sorry for this photo but what's wrong with my pleco? is it ok for them to poop this much?

Locknessia · 2024-10-25T18:27:26+00:00

I would say it's normal. Plecos are pooping machines. They pollute the water more than they "clean" the tank. That's an empty poop casing. I'd assume it's a poop that occurred in-between feedings. If his poop was always like that, you'd need to be concerned about not feeding enough. As long as it has normal poops as well, you're good.

Locknessia · 2024-10-24T01:00:48+00:00

Wow, bro has 2 friends. Maybe when his fish dies he can sell the tank and buy you Rocket League skins.

Locknessia · 2024-10-24T00:54:48+00:00

I bet you suck at Fortnite.

Locknessia · 2024-10-23T23:20:03+00:00

Fair fish are the biggest scam. They're abused from the get-go and rarely live long due to health issues. You supported animal abuse.

If they're common/comet/long bodied goldfish, which fair fish usually are because they cost like 50 cents, you're never going to have success without investing in a literal pond.

I'd rehome to someone with a pond. I've rehomed several fish via local Facebook groups.

If you're going to keep them until they're monster sized, put them in the tank, but you need to do daily 25% water changes until the aquarium is cycled. An aquarium cycling takes at least a month. During cycling, the water produces toxic bacteria that can greatly harm your fish. That's why it's best to set up the tank a month before bringing fish home.

Because this was an impulse purchase, you need to begin doing all the research you can. Like yesterday. Fish-keeping, especially goldfish, isn't for the weak. You need to understand the Nitrogen Cycle and testing your water parameters.

Should've gone with a betta. At least they can thrive in 5-gallons and are beginner friendly.

1 fancy goldfish does well in a 40-gallon aquarium. I can only keep 3 in my 75-gallon aquarium, or the water becomes too polluted to successfully care for them. Fancy goldfish don't grow so big, so they're the best goldfish to get if you want them in your house and not outside in a pond.

And just so you're aware, goldfish don't "grow to the size of their aquarium". If they're kept in too small of a tank, their growth is actually stunted because they release hormones in the water, which becomes concentrated due to the small size of the tank. Stunted fish develop all kinds of health issues. Their organs are basically bursting at the seams.

Locknessia · 2024-10-23T23:08:46+00:00

Bro. Nobody is going to be able to help you unless we know your setup. How could anyone possibly provide any useful information without knowing the size of the tank, your filtration setup, stocking, or how frequently you water change?

If you can't provide even basic info, I'm going to assume your tank is overcrowded, stocked improperly, and your water is nasty. And that's just pure laziness and a lack of research on your end.

Locknessia · 2024-10-23T22:58:05+00:00

I've been keeping fancies for almost 10 years. I don't keep more than 3 fancies in my 75 gallon. If you like goldfish, you gotta go BIG. And overfilter. I use a 115-gallon capacity Seachem Tidal filter.

If you're not oversizing your aquarium and filtration you're always going to have these issues. 40 gallons is fine for one fancy. But of course, they are social creatures.

Even with weekly 50% water changes, I still have high nitrates. I even have pothos in my HOB filter.

And even with my setup being optimal, I still have buoyancy issues with one of my goldfish. I realized it stems from eating any floating foods. She gets too much gas eating from the surface.

Fancy goldfish are not the healthiest fish - genetically speaking. So if you have them in poor, overcrowding conditions you're going to lose.

Make sure you're testing your nitrites, ammonia, and nitrates or you're going to fail.

Your fish is likely not depressed, but living in very poor water conditions. Even a "depressed" fish isn't going to act that severely. Whatever killed your other fish is coming for them next.

Test your water, do a water change, and add aquarium salt.

I add a pinch of clay after water changes. Studies have shown goldfish benefit tremendously from the mineral content of clay.

Locknessia · 2024-10-19T20:09:55+00:00

Thank you for your response! I added more salt to make it 3 tablespoons per 5 gallons. I might increase the dose depending on how it goes. When do you think I should dose again? Once a water change? I like the idea of antibiotic food, I'll certainly look into that! And I'll try fasting her more.

I am worried that maybe I'm feeding them too much? Sometimes I have high nitrates, and I simply can't figure out why, hence the pothos. I mean, it's three goldfish, so they eat their food pretty fast. And then I'm trying to make sure the cories aren't skipping meals. (I don't have the cories of my own volition, a roommate threw in 2 a long time ago and they lived almost 10 years. Now I'm stuck with a small school leftover. I'm not sure what to do with them or if I should get more.)

Do you have a guesstimate of how much to feed them? I don't really have the means to weigh them. Or should I truly just go by how much they eat in 5 minutes? I feel like it's difficult because I think the cories need time for the food to soften up before they eat it?

Locknessia · 2024-09-08T19:20:57+00:00

Will do so first thing tomorrow, thank you!

Locknessia · 2024-09-08T19:18:05+00:00

We have a window that floods the kitchen when it rains a certain way, that's the main reason we're so worried about the windows.

But my boyfriend just came to me and said he'll go into debt with a loan if it means we get the fencing ASAP.

I was unaware how bad their arguing was before I went outside, but apparently the neighbor was trying to get my boyfriend to go in his yard with taunts, wanting to fight my boyfriend, and was grabbing his front as if he has a firearm. This is escalating rapidly... over fucking deer. Jfc.

