing to do is to go off your nitrate ...
eggbound female betta	9/20/2008
Q: I recently placed a pair of bettas together for breeding. I use a 10 gallon tank, with reasonable ... A: I'm so sorry to hear that. Eggbound bettas are difficult to treat. Some people advise ...
150 SeaClone protien skimmer	9/20/2008
Q: I have 150 galleon tank on June 11th I filled it up and put 15 medium fish. Water is clear.I put in ... A: This is a freshwater tank with a protein skimmer? Freshwater aquariums generally don't need protein ...
Could you help identify my fish?	9/19/2008
Q: I 'inherited' this fish unexpectedly. I am in South Korea and was given this fish by someone ... A: What an interesting fish you have there! It looks like an African cichlid but I'm not an expert on ...
Goldfish has mouth rot	9/19/2008
Q: I am new to goldfish. I have a fish with a bad case of mouth rot. I had my water tested and it ... A: Definitely due to ammonia levels. You are doing a good job already by doing a large water change and ...
Tetras	9/18/2008
Q: My tank is 30"x12"x15" I have at the moment 2 neons 1 black neon 5 glowlights 4 cories ... A: Sounds like you have a nicely stocked tank already. You could easily add more neons, some lemons and ...
fish	9/18/2008
Q: red parrot, gold fish in a same tank my tank is about to a 4 feet A: While the three fish might get along. The Arowana may eat the goldfish eventually and he will ...
Parasites?	9/17/2008
Q: I am hoping you can help me with a question regarding my 48 gal fresh water tank. I have four Large ... A: No worries, I believe for certain they are what's called "Planaria" and these creatures are very ...
Will these get along?	9/16/2008
Q: i have recently bough a red devil and put it in my 30 gallon tank....i was wondering if it was ... A: Red Devils grow quite large, a foot long or so isn't uncommon and males can grow bigger. I worry ...
fish mates	9/15/2008
Q: ok.i have balla sharks,tiger barbs,catfish,rainbow sharks in my fish tank i want to know if i can ... A: All your fish sound like good tank-mates for each-other except that the red-tail sharks will likely ...
Goldfish Tankmates	9/14/2008
Q: I have a couple of small fancy goldfish in a 10 gallon tank, who are doing quite well. As they ... A: Snails are great. They can be good cleaners but do produce their fair share of waste too. Which ...
ammonium levels in freah water tank	9/14/2008
Q: Help please we have a 55 gallon tank. the ammonia levels seen to stay up no matter how often we ... A: Make sure the water conditioner you are using isn't causing false readings on your ammonia tests. ...
cichlid setup	9/13/2008
Q: I am setting up a 75 gallon tank real soon. I know all about the cycling and things like that. My ... A: I've written an article about cycling. I hope this helps you out! CYCLING made simple It is ...
breeding fish	9/12/2008
Q: i'm hoping that you can help me with my question as all my research has brought me to dead ends. I ... A: Interesting! What a cross. So the mother fish is a female convict of the regular type (stripes). ...
suddenly everyone seems sick	9/12/2008
Q: I have a ten gallon of 6 platys that has been set up since late July. Water levels have been good ... A: Oh I'm sorry... Were they covered in the white fungus before they died? Or after? If after, then ...
suddenly everyone seems sick	9/11/2008
Q: I have a ten gallon of 6 platys that has been set up since late July. Water levels have been good ... A: I'd definitely do a water change. Poor water quality is definitely one of the first things to ...
Goldfish	9/10/2008
Q: I have two tiny itty bitty fancy goldfish, the cheaper ones. They were about $2.50. Okay they are in ... A: Wonderful you are cycling a big tank for them! For now, the most important thing is to change the ...
large consolidated blister area on the head	9/10/2008
Q: I was gone for a few days only to return today and see that my Pachoo(sp)? has developed a large ... A: I'm not certain what it might be. It could be cysts or some kind of other odd skin growth that might ...
New Freshwater Tank	9/9/2008
Q: I've been learning a lot from reading your responses to others. This summer I kept a small comet ... A: I think you are very well-educated on this whole fish matter. I don't think your tank is in ...
Make Betta with enlarged abdomen	9/9/2008
Q: I am a novice beta keeper and I have had (what i have known to be)a male beta for about 2 years ... A: There are several reasons for bettas to become bloated. 1.) Overfeeding (yes, too much food can ...
Sick Mollie	9/8/2008
Q: I have an 8 gallon tank that was recently home to a platie that died of Dropsy. I guess you could ... A: Popeye can be a symptom of several causes. The most common is poor water quality and dropsy is often ...
Betta Care - torn fins	9/8/2008
Q: Karen! I just acquired my first Betta from my son before he headed off to college. I really ... A: You have a wonderful setup for your betta. 5 gallon tanks are great for them! The ragged fins could ...
My poor betta companion	9/7/2008
Q: I bought a betta fish sometime in January, and i have become EXTREMELY attached. His name is bobby, ... A: I'm really sorry to hear that. I really hate to say this, but I don't think there is much you can ...
Tetra's mouth and gills moving very fast	9/7/2008
Q: I have a 55 gallon freshwater tank that has been up for almost 2 years now. Currently it is ... A: I think the fish are just under stress from the immense nitrate level, and then suddenly a reduction ...
Peas as a remedy?	9/6/2008
Q: I just want to start out by saying that I have got one chubby angelfish. I think I have narrowed ... A: Definitely try the pea method. Its very effective in most cases. It might take a little while but ...
Sick Gourami	9/6/2008
Q: I rescued a pair of opalene gouramis about a year ago. Over the past few months their health has ... A: Sorry to hear that. Your little gouramis have gone through a lot. Definitely just use tap water ...
swordtails	9/5/2008
Q: I just was wondering, how do you know if a platy is pregnant and how long for? Cheers Courtney ... A: Guppies, like a lot of livebearers, will "square up" in their belly region before giving birth. When ...
Which fish to add in 55gl?	9/5/2008
Q: I have had fish tanks for many, many years, but have never developed a "species" tank or, really, ... A: You have some excellent ideas of fish in mind. However, I just thought I'd warn you that I haven't ...
More on sinking bettas	9/4/2008
Q: I recently moved to a new area and noticed within a week that my betta was stuck at the bottom of ... A: I'm sorry this couldn't have gotten to you sooner. Maybe your betta's regular diet is the ...
Re: Pregnant Mollie	9/4/2008
Q: I was wondering how you can tell when your Mollie is about to give birth. And how long tell she ... A: It can be difficult to tell because every fish is somewhat individual in their behaviors just before ...
