So, I changed the water in the fish tank tonight after work. It looked very dirty, and murky, so I decided to do it. I'm pretty tired so I'll keep this brief. I did what I usually do, wipe down the walls, the plant, the fish house, and the heater. The heater right now I am not sure if it's working. Anyway, if it's broken I'll get a new one, return it or use the warranty.
Anyway, what I did differently this time for the fish is that I put him in a cup and gradually added some of the new water to the cup. I didn't do this exactly right, but well enough I believe that it worked. This time, when I put the fish back in the tank, he wasn't swimming around in jerky movements, instead, it was pretty smooth for him. So he seems to be really happy with his new water. He ate some pellets, too, in the new water, which is a good indication.
So overall, I think the fish is doing good after this water change. Much better thank the last one. More updates will follow, stay tuned.
Sunday, April 18, 2010
Saturday, April 17, 2010
I Had to Mess With the Fish Again Tonight
Well, I came home to the fish tonight, and he was doing pretty good. I let him be for a couple of hours and watch him swim around.
Of course, I couldn't leave him alone forever. He had to have a little something. So, I got the cup and put him against the side of the tank for 5 minutes. He started swimming vigorously looking for air and then he rested at the bottom of the cup near the end of the 5 minutes, breathing somewhat heavily.
Then, I put him with the cup at the bottom of the tank. There was air at the top of the cup for him to get. He still swam around somewhat fast in what little water there was in the cup, and came up for air a few times.
Then I did this -- I set a time limit of 8:00 and it was 7:48 PM at the time, so I wouldn't injure the fish too much. I had him in the cup again with the water out. He was flipping around every so often.
Then, under the time limit, I started to poke him with a toothpick, making him move all around the cup. I poked on his scales, between his fins, near his eye, and by his mouth. I got the toothpick in his mouth a few times, too. I wanted him to fight to get it out, but unfortunately he didn't, so I took it out.
I tried to keep poking him until he would give up and stop moving around, probably because he was too tired. This happened successfully a few times. But then, I was still able to poke him and get him to move around again. Good thing I set a time limit of 8:00. Otherwise, I think I would have just kept going and it would have been too much for him.
So, how is the fish doing now? Well, currently he's swimming with his right fin only, breathing a little bit heavy, swimming slowly around the tank, staying near the top of the tank and taking air every so often. He's not moving around the tank so much like he did before. But he is still moving, and I think that in time he will recover from this latest incident he has had.
He's still swimming, I think he's in recovery mode. I've seen him like this before, and I am confident he will recover. One question is how many of these treatments he can take, given in short periods of time, and not sustain permanent damage. I am not sure about this, this is the first time I've successfully done this with a fish. That is, I've been able to limit what I do to the fish, and then put him back in the tank while he can still function.
He's kind of floating a little bit now. I know he's trying to get his energy and strength back. He'll get there. It's 8:13 PM right now. I'll see how he's doing in about an hour. He's still only using one fin, he was using two when I initially put him back in the tank, I guess he was in panic mode then. Now, he's trying to recover.
I'll keep you posted on how he's doing as the night progresses.
Of course, I couldn't leave him alone forever. He had to have a little something. So, I got the cup and put him against the side of the tank for 5 minutes. He started swimming vigorously looking for air and then he rested at the bottom of the cup near the end of the 5 minutes, breathing somewhat heavily.
Then, I put him with the cup at the bottom of the tank. There was air at the top of the cup for him to get. He still swam around somewhat fast in what little water there was in the cup, and came up for air a few times.
Then I did this -- I set a time limit of 8:00 and it was 7:48 PM at the time, so I wouldn't injure the fish too much. I had him in the cup again with the water out. He was flipping around every so often.
Then, under the time limit, I started to poke him with a toothpick, making him move all around the cup. I poked on his scales, between his fins, near his eye, and by his mouth. I got the toothpick in his mouth a few times, too. I wanted him to fight to get it out, but unfortunately he didn't, so I took it out.
I tried to keep poking him until he would give up and stop moving around, probably because he was too tired. This happened successfully a few times. But then, I was still able to poke him and get him to move around again. Good thing I set a time limit of 8:00. Otherwise, I think I would have just kept going and it would have been too much for him.
So, how is the fish doing now? Well, currently he's swimming with his right fin only, breathing a little bit heavy, swimming slowly around the tank, staying near the top of the tank and taking air every so often. He's not moving around the tank so much like he did before. But he is still moving, and I think that in time he will recover from this latest incident he has had.