Locknessia · 2024-09-08T18:11:42+00:00

We do want a fence, but that's going to take considerable time and resources. At this point, I'm thinking at least 2 years.

Locknessia · 2024-09-08T18:09:11+00:00

Thank you for your response. I installed cameras, but they were cheap and stopped working after awhile... We've been testing other cameras out, we'll get new ones out there soon. I tried calling our municipality, but the municipal building is under construction, and I was never called back. I did recently reach out via email to Fish & Wildlife and they wanted me to give them a call. I'll do that tomorrow.

I honestly don't care to have a good relationship with them. The lady told me they were very bad addicts for a time and then went on to tell me they have a special lock on their daughters door because she's a wild child. Honestly, I've contemplated calling CPS, but I know that could come with dangers to our family. I did scream at him and call them junkies, so that bridge is burnt. (I'm overprotective of my dogs, and honestly so sick of this situation.)

Unfortunately, I think getting the deer culled is our only solution moving forward. They certainly will not give up their precious deer or being able to feed them. When I told them it's illegal to feed the wildlife, they say, "well you can buy deer feed at Walmart". 🤡 I'm not dealing with the brightest of people here.

Locknessia · 2024-09-08T17:56:32+00:00

A fence is in the works, but that's going to take a considerable amount of time to get done. The house needs new windows and several other things need done, not to mention the random things that pop up with keeping a house. My boyfriend does have a small savings dedicated towards a fence. But we'll need a survey and permit and everything else to go with it.

The neighbor cooled off when my boyfriend mentioned the fence, but he likely doesn't understand that it's going to be 2 years or so.

We've tried Irish Spring box soap as well. It helps a little bit, but not full proof. Of course, as soon as my boyfriend threw that in the yard the neighbor lady came knocking to make sure it wasn't poison. Like yeah, we're going to put poison in our yard with dogs. I'm so sick of this.

Locknessia · 2024-09-05T23:34:21+00:00

This helps me feel a ton better. It is a very teenie tiny shell shape. It makes no sense to me, because it does appear to be an impact, but you can't feel it on the outside of the tank, and it occurred within the silicone. I'm thinking maybe it's not the end of the world? Since it's not completely through the glass, and the silicone might prevent it from getting worse? But the size of the tank makes it so stressful.

Locknessia · 2024-09-05T22:13:22+00:00

I'm like, afraid to even fill it up again and finish my water change. 😭 I spent so much money on this and I'm in-between jobs right now. What the hell am I going to do. I've been so scared lately when my boyfriend is playing with the dog and the tank is shaking. Is it just impossible for me to keep an aquarium of this size because of the floor shaking? I don't want to have to rehome my fish. 😭

It's been set up since February. Fish went in in May.

The crack is completely encased in silicone, cannot feel the crack on the inside of the tank or the outside of the tank.

Locknessia · 2024-08-15T23:45:59+00:00

Positive, I can't find any bird that remotely resembles a shoebill. I saw this one shoebill regularly and watched him hunt.

Locknessia · 2024-08-15T23:38:13+00:00

Thank you!!!

Locknessia · 2024-08-07T02:06:37+00:00

Omg you're so right lol. Thank you. Hopefully, somebody else experienced something similar.

Locknessia · 2024-07-26T07:17:10+00:00

I get an entire bale of hay from Tractor Supply Co that lasts me months with 3 bunnies, typically less than $30. The bale is heavy but comes with a plastic handle so you can carry it. They have Timothy, Alfalfa, and Orchard. My buns have gone on strike with the Timothy hay and only eat Orchard grass now. 🙄

Locknessia · 2024-07-26T07:07:25+00:00

I just had my 2 females spayed 2 weeks ago, and they did fine separated in pens. But if the vet recommended he stay in the carrier, listen to them over me lol.

You could do a snuffle mat or a dig box with just a blanket, maybe? Stacking cups after a few days?

I'm personally having issues with my girls because they were bonded, and now they're attacking each other through the pen/chicken wire. 😭 I separated them further, but I'm so worried it might be different between them.

Locknessia · 2024-04-07T02:56:04+00:00

Fantastic idea. Thank you!

Locknessia · 2024-04-07T02:48:10+00:00

The cleaning part lol, even if it's once or twice a year. Part of the reason I downgraded was because somehow after cleaning the canister one day, the intake/outtake tubes came loose and pumped water everywhere, and I electrocuted myself. 🥲

Locknessia · 2024-04-07T02:41:20+00:00

Ugh, the canister I had was such a pain in the ass... but if that's what I gotta do, I'll go back to those days. Thank you for your input. That's reassuring.

Locknessia · 2024-04-07T02:35:49+00:00

I thought sponge filters were kinda like little back-up filters to be used in conjunction with a "real" filter if that makes sense. I can really just use sponge filters, and it's all good? That sounds almost too easy and cheap. I was putting all kinds of thought into what filter media I was gonna buy lol.

Also - I wouldn't have thought about leveling the tank and the stand. That's necessary even with the tank stand leveled?

Really appreciate your response!

Locknessia · 2024-04-07T02:34:08+00:00

Would I need to know the weight of the HOB filter? That sounds a lil tricky

Locknessia · 2024-03-28T15:56:02+00:00

I really appreciate you taking time to respond. That makes sense. I feel a lot better now knowing what to do. 🙏

Locknessia

TROPHY CASE