Neon Tetras	9/4/2008
Q: I bought 6 neon tetras 4 days ago, but when I got home one of them was having trouble swimming ... A: Sorry to hear that. Likely the problem is related to poor water quality. Since your tank has just ...
Sick Goldfish	9/3/2008
Q: I have a large pet goldfish, Maggie. I believe it's a female and she's about 4 inches long without ... A: There are several reasons for goldfish to become bloated. The most common are due to constipation, ...
best way to take care of balloon ram	9/3/2008
Q: i bought 2 baby balloon rams 3 days ago frm my LFS, they were in terrible conditions and thir ... A: I'm really sorry but I don't have experience with Balloon rams. They are lovely fish though! I have ...
swordtails	9/3/2008
Q: I just was wondering, how do you know if a platy is pregnant and how long for? Cheers Courtney ... A: Are they both males? If so, you do have a potential for a continuing problem here. Male sword-tails ...
I have a sick fish	9/2/2008
Q: I have a rainbow that is swimming vertically and seems to be dying. He seems to have a bit of a ... A: Oh, I'm sorry to hear that. It sounds like he may be too far gone but there is a chance he may ...
Koi Aquarium	9/2/2008
Q: I have recently become interested in establishing a Koi pond next spring, and want to start by ... A: I'm sorry but I don't have much experience with Koi. But I can answer it to the best of my ...
bleeding heart tetras with ich?	9/2/2008
Q: I have a 55 gal freshwater tank that has been cycled for about 5 months now. 1 rainbow shark, 5 ... A: Aw I'm sorry to hear about all your fish troubles. (I know how it can be!) It certainly does sound ...
15 gallon	8/29/2008
Q: i have a 15 gallon aquarium and was planning on getting one simise algae eater one honey gourami and ... A: Well, again I am disappointed the petstore again never gives accurate advice... The Siamese Algae ...
oscars and severums	8/29/2008
Q: hi there i was wondering if i get some oscars and severums at the same time and small will they get ... A: Because of each fish's individual personality. It can be very difficult to predict what will happen. ...
betta fry	8/29/2008
Q: I cant really culture micro worms or other live foods so i was wondering if I could use Liquidfly 1 ... A: I think its probably good to have some live food on hand as well as egg yolk in case the fry don't ...
cichlids hiding up by filters	8/28/2008
Q: Everyday I find a few of my cichlids at the top of the tank hiding behind my bio wheel filters. I ... A: First I would check the water quality. Perhaps they are stressed by ammonia levels. Check your ...
Sick Bettas	8/28/2008
Q: I keep 3 bettas at a time, each in their own one-gallon tank. I change their water twice a week, ... A: I usually use a small aquarium siphon to do water changes even on small tanks like this. But it is a ...
Cichlids Died Suddenly	8/28/2008
Q: I had a Tropheus Moorii, a Chalinochromis Brichardi and a Five-Bar Cichlid in a 30 gallon tank. I ... A: I'm very sorry to hear this. Sounds like when you disturbed the filth from under the rocks it ...
Pregnant Violet Goby	8/28/2008
Q: I think I have a pregnant violet goby, I just recently changed their water to find that one of my ... A: Wow, I'm not sure about this one. Violet gobies are very difficult to get to breed in captivity. ...
fish chasing	8/28/2008
Q: wondering if you can help? i recently got a new orange platy, and i have put it in my tank, and my ... A: This is likely related to a breeding drive. Mollies, like many livebearers have a very high "mating" ...
Fancy Goldfish	8/28/2008
Q: I would like to set up a 55 gallon tank for fancy goldfish. Must they have live plants? I am ... A: Fancy goldfish do not have to have live plants. They do like them of course, all fish do. But ...
betta fry	8/28/2008
Q: I cant really culture micro worms or other live foods so i was wondering if I could use Liquidfly 1 ... A: You can most certainly try Liquidfry food. I can't guarantee it will work but its worth a try. Using ...
Beta Fish	8/28/2008
Q: I know nothing about fish. My daughter wanted a fish and I heard betas are easiest to care for. I ... A: Sounds like you are doing a wonderful job now and I must say you are a wonderful owner for being ...
Mysterious 'Things'	8/27/2008
Q: I'm writing on behalf of my mum who has the freshwater aquarium, as she dose not have internet ... A: Wow, interesting! There are many kinds of scavengers in your aquarium that can get in in one way or ...
fish tank	8/27/2008
Q: i cleaned my tank of 7 fish and a alge eater and my NO3 and NO2 are high what can i do to rectify ... A: How did you clean your tank? Did you wash anything or overly scrub it? If so, then you destroyed the ...
dying tropical fish	8/27/2008
Q: I wonder if you could help steer me in the right direction. I have had my tank up and running for a ... A: Its really almost impossible to underfeed fish. If they are cleaning up everything that you feed ...
Red Bellied Piranhas	8/27/2008
Q: i have two Red Bellied Piranhas, they are about an inch and a half big, and i also have a pleck in ... A: Grey slime often is usually a type of fungus that often develops in aquariums. It can attach to ...
Blue Acara's not eating	8/27/2008
Q: I bought a pair of blue acara's about a month ago thye just dont eat as good as they used to I have ... A: Perhaps they are shy because of the other fish intimidating them as feeding times. You can try ...
sick flower horn fish	8/27/2008
Q: Our flower fish I think has intestine hangin out of its bottom. It will come out an inch then after ... A: Wow, I'm sorry to hear about that... I honestly can't say the exact right thing to do but I can ...
severums spawning	8/26/2008
Q: i have a 550 litre tank ammonia 0 nitrite 0 nitrate 30 ph 7.6 temp 29 deg c in the tank i have 3 ... A: Well, most likely not. Is there any way you could move the pair to their own spawning tank of ...
dying tropical fish	8/26/2008
Q: I wonder if you could help steer me in the right direction. I have had my tank up and running for a ... A: Are you sure your water parameters are safe? Sometimes people will say that low levels of ammonia or ...
Buenos Aires Tetra	8/26/2008
Q: I have a shoal of 7 buenos aires tetra in their own 20 gallon aquarium. The shoal contains 6 males ... A: Very likely the males nipped her as you suspected. It would be better if there were more females ...
severums spawning	8/26/2008
Q: i have a 550 litre tank ammonia 0 nitrite 0 nitrate 30 ph 7.6 temp 29 deg c in the tank i have 3 ... A: Severums are my favorite cichlids! Its a well known fact that a pair of Severums may take a good up ...
sick fish?	8/22/2008
Q: I recently bought a new tank but I previously had a smaller tank that was about 10-15L that had 3 ... A: If you made sure to use water conditioner with the tank water I'd definitely blame the ammonia being ...
