Neon Tetra problems already

Reel McKoi · Joined: 27 Sep 2007 Posts: 18

The 8 Neon tetras will not eat what I offer them. The platys and gouramies
and one cory are eating everything. The Neon's just take the food in and
spit it back out. One cory just hides by a rock.

I've tried 5 different foods and the Neon's wont eat any of them.
Suggestions anyone?
--

RM....
My Pond & Aquarium Pages:
http://tinyurl.com/9do58
Zone 6. Middle TN USA
~~~~ } ~~~ }

Archived from group: rec>aquaria>freshwater>misc

St. Clair · Joined: 03 Sep 2007 Posts: 13

What have you tried so far?

Frozen bloodworms seem to always work for me.

"Reel McKoi" wrote in message $7ts$1@news.albasani.net...
> The 8 Neon tetras will not eat what I offer them. The platys and
> gouramies and one cory are eating everything. The Neon's just take the
> food in and spit it back out. One cory just hides by a rock.
>
> I've tried 5 different foods and the Neon's wont eat any of them.
> Suggestions anyone?
> --
>
> RM....
> My Pond & Aquarium Pages:
> http://tinyurl.com/9do58
> Zone 6. Middle TN USA
> ~~~~ } ~~~ }
>

Tristie · Joined: 27 Sep 2007 Posts: 27

On Sep 9, 10:21 pm, "Reel McKoi" wrote:
> The 8 Neon tetras will not eat what I offer them. The platys and gouramies
> and one cory are eating everything. The Neon's just take the food in and
> spit it back out. One cory just hides by a rock.
>
> I've tried 5 different foods and the Neon's wont eat any of them.
> Suggestions anyone?
> --
>
> RM....
> My Pond & Aquarium Pages:http://tinyurl.com/9do58
> Zone 6. Middle TN USA
> ~~~~ } ~~~ }

I feed mine Tetra Crisps.Crumble them up to make them suitable in
size and they scarf them up. I also feed Hikari Tropical Micro Wafers,
which looks and is about the size of a piece of ground pepper. Mine
also takes newly hatched brine shrimp, as well as frozen mysid.but I
do not feed them that stuff as a main staple food, only as a treat on
occasion.

Tristie · Joined: 27 Sep 2007 Posts: 27

On Sep 10, 10:55 am, "St. Clair"
wrote:
> how's your other stats
>
> ammonia:
> nitrite:
> nitrate:
> gh/kh:
> temp:
>
> i'd still recommend frozen bloodworms, not frieze dried.
>
> "Reel McKoi" wrote in message
>
> $oi8$1@news.albasani.net...
>
>
>
>
>
> > "Tristie" wrote in message
> >@50g2000hsm.googlegroups.com...
> > I feed mine Tetra Crisps.Crumble them up to make them suitable in
> > size and they scarf them up. I also feed Hikari Tropical Micro Wafers,
> > which looks and is about the size of a piece of ground pepper. Mine
> > also takes newly hatched brine shrimp, as well as frozen mysid.but I
> > do not feed them that stuff as a main staple food, only as a treat on
> > occasion.
> > ========================
> > Hi! I just tried crumbled "Crisps" and they spit them out also. I checked
> > the PH and it's 7.2. The cory that was eating but swimming frantically
> > from end to end of the tank died during the night. The other hasn't moved
> > from under the tangle of anubia.
>
> > The Neon's rejected 5 different foods now.
>
> > How many days did yours not eat before accepting one of the foods you
> > offered?
> > --
>
> > RM....
> > My Pond & Aquarium Pages:
> >http://tinyurl.com/9do58
> > Zone 6. Middle TN USA
> > ~~~~ } ~~~ }- Hide quoted text -
>
> - Show quoted text -

I personally prefer top feed frozen over freeze dried........That is
probably just me though as lots of folks use freeze dried. When I put
fish inthe tanks they often times go and hide for a time, but within
a few hours a day or so most they are right there with the rest eating
and doing the fish thing. I just never found any of my neons or corys
to be fussy eaters......especially the corys, they just always seem to
hit the water and go to forageing for foods right off. Sure is
strange with the albino corys as they are pretty well trouble free and
easy keepers.

Reel McKoi · Joined: 27 Sep 2007 Posts: 18

"St. Clair" wrote in message $0$17129$4c368faf@roadrunner.com...
> What have you tried so far?
>
> Frozen bloodworms seem to always work for me.
===============================
I tried the freeze dried HBH Soft & Moist food, Tetra tropical flakes, HBH
Super Soft (with krill), AquaSelect Pacific Plankton and Aqua Betta (tiny
pellets).

One of the corys already died. Although it ate, all it did otherwise was
swim frantically from one end of the tank to the other. The second cory is
still hiding under the plants.
--
RM....
Frugal ponding since 1995.
rec.ponder since late 1996.
My Pond & Aquarium Pages:
http://tinyurl.com/9do58
Zone 6. Middle TN USA
~~~~ } ~~~ }