He's still swimming, I think he's in recovery mode. I've seen him like this before, and I am confident he will recover. One question is how many of these treatments he can take, given in short periods of time, and not sustain permanent damage. I am not sure about this, this is the first time I've successfully done this with a fish. That is, I've been able to limit what I do to the fish, and then put him back in the tank while he can still function.
He's kind of floating a little bit now. I know he's trying to get his energy and strength back. He'll get there. It's 8:13 PM right now. I'll see how he's doing in about an hour. He's still only using one fin, he was using two when I initially put him back in the tank, I guess he was in panic mode then. Now, he's trying to recover.
I'll keep you posted on how he's doing as the night progresses.
Thursday, April 15, 2010
Fish Doing Great -- Couldn't Leave Him Alone Today
Well, I came home and was delighted to see that the fish was doing very well. He had blown some bubbles at the top of the tank on the sides. He was swimming around pretty good, and using both fins. He ate his food, about four or five pellets.
Well you know, I couldn't leave well enough alone, so I had to have a little fun with him. So, I took him out of the tank in the cup, emptied the water. Then, I let him flop around for a few minutes. Then, I proceeded to poke him with the toothpick and watch him squirm around the cup. I got the toothpick in his mouth a couple of times, just a little bit.
Then I decided, enough is enough, and I have to have my limits with this fish. So, I put him back in the tank to see how he'd do. He started swimming around, somewhat nervously, and with one fin again. Now it's a couple of minutes later, and he is somewhat calmer.
The fish is swimming a little slower than before, and with one fin only, but he is definitely still swimming. I think he will definitely recover from this. Maybe I should have left him alone tonight; that way, I could still be watching him swim at normal speed like he was doing before. He's breathing heavier than normal. I know that is from his recent incident tonight in the cup.
I could take him out again and poke him some more, but I know if I do that he will swim even slower, and that might distract me as I am trying to relax. Anyway, I think he is doing good and will definitely recover from this, it was just a little bit of fun. I'd like to do more another day, get him really tired, and then see what he does. He'll probably just sit around in that case until he gets his energy back.
I see that he is floating a little bit near the plant. Is this because he has lost some energy? He definitely swims a little slower with only one fin, but he definitely gets around. I think he is going to recover just fine. Still, I wish I'd left him alone so I could watch him swim normally. I think he'll be alright by tomorrow. Does he even realize why this is happening? I wonder what the fish thinks about all of this, if he can understand, what his thoughts are? In truth, it probably gives him a lot of anxiety when he's in the cup with no water being poked around. I don't blame him. Maybe he needs some anti-anxiety medication to cope with these situations? Maybe if he were made more comfortable, he could get through these situations better without panicking. Hmmm.
I would like to weaken the fish some more and take him out, poke him, watch him move around, put the toothpick in his mouth, or even get him in the cup against the side of the tank. But I know if I do this he will slow down and it will take him longer to recover.
At least this way, he's swimming around the tank somewhat, although one finned, and I can watch him. I wonder what he's thinking at this moment? In a few minutes I'm going to get up close and check his breathing. He's moving at times, other times he just floats around for a little while. I liked his behavior better before I took him out of the tank tonight. If he's better tomorrow, and I think he will be, I'm just going to leave him in there and not do anything to him.
I wanted to add that he's staying near the top of the water more, near the plant. Now he's kind of standing in place and taking breaths at the top. I think he's trying to get his energy / stamina back. I'm sure that he will succeed.
The fish's fear of me is back. I put my finger on the side of the tank and he quickly darts away. I'll have to test this again tomorrow after he's a little calmer and hopefully recovered.
Well you know, I couldn't leave well enough alone, so I had to have a little fun with him. So, I took him out of the tank in the cup, emptied the water. Then, I let him flop around for a few minutes. Then, I proceeded to poke him with the toothpick and watch him squirm around the cup. I got the toothpick in his mouth a couple of times, just a little bit.
Then I decided, enough is enough, and I have to have my limits with this fish. So, I put him back in the tank to see how he'd do. He started swimming around, somewhat nervously, and with one fin again. Now it's a couple of minutes later, and he is somewhat calmer.
The fish is swimming a little slower than before, and with one fin only, but he is definitely still swimming. I think he will definitely recover from this. Maybe I should have left him alone tonight; that way, I could still be watching him swim at normal speed like he was doing before. He's breathing heavier than normal. I know that is from his recent incident tonight in the cup.