Fish tank filter not pumping water	8/22/2008
Q: I just replaced the filter in the fish tank filter pump. I turned it back on and the motor seems to ... A: Check all the parts of the filter. The impeller often gets clogged or the intake tubes often become ...
plecostomus	8/21/2008
Q: we have a large plecostomus in a tank with what looks to have a small lesion on his back,in the ... A: Sounds like a fungus infection. I have had the best luck using Jungle Brand's Fungus clear to ...
Sick Oscar fish?	8/21/2008
Q: I have an oscar fish that was black when i bought him at the store then after a couple of days he ... A: That looks like a great fish you have there. The white mark might be scarring or it could be an ...
using gravel vacuum	8/21/2008
Q: hey i just bought a gravel vacuum yesterday, and i read the instructions and it said to jerk it up ... A: Excess yawning can be concerning. An occasional 'yawn' should be of no concern, but if the fish does ...
Biocube aquarium filter	8/21/2008
Q: I have an 8 gallon Biocube. I have 1 molly in there right now who has ich. I need to treat with an ... A: Don't feel stupid. ;-) I'm not familiar with the biocube tanks and filters. Is there a cartridge in ...
sick fish?	8/21/2008
Q: I recently bought a new tank but I previously had a smaller tank that was about 10-15L that had 3 ... A: I think you are right about it being the cycling process. Likely there is an ammonia problem going ...
fungus or ick?	8/21/2008
Q: I have a 14 gallon and a 20 gallon freshwater tank. In my 14 gallon tank I have a small female ... A: Sounds like fungus. Ick typically shows up as white spots all over as if the fish had been sprinkled ...
i have 2 question about 2 tanks	8/21/2008
Q: My name is Kim we have a 10 gallon tank that has been up and running for about 6 months or more. We ... A: Sounds like a bacterial bloom due to a sudden overabundance of nutrients. This is common in high ...
quantity of fish	8/21/2008
Q: I currently have a 20 gallon long tank. The biological cycle should be a little over half way ... A: Sounds like you are doing a good job with your aquarium. But maybe you should not try to adjust the ...
Can gill flukes & other parasites be harmful to human?	8/20/2008
Q: I had asked Dave a question and the answer he gave me contrasted with the guy at my LFS. I'm ... A: To my best knowledge, flukes and other fish illnesses (besides Tuberculosis) are not harmful to ...
Angelfish	8/20/2008
Q: I recently obtained an aquarium from my neighbors when they moved, that hadn't been cleaned in two ... A: Sorry to hear that... I definitely would not mess with the pH at all. It would only put more stress ...
tank without filter	8/20/2008
Q: could you tell me how long you can go without a filter. mine broke down tonight. Its an external ... A: You'll be fine without a filter for a day or two. This is especially true if the tank isn't ...
Sick betta	8/20/2008
Q: I have had my betta for about nine months. He lives in the 4 gallon biorb with the undergravel ... A: You might just want to use the Jungle Product just to avoid unnecessary stress on the bettas part ...
Black Mollies ..breeding	8/20/2008
Q: I have a 29Gal tanK with only goldfish for feeding our Oscars (3). At any given time, there are ... A: Your concern is right. The goldfish will very likely eat the molly fry. I probably wouldn't keep any ...
Moving aquarium	8/20/2008
Q: I have a goldfish and a small pleco in a 10 gal tank (I know, 10 gal is too small...I'm working on ... A: I'd use a moderate sized ice chest (will hold the temperature quite well) and a battery-powered ...
Sick Bettas	8/20/2008
Q: I keep 3 bettas at a time, each in their own one-gallon tank. I change their water twice a week, ... A: Cheers for trying to help the bettas!! I use to rescue bettas too! It sounds like the one sick ...
underwater gravel filters	8/20/2008
Q: Karen, Would you share your thoughts on UWG filters. After keeping over 300 gallons of fish some 15 ... A: You've already discovered the answers I have about Undergravel filters. The risk of anerobic ...
Orange Chiclid	8/20/2008
Q: I have a 75 gallon fish tank. I have a bright orange fish that looks like it might have eggs in its ... A: Well, cichlids generally take care of their babies perfectly well themselves so I can't really ...
10 gallon aquarium	8/17/2008
Q: I recently set up a 10 gallon freshwater aquarium. To be exact it has been set up for one week give ... A: Good deal!! As far as the "kissing motions" -- is this against objects in the tank? Or the glass ...
Sick betta	8/17/2008
Q: I have had my betta for about nine months. He lives in the 4 gallon biorb with the undergravel ... A: The red spots could be irritation from water pollution (even decaying material underneath the ...
aerator	8/16/2008
Q: I have two tanks, one at home and one at my office. For some reason neither aerator is working. I ... A: Very odd... Make sure there is no kink in the airline tubing. I would simply try replacing the ...
Patriot Crabs	8/16/2008
Q: I recently purchased a patriot crab...is that the same as a moon crab, or a rainbow crab? When this ... A: How interesting, Patriot crabs. We don't see those around here. This is a very informative article ...
Goldfish scale loss	8/16/2008
Q: I have an outdoor pond with 5 goldfish of 3 years establishment. This year they bred twice so I ... A: I'm sorry to hear that!! Unfortunately this is something I've never dealt with before. The scale ...
what looks like tiny worms	8/16/2008
Q: I have a 30 gal. angelfish tank. Recently I bought a new angelfish to replace one that died. After ... A: Congrats on the eggs!! The presence of worms (known as planaria) are generally a sign that the ...
Sick Guppy	8/16/2008
Q: 1 of my guppy's is floating at the top of the tank & gasping. I have a airater so its not from lack ... A: It sounds like the fish is really stressed and may be at his end. I'm sorry to have to say this but ...
Stocking/Bio filtration	8/16/2008
Q: I am currently running a 70 gallon freshwater aquarium. It is fully cycled and been running for over ... A: Fortunately I don' think your aquarium is crowded at all, even with eventual adult sizes. Its really ...
cloudy water	8/16/2008
Q: I just bought a new tank yesterday and set it up according to instructions. I put two baby oscars in ... A: Your aquarium is going through the typical "new tank syndrome" and the problem will be even worse ...
Fresh Water Fish	8/16/2008
Q: I would like to know - when you buy a new fish and put in the tank, how long does it take for the ... A: The four sucker fish will be Ok in the 150 gallon and I don't feel its too many. If there are no ...