Reel McKoi · Joined: 27 Sep 2007 Posts: 18

"Tristie" wrote in message @50g2000hsm.googlegroups.com...
I feed mine Tetra Crisps.Crumble them up to make them suitable in
size and they scarf them up. I also feed Hikari Tropical Micro Wafers,
which looks and is about the size of a piece of ground pepper. Mine
also takes newly hatched brine shrimp, as well as frozen mysid.but I
do not feed them that stuff as a main staple food, only as a treat on
occasion.
========================
Hi! I just tried crumbled "Crisps" and they spit them out also. I checked
the PH and it's 7.2. The cory that was eating but swimming frantically from
end to end of the tank died during the night. The other hasn't moved from
under the tangle of anubia.

The Neon's rejected 5 different foods now.

How many days did yours not eat before accepting one of the foods you
offered?
--

RM....
My Pond & Aquarium Pages:
http://tinyurl.com/9do58
Zone 6. Middle TN USA
~~~~ } ~~~ }

St. Clair · Joined: 03 Sep 2007 Posts: 13

how's your other stats

ammonia:
nitrite:
nitrate:
gh/kh:
temp:

i'd still recommend frozen bloodworms, not frieze dried.

"Reel McKoi" wrote in message $oi8$1@news.albasani.net...
>
> "Tristie" wrote in message
> @50g2000hsm.googlegroups.com...
> I feed mine Tetra Crisps.Crumble them up to make them suitable in
> size and they scarf them up. I also feed Hikari Tropical Micro Wafers,
> which looks and is about the size of a piece of ground pepper. Mine
> also takes newly hatched brine shrimp, as well as frozen mysid.but I
> do not feed them that stuff as a main staple food, only as a treat on
> occasion.
> ========================
> Hi! I just tried crumbled "Crisps" and they spit them out also. I checked
> the PH and it's 7.2. The cory that was eating but swimming frantically
> from end to end of the tank died during the night. The other hasn't moved
> from under the tangle of anubia.
>
> The Neon's rejected 5 different foods now.
>
> How many days did yours not eat before accepting one of the foods you
> offered?
> --
>
> RM....
> My Pond & Aquarium Pages:
> http://tinyurl.com/9do58
> Zone 6. Middle TN USA
> ~~~~ } ~~~ }
>
>

Reel McKoi · Joined: 27 Sep 2007 Posts: 46

"St. Clair" wrote in message $0$32469$4c368faf@roadrunner.com...
> how's your other stats
>
> ammonia:
> nitrite:
> nitrate:
> gh/kh:
> temp:
>
> i'd still recommend frozen bloodworms, not frieze dried.
===================
From the 55g tank:

Ammonia - 0
Nirite - 0
Nitrate - 80
Total Hardness - 150
KH (alk) - 40ppm

I'm getting different readings on PH:

One kit says 7.2 - 7.4
The other kit says 6.2 (this makes no sense)

From the faucet:

Nitrate and Nitrite - 0
Total Hardbess - 150
KH (alk) - 300ppm
PH - one kit - 7.6
PH - second kit - 7.6 (from the faucet they agreed)

I went back to the store today with the dead cory to get credit. I was told
they're having a problem with their system and the last shipment of fish.
They came in extremely stressed. They believe it was heat-stress. I was
given credit for another cory when the new shipment comes in - or whenever I
feel they look good enough for a replacement.

I don't want to spoil any fish with only frozen foods 'only' for obvious
reasons. They're not always available in the stores here. I will try some
frozen goodies I have for the fish that I use as a once a week treat.
--

RM....
My Pond & Aquarium Pages:
http://tinyurl.com/9do58
Zone 6. Middle TN USA
~~~~ } ~~~ }

Reel McKoi · Joined: 27 Sep 2007 Posts: 46

"Tristie" wrote in message @y42g2000hsy.googlegroups.com...