I could take him out again and poke him some more, but I know if I do that he will swim even slower, and that might distract me as I am trying to relax. Anyway, I think he is doing good and will definitely recover from this, it was just a little bit of fun. I'd like to do more another day, get him really tired, and then see what he does. He'll probably just sit around in that case until he gets his energy back.
I see that he is floating a little bit near the plant. Is this because he has lost some energy? He definitely swims a little slower with only one fin, but he definitely gets around. I think he is going to recover just fine. Still, I wish I'd left him alone so I could watch him swim normally. I think he'll be alright by tomorrow. Does he even realize why this is happening? I wonder what the fish thinks about all of this, if he can understand, what his thoughts are? In truth, it probably gives him a lot of anxiety when he's in the cup with no water being poked around. I don't blame him. Maybe he needs some anti-anxiety medication to cope with these situations? Maybe if he were made more comfortable, he could get through these situations better without panicking. Hmmm.
I would like to weaken the fish some more and take him out, poke him, watch him move around, put the toothpick in his mouth, or even get him in the cup against the side of the tank. But I know if I do this he will slow down and it will take him longer to recover.
At least this way, he's swimming around the tank somewhat, although one finned, and I can watch him. I wonder what he's thinking at this moment? In a few minutes I'm going to get up close and check his breathing. He's moving at times, other times he just floats around for a little while. I liked his behavior better before I took him out of the tank tonight. If he's better tomorrow, and I think he will be, I'm just going to leave him in there and not do anything to him.
I wanted to add that he's staying near the top of the water more, near the plant. Now he's kind of standing in place and taking breaths at the top. I think he's trying to get his energy / stamina back. I'm sure that he will succeed.
The fish's fear of me is back. I put my finger on the side of the tank and he quickly darts away. I'll have to test this again tomorrow after he's a little calmer and hopefully recovered.
Wednesday, April 14, 2010
Update on the Fish
Well, I think the fish is doing better today. He still likes to stay in that corner where the heater is. He ate four pellets tonight, so that's good. I seem him using both fins sometimes, not always only one fin. I'm going to watch how much he swims around and Ill update you in a few minutes here.
He does seem to be swimming around some. I think he's doing the best out of all the fish that I've put through the paces. I think it's partially because (I believe) he hasn't sustained any internal injury. I'm not sure, but I think so. That should help him tremendously. He still swims slowly, although less slowly than yesterday, but he does seem to get around. I've noticed he favors the top corner near the heater, and also the other corner on the other side (horizontally).
He doesn't stay on the bottom and stand still for a long time like he was doing somewhat yesterday. His swimming is not quite smooth, but it's not as jumpy as I've seen it before, either. Overall, I think he's doing very well for a fish that's been through what he's been through. You almost wouldn't know that by watching him.
It's amazing to me to see that a fish could take all that stress ans appear like he was before the next day. I suppose if the fish has not been physically injured, it has the power to regain its stamina and strength. I wonder what it gets out of swimming back and forth sometimes. Although I have read this can be a sign that it's bored. But it doesn't always do that. So I think it's looking pretty good for this fish right now, much better than I expected after yesterday.
He does seem to be swimming around some. I think he's doing the best out of all the fish that I've put through the paces. I think it's partially because (I believe) he hasn't sustained any internal injury. I'm not sure, but I think so. That should help him tremendously. He still swims slowly, although less slowly than yesterday, but he does seem to get around. I've noticed he favors the top corner near the heater, and also the other corner on the other side (horizontally).
He doesn't stay on the bottom and stand still for a long time like he was doing somewhat yesterday. His swimming is not quite smooth, but it's not as jumpy as I've seen it before, either. Overall, I think he's doing very well for a fish that's been through what he's been through. You almost wouldn't know that by watching him.
It's amazing to me to see that a fish could take all that stress ans appear like he was before the next day. I suppose if the fish has not been physically injured, it has the power to regain its stamina and strength. I wonder what it gets out of swimming back and forth sometimes. Although I have read this can be a sign that it's bored. But it doesn't always do that. So I think it's looking pretty good for this fish right now, much better than I expected after yesterday.
Tuesday, April 13, 2010
The Fish is Starting to Struggle
I can tell that he's having a little bit of a hard time swimming. He's only using one fin of course. He's not moving too fast. He's staying near the top of the water. Now I'm thinking I should transfer him back to the bowl. But I'll give him a few minutes to see how he does.