10 gallon aquarium	8/16/2008
Q: I recently set up a 10 gallon freshwater aquarium. To be exact it has been set up for one week give ... A: You are right about stocking the tank too soon can be a risky thing for a new tank, especially a ...
tropical fish compatiblity	8/15/2008
Q: Help me please new to this aquarium thing . What fish are compatible with kissing fish and parrot ... A: Wow, quite a combination there! In logical terms, Kissing fish, Parrot fish and Oscars generally ...
pleco	8/15/2008
Q: I have had a 75 gal aquarium for 4 years. My pleco has been here since the beginning. He is now ... A: Sounds like your pleco is a true giant! I love it when plecos grow so big! When I judge if a pleco ...
my tank smells	8/15/2008
Q: we have had it a week now almost 2. it is a 10 gallon i got one male betta 2 white clouds (betta ate ... A: Sounds like your tank hasn't been "cycled" yet or Established the good beneficial bacteria that are ...
beta fishbwl conditioner	8/15/2008
Q: is beta fishbowl conditioner hazardous to children? my two year old got a hold of it and we think ... A: Usually the bottle will say if there are hazards to children or pets if somebody ingests it. So be ...
Betta Tank	8/15/2008
Q: I was told I don't need a heater while at the pet store. My worry is the temperature fluctuation of ... A: Bettas definitely don't do well at temps in the low 60's and this could make him sick sooner or ...
my fish	8/15/2008
Q: I just was wondering, how do you know if a platy is pregnant and how long for? Cheers Courtney A: If your platy has been around a male for even a short time period its very likely that she is ...
using gravel vacuum	8/15/2008
Q: hey i just bought a gravel vacuum yesterday, and i read the instructions and it said to jerk it up ... A: Sounds like your tank must not be cycled yet. If you aren't sure what that is, you can read about it ...
Fish!	8/14/2008
Q: I have 3 neon tetras, 4 glowdanios, 2 dalmatian lyretail mollies, 1 yellow algae eater, 1 yellow ... A: Its possible that the rosy barbs and Silver dollars may chase the little neons and glowdanios but it ...
New fish?	8/14/2008
Q: I just started a new 55 gallon tank and moved my old fish into it with the intent on adding more ... A: The smell may be ammonia and I'd definitely wait until you can get the water quality better and then ...
weird bug like insect thingin my tank	8/14/2008
Q: once i had settled them in i was just watching and this really strange insect was swimming round at ... A: There are lots of critters that can fit that description, obviously it must be an insect with six ...
using gravel vacuum	8/14/2008
Q: hey i just bought a gravel vacuum yesterday, and i read the instructions and it said to jerk it up ... A: The best way to start a siphon is to tilt it while it's completely submerged underwater, then lift ...
betta bloat	8/14/2008
Q: I own a betta and have it in with a few other goldfish. I have heard that putting a tbs of salt in ... A: Well, bettas do have different diet requirements than goldfish, and if he is eating a lot of the ...
Betta Fish Fins	8/14/2008
Q: I've had my Betta Fish for 9 months now and his tails have gotten a little fringed since then but it ... A: Tattered fins can be from poor water quality or the fish himself may be nipping them. Male bettas ...
GoldFish	8/14/2008
Q: I have a wonderful Shubumkin goldfish (I think thats how you spell it!). I have had him for about 2 ... A: ! Shubunkins (I don't mind misspellings!) are great fish, normally tough and hardy and very pretty. ...
Goldfish closed mouth	8/14/2008
Q: I have had my goldfish for nearly a year now, and he has always been a hearty eater. I noticed the ... A: Sounds like this will be a trial and error situation. It could be an injury causing a swelling where ...
2 canisters in a 60 gal aquarium	8/14/2008
Q: I would like to set up my aquarium with two canister filters, ( magnums 330 and 350 )The new 350 ... A: I believe the foam exterior ring might function as a way to trap debris so it won't collect in your ...
uaru problem	8/13/2008
Q: I have 150l tank with a variety of fish.Last few days my large uaru is in a upright position (head ... A: Definitely sounds like a Swim bladder issue. You should read this article which will explain all the ...
Platys	8/13/2008
Q: I recently purchased 8 platys, Ive added them to my established tank that had just 2 neon tetras. ... A: It may have just been 'bad' fish in otherwords, those that were weak or stressed anyway from being ...
dark skin on head of fish	8/13/2008
Q: His having trouble with swmming as if he can't be bothered his not eating, and his losing his ... A: Well, I'm sorry I'm not sure what it might be exactly. Dark coloration can be stress related. But ...
bugs in fish tank	8/12/2008
Q: I have a 30gl freshwater tank with 3 african cichlids in it. last week 2 of them died. then i ... A: There are many of types of crustaceans and insects that can get into your aquarium. They are almost ...
ulcers on angelfish	8/12/2008
Q: The issue in question is currently isolated to my 29 gallon tank. The tank is about 19 months old ... A: Sorry to hear that... Sounds like the white patches may be Columnaris which forms white patches on ...
bubble nest?	8/12/2008
Q: i have a male a female beta fish and they've already tried to start spawning, but the male hasn't ... A: Sometimes bettas will do this way and I'm not sure why. Maybe the male is just too excited about the ...
Our Water readings in our tropical fish tank HELP!!	8/12/2008
Q: I hope you can help!! Me and my boyfriend purchased a fish tank 2 weeks ago we set it all up i.e. ... A: What's happening with your tank is its going through the usual ammonia, nitrite buildup that all new ...
ANGEL FISH	8/12/2008
Q: i have 2 angel fish living in one tank , recently one of them have developed a huge bulge on her ... A: Sounds like the Angel may have an internal infection which would explain the bulge on her side and ...
betta vase mates?!?!	8/9/2008
Q: I recently got a betta vase that i put a pothos plant in. I have been feeding the fish once a day ... A: You're right about the problem with bettas in vases being mostly due to irresponsibility and I must ...
unstable tank	8/8/2008
Q: hey karen so remember that subject that we were talking about about the unstable nitrite level in my ... A: That is a good question and something I wish I had thought of. Your source water might indeed have ...
Freshwater mollie	8/8/2008
Q: I Hae a big bellied white mollie that has developed large black spots on his body and fins( tail has ... A: Sounds like a color change that is very common with fish that are growing and developing. He sounds ...
goldfish & algae eaters	8/8/2008
Q: Can you tell me what kind of algae eater I can have in my aquarium in the house. I have a 70 gal ... A: Probably the best candidate for your tank is a Plecostomus. They are both hardy and usually don't ...
bubbles/cloudiness in water	8/8/2008
Q: i have bubbles on top of my water, there is an odor, and the water is cloudy. my tank is ten gallon ... A: This is due to the aquarium not being cycling and established yet. Which basically means that ...
small flea - like bugs	8/8/2008
Q: I noticed the other day when i was feeding my 9 inch Oscar that there were millions of small flea ... A: They must be some kind of aquatic critters that often get into aquariums one way or another. There ...
