My NEW Fish . . . are they doing ok?

[ocellaris]

Ok, so I've commited a major fishkeeping sin and I bought two fish at once. My tank had been cycling with the damsel for a while and things have pretty much leveled off so I thought it was time. I got a valentini puffer and a huma trigger. My question is, what would be some early warning signs that there aren't going to make it? They seem to be doing ok. I'm feeding them brine shrimp. The puffer is eating like a champ. The trigger chews on them and spits them out. At last feeding I think he tasted about 20 different shrimp but as far as I could see he didn't swallow one. Also, he puts his trigger up alot. Is this a sign of stress? Is this abnormal for a trigger that is new to the tank? I can already here you guys telling me that I should have only added one fish at a time. =o)
Also, I got a Skilter and the pet store had a new way off modifiying it. They told me to plug up the air hose that comes with the Skilter. Then have a seperate air pump and run an airline into a wood air block set underneath that cylinder that makes up the protien skimmer. Sounds like it will work. Just thought I'd let you guys know since it seems a little different from the other modifications I've read about on this board.
That is all for now. Hapy fish keeping.

 

[mr . salty]

I've also tried that modification with my SKILTER. It works better than The stock setup. As far as the fish go, watch for signs of stress. Rapid breathing,slow or sluggish behavior,Or quick jerking swimming patterns. Check the ammonia daily,as this will be the first sign that you over loaded the biosystem.Ammo reading over .20 and rising,you've got a problem. STEVE
[This message has been edited by MR . SALTY (edited 08-17-2000).]

 

[mr . salty]

That helped quiet it down by about 50%. I used a scrap piece about three feet long just to try it,and kept it on ever since. Also raising the water leval in the filter Helps alot. I also saw a modification where a guy took a medicin bottle,removed the lid,inserted the hose,packed around the hose with cotton. The bottle would be the muffler,the cotton forms the baffles. Sounds like this,on the end of the hose will quiet it further. I'll try that now,and let you know..........STEVE
[This message has been edited by MR . SALTY (edited 08-17-2000).]

 

[mr . salty]

Well I couldn't find a med bottle so I used a 1 liter pop bottle.It totally eliminated the gurgling noise from the hose. Now if we can quiet the noise from the air going through the impeller,we'll have this thing beat.............I've noticed that if you remove the collection lid,it quiets it down some. Take off the whole assembly, and it quiets it more. Could be something there??????????STEVE

 

[mr . salty]

Raise the water by slowing the flow rate through the filter element. I did this by blocking off the lower holes of the element.I used a milk jug,and cut pieces to fit.....STEVE

 

[mr . salty]

Ocelaris, sorry for getting so far off the subject. I hope your getting all this for your own SKILTER. SUNDOG,why don't you start a new topic? SKILTER UPGRADE with your next post. Or anyone else who is interested.... STEVE

 

[jimi]

I would just like to say patience is the key to success in this hobby and sooner or later you will pay the price over and over again for trying to rush things or buying fish on impulse. I know it is easier said then done but learn from others mistakes and dont rush into buying fish. The longer your tank ages or matures the more likely youll be to keep healthy fish.

 

[fishgirl]

Originally posted by Ocellaris:
The trigger chews on them and spits them out. At last feeding I think he tasted about 20 different shrimp but as far as I could see he didn't swallow one. Also, he puts his trigger up alot. Is this a sign of stress? Is this abnormal for a trigger that is new to the tank?
A number of years ago when I had my Huma Trigger (he was the coolest fish ever) He would always put up his trigger on a regular basis and it seemed like he was just streching or something

He also would spit out his food after he tried it at first, then re-eat it. Is yours not re-eating it after he spits it out? His fav foods were brine, bloodworms, beefheart, boiled chopped shrimps and clams, and Pro-Pops gelatin based foods. Maybe you could try some of these.
As for adding two fish at a time, this is'nt that bad a sin if you add bio culture from a bottle (I use A.C.T. brand) to the tank to help out the other bacteria with taking care of all the new waste. HTH !!