I personally prefer top feed frozen over freeze dried........That is
probably just me though as lots of folks use freeze dried. When I put
fish inthe tanks they often times go and hide for a time, but within
a few hours a day or so most they are right there with the rest eating
and doing the fish thing. I just never found any of my neons or corys
to be fussy eaters......especially the corys, they just always seem to
hit the water and go to forageing for foods right off. Sure is
strange with the albino corys as they are pretty well trouble free and
easy keepers.
====================
Well there is definitely some problem with that shipment they got in as all
the glass shrimp and feeder GF died. They had many other losses as well. I
think these fish were indeed stressed somewhere along the line.... then I
came along and they had to endure yet another change. One of the
difficulties they're having is high PH... up to 8.2. They were starting to
work on the system as I left.

I offered them frozen (thawed) brine shrimp but they spit that out also. The
platys and pearl groumies ate the shrimp just fine. It seems they want to
eat, they show an interest in the food, but wont eat what's available.

I'll wait until they get another shipment and see what comes in........
meanwhile I'm not going to add anymore fish to the tank.
--
RM....
My Pond & Aquarium Pages:
http://tinyurl.com/9do58
Zone 6. Middle TN USA
~~~~ } ~~~ }

St. Clair · Joined: 03 Sep 2007 Posts: 13

They only thing I notice is the NO3 reading is a bit high. It's been my
experience usually anything above 20ppm causes issues, especially with
smaller fish such as neons. In the lab, it usually causes organ failure.

"Reel McKoi" wrote in message $rh4$1@news.albasani.net...
>
> "St. Clair" wrote in message
> $0$32469$4c368faf@roadrunner.com...
>> how's your other stats
>>
>> ammonia:
>> nitrite:
>> nitrate:
>> gh/kh:
>> temp:
>>
>> i'd still recommend frozen bloodworms, not frieze dried.
> ===================
> From the 55g tank:
>
> Ammonia - 0
> Nirite - 0
> Nitrate - 80
> Total Hardness - 150
> KH (alk) - 40ppm
>
> I'm getting different readings on PH:
>
> One kit says 7.2 - 7.4
> The other kit says 6.2 (this makes no sense)
>
> From the faucet:
>
> Nitrate and Nitrite - 0
> Total Hardbess - 150
> KH (alk) - 300ppm
> PH - one kit - 7.6
> PH - second kit - 7.6 (from the faucet they agreed)
>
> I went back to the store today with the dead cory to get credit. I was
> told they're having a problem with their system and the last shipment of
> fish. They came in extremely stressed. They believe it was heat-stress. I
> was given credit for another cory when the new shipment comes in - or
> whenever I feel they look good enough for a replacement.
>
> I don't want to spoil any fish with only frozen foods 'only' for obvious
> reasons. They're not always available in the stores here. I will try
> some frozen goodies I have for the fish that I use as a once a week treat.
> --
>
> RM....
> My Pond & Aquarium Pages:
> http://tinyurl.com/9do58
> Zone 6. Middle TN USA
> ~~~~ } ~~~ }
>
>
>

Liisa Sarakontu · Joined: 30 Aug 2007 Posts: 5

"Reel McKoi" wrote in$rh4$1@news.albasani.net:

> Nitrate - 80

Dirty, dirty water! Although some fish can stand even 100 ppm nitrate,
anything over 50 is bad and it is best not to let it get higher than 20 ppm
(or 20 mg per liter, that's nearly the same).

Is this a small tank? How many liters/gallons? Water changing routine? How
many fish you have there and what species?

Liisa

Reel McKoi · Joined: 27 Sep 2007 Posts: 46

"St. Clair" wrote in message $0$15341$4c368faf@roadrunner.com...
> They only thing I notice is the NO3 reading is a bit high. It's been my
> experience usually anything above 20ppm causes issues, especially with
> smaller fish such as neons. In the lab, it usually causes organ failure.
===================
It was a bit high. I added some hornwart to soak up the nitrates since I
just did a 90% water change a week before I added the fish. I doubt they'd
get organ failure in a day or two?!?!?! Today about 1/2 of them are taking
some flakes. No Neon's have died.
--

RM....
My Pond & Aquarium Pages:
http://tinyurl.com/9do58
Zone 6. Middle TN USA
~~~~ } ~~~ }

Reel McKoi · Joined: 27 Sep 2007 Posts: 46

"Liisa Sarakontu" wrote in message @195.197.54.116...
> "Reel McKoi" wrote in
> $rh4$1@news.albasani.net:
>
>> Nitrate - 80
>
> Dirty, dirty water! Although some fish can stand even 100 ppm nitrate,
> anything over 50 is bad and it is best not to let it get higher than 20
> ppm
> (or 20 mg per liter, that's nearly the same).