Figure 8 Puffer looking very fat	8/8/2008
Q: I've had my figure 8 now for almost a year and he has never had any problems eating. A few months ... A: Sounds like he has fluid retention. I've seen this type of condition in Oscars (including the anal ...
Bottom Feeders For Bettas	8/8/2008
Q: I was wondering what type of bottom feeder would be ok to put in with my betta fish? I just want ... A: Some of the top choices for betta tank bottom feeders are- Corydoras Ghost shrimp *Mystery Snails ...
constant cloudy fish tank	8/8/2008
Q: I bought a 30gal fish tank about 2 months ago and change about 1/2 the tank at least once a week and ... A: I'd remove your undergravel filters, they can harbor lots of decaying organic matter which can leech ...
african cichlids	8/7/2008
Q: hello my name is marie and i have a 55 gal tank that was given to me and along with the tank i took ... A: Actually the best tankmates would be other African Cichlids. These fish are usually too aggressive ...
Bloated Belly in Betta	8/7/2008
Q: I've had my betta for a year and 2 months ago he developed a swollen belly. Sometimes I see brown ... A: Sounds he could be constipated with the trailing poo. Sometimes too much pellets and not enough ...
flame gourami	8/7/2008
Q: My gourami is having a hard time breath(rapid), no other signs of problems but he is not eating. I ... A: Its possible there may be a water quality issue going on. If the ammonia and nitrites have risen at ...
fish	8/7/2008
Q: I was wondering, what kind of Fish can be put in with a Rope Eel? Could a redfin, tiger barbs, and ... A: The key to Rope Eel tankmates are fish that they cannot swallow but are also peaceful enough not to ...
My tank keeps going cloudy i have no fish	8/7/2008
Q: I left this thinking it might clear up but a week later it was still cloudy so i thought i might not ... A: It may be dust particles from the gravel, sometimes you'll still get particles even after rinsing. ...
My fish are dying and some are showing sickness symptoms!	8/7/2008
Q: I've been doing research around this site and came to the conclusion that you're probably the best ... A: Well, first off, cheers for doing research!! The main problem I suspect is simply the fact that the ...
newer fish	8/7/2008
Q: i'm wondering what could have gon wrong. the ph says normal as does the temp. do they dye when the ... A: you're welcome! So you are planning on reducing the platies to just four along with three otos? ...
constant cloudy fish tank	8/6/2008
Q: I bought a 30gal fish tank about 2 months ago and change about 1/2 the tank at least once a week and ... A: Do you have any driftwood in your tank? If so that is releasing tannins into the water which ...
My Texas Cichlid eyes are bugging out.	8/6/2008
Q: I just noticed that my Texas Cichlid's eyes are bulging out very strangely. I've had her for over 7 ... A: Unfortunately it is not normal. I'm sorry to be the bearer of bad news. Bulging eyes is usually ...
Dying Rainbow Crabs	8/6/2008
Q: I have been having big problems with my aquarium. I set up the aquarium using 20 litres of tap water ... A: Although I've never kept Rainbow crabs and my experience only goes as far as Fiddler ...
unstable parameters	8/6/2008
Q: recently i have probably finished cycling the tanks water and its been over 1 month, but now in the ... A: That is unusual. Kinda baffling at that. Is this a continuously occurring thing? Maybe by the ...
Aqua Clear Filter not working properly	8/6/2008
Q: My filter is not pushing the water at full capacity, looking at the intake tube and inside the ... A: This will have to be a trial and error situation. Make sure you fill it completely up with water ...
newer fish	8/6/2008
Q: i'm wondering what could have gon wrong. the ph says normal as does the temp. do they dye when the ... A: you're welcome! Good to hear no more fish are lost. I love Ottos or "Ottocinclus" catfish, but they ...
Angelica catfish	8/6/2008
Q: I'm back into freshwater fish after a long absence. Local pet shop told me an Angelica catfish (2" ... A: Catfish often are notorious for having large mouths that can swallow smaller fish. So I'm certain ...
ammonia level	8/5/2008
Q: we have 5 gouramis, 1 barbs, 2 catfish and 1 bala shark in a 30 gallon tank. When we started we ran ... A: Don't give up! We've all been through this... You doing good with changing the water and that is ...
cloudy water	8/5/2008
Q: i got a fish tank from my uncle who never used it.i set the tank up yesterday and the water was ... A: Sounds like a bacterial bloom from the tank being newly setup. The good bacteria have not settled ...
Plant Snails	8/5/2008
Q: I don't know if you'll be able to answer this, but how do those little black snails form when you ... A: What happens is the snails hitchhike as eggs or tiny newborn hatchlings on live plants. They go ...
Setting up a freshwater aquarium	8/5/2008
Q: One of my friends has sold me his 55 gal. tank. It has been in use, but I want to start from the ... A: Sure you can use aquarium salt plus some hot water to help clean your aquarium. Just make sure to ...
White Skirt Tetra	8/5/2008
Q: I have five white skirt tetra's in a 70 gallon aquarium with Mollies, platy's, neon tetra's, cleaner ... A: I've never bred Skirt tetras before but this short article from Aquatic-hobbyist.com explaining some ...
angel fish fin eaten away	8/5/2008
Q: I have a 7 year old angel fish who seems not be doing too well. Its swimming upwards with nose ... A: I would isolate the angel and give him/her tons of water changes. Like Everyday about 30-50% to help ...
platies	8/5/2008
Q: i'm wondering what could have gon wrong. the ph says normal as does the temp. do they dye when the ... A: When you cleaned your tank. Was there any chance of chemicals like soap or other contaminates ...
freshwater sand	8/5/2008
Q: freshwater stingray tank, im wanting to use sand in there, i was told i can use silica sand i love ... A: Unfortunately I don't have much advice on Stringrays besides what I've read. The best I can tell you ...
my cichlids are shaking?!?	8/2/2008
Q: I have 4 south american. 2 African in a 56 gal tank after setting my tank up with new fish all was ... A: I'm not sure about the "mold" spots. That's something I've never seen before. Black spots can be ...
Filter	8/1/2008
Q: ok so i just bought an australian rainbow fish, a dwarf gourami and 2 black skirted tetras they all ... A: Sounds like a bacterial bloom which can be caused by an imbalance of good bacteria and too many ...
is my fish poorly	8/1/2008
Q: im sure he is not being bullied and the water has recently been tested and was fine there are no ... A: The frayed fins are a cause for concern. Might be either he is being picked on by other fish or they ...
stuck sucker fish	8/1/2008
Q: My sucker fish is stuck in rock like structure in my tank. I tried to gently pull him out but I was ... A: I had a similar case. It was a dragon fish which is a elongated snake-like fish that got trapped ...
betta peeling	8/1/2008
Q: I was wondering if u got an answer to that. my betta just started to peel on the fins. its almost ... A: Hmm... Is there any way you could send me a picture of your betta condition. You can send picture(s) ...
Small bugs	8/1/2008
Q: I have tiny brown insects living in the collected moisture on the underside of my aquarium, they ... A: They might be Springtails. The best way to get rid of them is to consistently clean up the areas ...
basic fish	8/1/2008
Q: hey im kenny ad i have a question, which is what kind of freshwater fish can i keep that can be kept ... A: While the choices of fish in a 2 gallon are quite limited. There is one fish... Bettas are my top ...
fat belly on black skirt tetra	7/31/2008
Q: I have 2 black skirts one alot larger then the other.The large one tonight seems to have a fat ... A: Good to hear she is doing better! Salt can sometimes stress tetras in high concentrations. I believe ...
White spots on tail fin	7/31/2008
Q: I have three swordtail's, one catfish, and five neon tetras in my aquarium. Recently one of the ... A: Well, it might be an injury or it could be ICK. Hopefully not. But here's a link with an article ...
ammonia in water for freshwater tropical fish	7/31/2008
Q: After looking at so many websites I was so relieved to have just read your reply to David and found ... A: While undergravel filters are usually still used very commonly. I don't really like to use them in ...
Angel fish fungus	7/31/2008
Q: Upon returning from vacation I noticed a small wound on one of my 3 angel fish. Within days fungus ... A: The best treatment I've ever done for fungus is to use Jungle Brand's "Fungus Clear" and follow this ...
Baby Malawi Cichlids	7/31/2008
Q: we have had our tank set up with 7 large Malawi Cichlids for about 6 months. we noticed last ... A: If it was my tank. I'd probably let the babies grow up in the main tank. They have survived this far ...
yellow cichilid	7/30/2008
Q: my yellow cichlid has a cluster of bumps on the belly. What could this be? A: Hard to say without seeing the fish. Are the bumps white? They might be clusters of ick. Here's a ...
Mollies	7/30/2008
Q: I recently got a fish tank from my cousin and they said that its a 20g here are the dimensions 30 ... A: Mollies are very easy to breed, but they can be sensitive to poor water quality and if the tank ...
Black Skirted Tetras	7/30/2008
Q: ok so i just bought an australian rainbow fish, a dwarf gourami and 2 black skirted tetras they all ... A: Unless it might have been a mix-up at the pet store and its actually a different species of tetra, ...
Calico Oranda on side, lethargic, not swimming...	7/30/2008
Q: 'Fin' as this fish is called had a problem within 2 weeks of arriving in the tank back at the ... A: While swim bladder is usually caused by food-related issues I would also be leery of the Hair algae ...
Stimulating my Romeo	7/30/2008
Q: So I have a betta. I have him housed in a 2 gal aquarium that I purchased a Petco. It came with the ... A: Well, its hard to know what's wrong. The fact that he's eating is a good sign and if he doesn't show ...
Cichlids in a 3 Gal	7/30/2008
Q: Hey Karen, I have a 3 Gal tank (12.1L) and im really new in the Aquarium area so anyways i was ... A: I hate to be the bearer of bad news but that's an awfully small tank that really severely limits ...
fat belly on black skirt tetra	7/30/2008
Q: I have 2 black skirts one alot larger then the other.The large one tonight seems to have a fat ... A: I don't think the salt could have caused the fat belly on the black skirt. There are several common ...
Can fish die because of aggression?	7/30/2008
Q: One of my mollies died today :( It had its gills swollen and body thinned out. But I dont think it ... A: Sorry to hear that. It's always possible fish could die of too much stress. But it could have also ...
possible body fungus	7/30/2008
Q: I currently have a 20G tank with a clown pleco, a peppered cory, two dwarf gouramis, and one (the ... A: The best book I have found about aquarium fish is called "The simple guide to Freshwater aquariums" ...
Sick Platy?	7/29/2008
Q: I have recently noticed that one of my platies has a few scales that are white and are lifted up off ... A: I'm can't be sure. I have a few guesses though. The fish doesn't look bloated in the belly does she? ...
SWIM BLADDER HELP !	7/29/2008
Q: i have bought swim bladder treatment (interpet) i am bit confused to how often i use the treatment ... A: Sorry to hear that. I've never used medication to treat swim bladder disorder before because it is ...
Angel Fish with Body Fungus	7/29/2008
Q: I have a sick angel fish with sudden body fungus eroding her back and back fin. White cottony ... A: The best most effective medication I've used for fungus (even stubborn fungus) is Jungle Brand's ...
pregnant mollie	7/28/2008
Q: I have a pregnant mollie again. The last time we noticed she wqas getting bigger and bigger and one ... A: I wonder if the fighter might be keeping the molly intimidated into hiding? Its possible the molly ...
cichlid	7/28/2008
Q: I have a 46 gallon tank. I have 1 Chinese algae eater, 3 giant danios, 2 long finned rosy barbs, 3 ... A: The problem with African cichlids is they can be -very- aggressive and territorial. They usually ...
my pleco-too big?	7/28/2008
Q: tank and he is about 5" from nose to tail...but my son says he's just fine. I worry! I fear his ... A: Your pleco probably isn't too big for your 20 gallon -yet- but it depends on what other fish are ...
Disappearing Fish	7/27/2008
Q: I have had a community aquarium since January and have recently added some new fish to it but since ... A: This is difficult to say. There are several possible culprits.... Tiger barbs can be quite ...
What is a good scavenger fish for a guppy tank?	7/27/2008
Q: Currently, I have 3 small tanks (2x 5.5gal, 1x 1gal). The small tank and one large one have guppies ... A: Corydoras catfish (cories) remain as my favorite no-trouble scavengers for almost any community ...
fish not feeding.	7/27/2008
Q: ive just bought a biorb 30L tropical and have put 2 harliquin fish in it,theyve been in there 3 days ... A: It could be just cause they are new fish to the tank and they need some time to adjust. They may ...
I think my Plecostmus is sick, please help.	7/27/2008
Q: Our plescostmus is approximately 3 years old. We have him in a 30 gallon fresh water aquarium. A few ... A: You're very welcome! I'm so glad to hear your pleco is doing better. That's such a relief to hear. ...