Dirty water? The tank got a 90% water change shortly before I added the
fish. The gravel bed was vacuumed and the Diatom run to remove fine
particles. I can't stop feeding them, or stop them from passing waste nor
can I do daily water changes. There were several ottos, 2 clown plecos and
a reg pleco in the tank. Do you have a flow through system to keep nitrates
below 20mg per liter?

> Is this a small tank? How many liters/gallons? Water changing routine? How
> many fish you have there and what species?

The tank is a 55g set up for several years and contains live plants. Water
changes are every 2 weeks. See above. I recently added 8 Neons, 2 small
pearl graumies, 5 platys and the two corys (one died).
--

RM....
My Pond & Aquarium Pages:
http://tinyurl.com/9do58
Zone 6. Middle TN USA
~~~~ } ~~~ }

St. Clair · Joined: 03 Sep 2007 Posts: 13

No, they wouldn't get organ failure in a day or two, but the *first* symptom
would be not eating.

Even though hornwort will soak up nitrates, it won't at the speed you need.
I would do another 50% change now and test again. Then do 50% water changes
every 3rd day until you can get your nitrates at 20 or under.

How many fish do you have in the 55? How often do you do water changes?

"Reel McKoi" wrote in message $ch7$1@news.albasani.net...
>
> "St. Clair" wrote in message
> $0$15341$4c368faf@roadrunner.com...
>> They only thing I notice is the NO3 reading is a bit high. It's been my
>> experience usually anything above 20ppm causes issues, especially with
>> smaller fish such as neons. In the lab, it usually causes organ failure.
> ===================
> It was a bit high. I added some hornwart to soak up the nitrates since I
> just did a 90% water change a week before I added the fish. I doubt
> they'd get organ failure in a day or two?!?!?! Today about 1/2 of them
> are taking some flakes. No Neon's have died.
> --
>
> RM....
> My Pond & Aquarium Pages:
> http://tinyurl.com/9do58
> Zone 6. Middle TN USA
> ~~~~ } ~~~ }
>

St. Clair · Joined: 03 Sep 2007 Posts: 13

I would do a 50% water change weekly, see how that treats your nitrates. If
you're doing it every two weeks and still getting 80 ppm, it's not enough
and your fish will suffer long term effects.

Unfortunately, the only real effective way of controlling nitrates is still
through water changes. Plants help a little, yes, but only a little.
Ion-exchange resigns help a little as well, but produce calcium and other
minerals which harden your water which in your case you don't need.

What water conditioner are you using? I would use Seachem's Prime as it not
only eliminates chlorine but also detoxifies ammonia, nitrites and nitrates.
Plus, because it's concentrated, you save around 20 bucks compared to every
other brand. (a capful treats 50 gallons versus others which are a capful
treats 10 gallons).

"Reel McKoi" wrote in message $ch7$2@news.albasani.net...
>
> "Liisa Sarakontu" wrote in message
> @195.197.54.116...
>> "Reel McKoi" wrote in
>> $rh4$1@news.albasani.net:
>>
>>> Nitrate - 80
>>
>> Dirty, dirty water! Although some fish can stand even 100 ppm nitrate,
>> anything over 50 is bad and it is best not to let it get higher than 20
>> ppm
>> (or 20 mg per liter, that's nearly the same).
>
> Dirty water? The tank got a 90% water change shortly before I added the
> fish. The gravel bed was vacuumed and the Diatom run to remove fine
> particles. I can't stop feeding them, or stop them from passing waste nor
> can I do daily water changes. There were several ottos, 2 clown plecos
> and a reg pleco in the tank. Do you have a flow through system to keep
> nitrates below 20mg per liter?
>
>> Is this a small tank? How many liters/gallons? Water changing routine?
>> How
>> many fish you have there and what species?
>
> The tank is a 55g set up for several years and contains live plants.
> Water changes are every 2 weeks. See above. I recently added 8 Neons, 2
> small pearl graumies, 5 platys and the two corys (one died).
> --
>
> RM....
> My Pond & Aquarium Pages:
> http://tinyurl.com/9do58
> Zone 6. Middle TN USA
> ~~~~ } ~~~ }
>