Molly fry never grew up	7/27/2008
Q: I got an aquarium back in January this year and 3 days after I added fish my Balloon Molly gave ... A: Sometimes livebearer fry can become stunted by crowding, ect.. or their genetics may be responsible ...
my cichlids are shaking?!?	7/27/2008
Q: I have 4 south american. 2 African in a 56 gal tank after setting my tank up with new fish all was ... A: Sounds like a water quality issue going on (like polluted water). I'd do an immediate 30-50% water ...
Stocking my 56 gallon tank	7/26/2008
Q: Karen, Thank you for taking your time to answer all of these questions that everyone has!!! I have ... A: I wish petstores would get their information up to date! ;-) I'm glad you did the research, cheers ...
How to remove ich in cycling tank?	7/26/2008
Q: I'm pretty new to the tropical fish hobby. I have a 10 gal aquarium- 1 dwarf gourami, 1 lyretail ... A: Sorry to hear that. I would definitely try to move the little frog somewhere else. His delicate ...
Hurt Fish	7/26/2008
Q: I have got a Red Dwarf Gourami and looks like it is pregnant but I am more concerned about its fin ... A: Sorry to hear about that. Sometimes gouramis can be pregnant or "full" of eggs. But sometimes big ...
Cloud Fish	7/26/2008
Q: About 4 years ago I bought a small (I think about 2 gallons) tank and 6 Cloud Fish. I am now left ... A: Hmm... Well, White clouds can do great in groups of three but they'd love to be in larger groups and ...
cichlid	7/26/2008
Q: I have a 46 gallon tank. I have 1 Chinese algae eater, 3 giant danios, 2 long finned rosy barbs, 3 ... A: Sounds like you have quite a community in your 46-gallon! While a cichlid would make it all the more ...
high nitrite	7/26/2008
Q: I bought a 10 gal aquarium about 3 weeks ago. I treated the water (tap water) and waited 48 hours ... A: Hey, Using distilled water 100% is not the best for fish. Because it actually lacks the minerals ...
issue with fry getting sucked up in filter	7/26/2008
Q: My female swordtail just had about thirty fry that I was able to save. I put the fry in a ... A: Depending upon what type of filter, I have been able to prevent this from happening by taking plain ...
my sons catfish help!!	7/25/2008
Q: my sons just bought in a catfish that his friends given him.Idnt knw how to lok after these what ... A: The two most important things to remember with keeping fish is to keep their water clean. Change 30% ...
high nitrite	7/25/2008
Q: I bought a 10 gal aquarium about 3 weeks ago. I treated the water (tap water) and waited 48 hours ... A: Well, it sounds like you are doing a good job with the nitrite treatment. But one thing I'd do if ...
My Goldfish recently died...	7/25/2008
Q: My goldfish, fluffy died a few days ago. I'm not sure why. My other fish, a Pink Gourami, kept ... A: One of the first most important things to do is to test your water if possible for ammonia, nitrite ...
Low PH	7/25/2008
Q: I have a 47 gallon freshwater aquarium stocked with North American Native species. 2 dollar sunfish, ... A: I love Dragon gobies. Since these amazing fish are often wild caught and near starvation, they tend ...
Molly Babies	7/25/2008
Q: Do you know anything about the care of newborn molly babies? If so, could you give me all the ... A: Its all quite simple. Feed the babies finely crushed high quality flakes with several small meals a ...
Dying fish	7/25/2008
Q: I recently lost a few fish around 2 or 3, i put it down to the age of the fish as they were about 2 ... A: The best thing I can recommend is to continue changing the water at about 30% everyday until ...
Sick Oscar	7/24/2008
Q: My ex boyfriend brought an Oscar about 5 months ago, and he has left the Oscar in my care. I have ... A: Sorry to hear that. Well you certainly mean well by changing his water and feeding all that good ...
Dying fish	7/24/2008
Q: I recently lost a few fish around 2 or 3, i put it down to the age of the fish as they were about 2 ... A: Sorry to hear that. I know you said you checked your water but what you described with all your ...
overstocked	7/24/2008
Q: Well i have a 15 gallon tank with 4 wcmm 1 betta 2 albino corys 6 zebra danios and 3 khuli ... A: ;-) Well, you may be surprised to hear this but I don't think your tank is overstocked. The inch ...
Fish feeding	7/24/2008
Q: I have a 75 gal freshwater driftwood and artificial plants for hiding places. 2 jack dempseys ... A: Jack Dempseys are quite the characters aren't they? ;-) While it may still be a little difficult ...
Would these work?	7/24/2008
Q: I own 2 black kuhlii loaches, 2 african dwarf frogs, 2 albino corys, and a rubberlip sucker in a 10 ... A: Well, your current fish of Kuhlii Loaches, cories, frogs and rubberlip sucker along with the ...
Beta fish sinking....	7/24/2008
Q: I got Lucky in in February 2007 as a birthday gift. He has always been very active, building bubble ... A: Yes Swim bladder can definitely have the both effects on bettas. There is a type called "floaters" ...
Low PH	7/24/2008
Q: I have a 47 gallon freshwater aquarium stocked with North American Native species. 2 dollar sunfish, ... A: First thing I'd do is make sure that the aquarium is not suffering from pH drop due to too much ...
Newts	7/23/2008
Q: i've had these 2 firebelly newts for 2 days, and at the pet store i bought "newt & salamander bites" ... A: A lot of critters like newts tend to not like what "they are suppose to eat" like the pellets and ...
Beta fish sinking....	7/23/2008
Q: I got Lucky in in February 2007 as a birthday gift. He has always been very active, building bubble ... A: Poor Lucky, I'll try my best to help. Identifying lumps and bumps is very difficult with fish ...
parrot cichlids	7/23/2008
Q: but i have just got a 42 gallon tank and I'm thinking on putting 2 parrot cichlids in there but i ... A: Hey Jared, I've kept Parrot fish for years with tetras like black skirts, bloodfins, lemon tetras ...
redbellied pacu	7/23/2008
Q: I have a 10 gallon tank and a redbelly pacu by itself and im wanting to know about how long will it ... A: Red-belly Pacus are beautiful fish. If given good care, which includes good balanced meals, and ...
goldfish	7/23/2008
Q: I have a pond outside in my backyard with goldfish in it and for some reason the fish are dying, ... A: Hey Emily, I'm glad you rescued them! Yes, its -VERY- difficult to keep from messing up the plants ...
baby fish	7/23/2008
Q: my platties recently had some babies, i have got them in a separate breeding tank but i'm not sure ... A: Congrats on the babies! How cool! The best time to put the babies back with the other fish is when ...
Silvertip Shark	7/23/2008
Q: I just bought a silvertip shark the other day and his tank had been running for about a day with the ... A: Sure sounds to me like Popeye. Which is a condition where fluid builds up behind the eye of the fish ...
bettas die one by one	7/22/2008
Q: ve a sixteen gallon tank which started off having 5 female bettas in it. They were doing fine and ... A: I'm sorry to hear about that. Even if the water tests out good (ammonia-0 Nitrite-0 Nitrate-20 or ...
Bettas and goldfish	7/22/2008
Q: I have a pond outside in my backyard with goldfish in it and for some reason the fish are dying, ... A: Wow, I'm having the same problem. I have a healthy pond with lots of aquatic plants, lillies ect... ...
Bent fish!!	7/22/2008
Q: I got 2 fancy gold fish they kept breeding so i have then in seperate tanks to keep them comany i ... A: I've seen Zebra Danios do this a lot. Sometimes it seems to happen overnight, or if they eat too ...
Starting new 30 gallon Aquarium	7/18/2008
Q: I’m in the process of starting a new 30 gallon octagon freshwater aquarium and have a question on ... A: With all the other tanks you have you could easily start up your 30 gallon with few problems by ...
Betta + water lettuce = fish happiness?	7/18/2008
Q: I've finally caved and am going to bring our tortured office betta home from the despicable vase ... A: Congrats on rescuing the betta from the vase! How nice of you! ;-) I'll answer your questions in ...
red jewel & firemouth cichlids	7/18/2008
Q: I've had 2 red jewels and 2 firemouths for 3 years now. The red jewels just had babies for the ... A: What a surprise! Two spawns at such short notice! ;-) Can't you just leave the parents with the ...
Swordtails & Tank Size	7/18/2008
Q: I went to petco yesterday to originally buy a male betta. Well i ended up leaving with 3 swordtails ... A: Well, your setup would make it OK, though not ideal. (Swordtails do better in a larger tank) The ...
Bettas And Bala Sharks.	7/18/2008
Q: I'm a regular Betas Breeder and so I have a few tanks around my house with betas. My friend got me a ... A: Most likely the Bala shark could live with a betta temporarily. Though keep an eye out for ...
water paremeters	7/18/2008
Q: Hy Karen sorry i omitted the water is soft acidic ph 6.5 and i have had no luck with small apistos ... A: I don't know if you already had these fish or have already tried them. But how about German Blue ...
lines on oscar fish gills?	7/18/2008
Q: i woke up this morning to see that my two oscar fish have lines on the outside of their gills on ... A: That tends to sound like just a natural coloration change. Oscars are quite the color change artists ...
My Angelfish doesnt eat..!	7/18/2008
Q: Hey, I just got 3 angelfish, they are about the size of barely half a fist. They are pretty small. I ... A: This happens a lot with smaller angels. Sometimes they are just runts that have no enthusiasm for ...
Bump on Head & Tail Light	7/17/2008
Q: There is a bump on the bottom side of my Head & Tail Light. I think he is one of my fairly new ... A: Poor thing, it does sound awfully like either a cyst or a tumor. And unfortunately there is not much ...
Angelfish....	7/17/2008
Q: I recently gave away my long kept goldfish to acquire a species I have come to love... Angelfish. ... A: Most likely it was just something defective with the angels. Unfortunately its the sad truth that ...
sick armoured catfish	7/17/2008
Q: my 4.5 inch armored catfish has been very lethargic for the past few days. He normally tries to eat ... A: I would do 30-50% water changes everyday to see if that will help make him feel better. Poor water ...
Tank parasites -white, threadlike worms	7/17/2008
Q: recently I have noticed white threadlike worms crawling on the side of my tank or floating/swimming ... A: Hey Sheena, The best thing to do to avoid future Planaria overpopulations is to prevent what fuels ...
Angel Fish sits in air bubbles and goes upside down	7/17/2008
Q: I have a 150 imp gallon tank, being new to this, I had a problem with the Nitrate,Nitrite ect.. ... A: It does indeed sound like a swim bladder problem. And this article explains it in easy to understand ...
sick	7/17/2008
Q: she jus stays in the corner and isn't her normal self ne more. I just saw today she has a white spot ... A: Its hard to diagnose something like this right way. It probably isn't ick like you said. It could be ...
API fungus cure	7/17/2008
Q: I have 2 angels, 4 tetras, 2 bottom feeders and one catfish. One my angels got mouth fungus (it ... A: Poor fish. I'm very very sorry to hear that. Probably what happened is the disease was too hard on ...
Bettas Fry	7/17/2008
Q: if i put my betta fry in my backyard pond with my goldfish will the goldfish eat the betta fry? ... A: Well, when they are just fry you can keep them together in an inexpensive 10-gallon from walmart. ...
Red thread hanging from fish	7/17/2008
Q: i have a 20 litre tank and 3 red swordtails and they have red thingys hanging from them , i assumed ... A: Hmm... Well at least the rejection email explained why so. I wouldn't give up. Keep trying, explain ...
Goldfish	7/16/2008
Q: I have three common gold fish that are living in my 5 gallon hex5 tank. I have never had trouble ... A: Sounds like they are not use to the new light at all. What I'd do is float a fluffy plastic plant or ...
Bettas and goldfish	7/16/2008
Q: if i put my betta fry in my backyard pond with my goldfish will the goldfish eat the betta fry? ... A: Sorry to say this, but I'm quite certain the goldfish will eat the betta fry. But that's a really ...
Fish poop	7/16/2008
Q: The fish in my tank seem to poop beyond excess. I have a 10 gallon tank. I have two painted platies, ... A: Well, the only way to explain this is that your pleco and platy have had an awfully good meal at one ...
Bullying guppy	7/16/2008
Q: Im quite new to tropical fish (I used to have goldfish which got to over 8 years old) and have ... A: Sorry to hear that. Guppy aggression like that is very common. You wouldn't think a little pretty ...
Gourami acting strangely	7/16/2008
Q: I have a ten gallon tank with 2 red dwarf gouramis and one small algae eater. Levels of nitrate, ... A: (You're welcome!) I'm sorry to hear about the gourami. Maybe something internal was wrong that ...
DYING FISH	7/16/2008
Q: Bouht a 95 litre tank in March set up and waite a week - got 6 harlequins - waited 2 weeks got 6 ... A: I think its very very unusual that since your tank hasn't been setup for too long, that it has no ...
Tank parasites -white, threadlike worms	7/16/2008
Q: recently I have noticed white threadlike worms crawling on the side of my tank or floating/swimming ... A: Those worms are called "Planaria" and they are harmless scavengers that tend to inhabit tanks with ...