He definitely looks like he's been through a battle with the gaps in his fins and his slow movements. He seems like he's been back from a big fight, which he kind of has. I wonder if the toothpick in his mouth from the last time caused some kind of internal damage, and now he's having trouble functioning. Well, I think it's time to go back in the bowl for this fish. Maybe in a few minutes.
He definitely looks like he's been through a battle with the gaps in his fins and his slow movements. He seems like he's been back from a big fight, which he kind of has. I wonder if the toothpick in his mouth from the last time caused some kind of internal damage, and now he's having trouble functioning. Well, I think it's time to go back in the bowl for this fish. Maybe in a few minutes.
Played around with the fish today
Well, I tried to get the fish out of the tank, and he didn't want to come out, so I got him in the cup on the bottom and the side of the tank. He swam around frantically as he struggled. I raised the cup up towards the top so the fish could get some air, but it appeared he wasn't able to get it.
Finally I got him in the cup and took him out of the tank. Then, I chased him around with the spoon a little in the cup, and then took him out of the cup with the spoon. Now he's resting on the spoon with some water on it that is on top of the cup. He's breathing every so often. He appears to be doing ok.
I'm thinking of letting him back in the cup and chasing him around with the spoon, taking him out a few times, then putting him back in the tank to recover.
So far I believe he has sustained no permanent damage, as he hasn't been poked internally (with the exception of the toothpick in the mouth, which was just a little).
Now he's back in the cup. Both his fins are flapping, and he seems pretty alert. Now I've floated the cup inside the bowl.
I took him out of the cup a couple more times. He flipped all over my desk. Now he's back on the spoon, sitting above the cup with a little water on the spoon. I wonder how long he can last like this? He appears to be breathing OK, although in just a very little bit of water. I do know from reading that these fish can survive in very little water.
I think I may put him in the bowl and then under the cup for 10 minutes or so, then see how he does, then back in the tank (or stay in the bowl perhaps).
OK, he's back in the cup within the bowl, I'm going to see what he does over the next 10 minutes or so. So far he's just moving a little bit at the bottom of the cup. I can tell he's breathing heavy. This is not too much fun. It might be better to put him in the cup against the side in the tank. Then he moves around a lot more. Yeah. That's what I'm going to do I think.
Well I chased him around many more times and took him out with the spoon many more times. I put him back in the bowl. Now I think he's really tired. He's taking breaths at the surface and staying still. He's not moving around right now. Maybe he's trying to recover?
He's only moving one fin again. I guess the other fin is damaged. I'm going to let him recover while I go and get some things done. It looks like he's staying against the wall of the bowl for support. I wonder if I should put him in the tank, it's a better temperature? Maybe I'll do that and see how he does. He's had a hard afternoon. Now, he needs time to rest.
I put him back in the tank. He seems to be doing better in there. Going to go for now, I'll check on him a little later.
Finally I got him in the cup and took him out of the tank. Then, I chased him around with the spoon a little in the cup, and then took him out of the cup with the spoon. Now he's resting on the spoon with some water on it that is on top of the cup. He's breathing every so often. He appears to be doing ok.
I'm thinking of letting him back in the cup and chasing him around with the spoon, taking him out a few times, then putting him back in the tank to recover.
So far I believe he has sustained no permanent damage, as he hasn't been poked internally (with the exception of the toothpick in the mouth, which was just a little).
Now he's back in the cup. Both his fins are flapping, and he seems pretty alert. Now I've floated the cup inside the bowl.
I took him out of the cup a couple more times. He flipped all over my desk. Now he's back on the spoon, sitting above the cup with a little water on the spoon. I wonder how long he can last like this? He appears to be breathing OK, although in just a very little bit of water. I do know from reading that these fish can survive in very little water.
I think I may put him in the bowl and then under the cup for 10 minutes or so, then see how he does, then back in the tank (or stay in the bowl perhaps).
OK, he's back in the cup within the bowl, I'm going to see what he does over the next 10 minutes or so. So far he's just moving a little bit at the bottom of the cup. I can tell he's breathing heavy. This is not too much fun. It might be better to put him in the cup against the side in the tank. Then he moves around a lot more. Yeah. That's what I'm going to do I think.
Well I chased him around many more times and took him out with the spoon many more times. I put him back in the bowl. Now I think he's really tired. He's taking breaths at the surface and staying still. He's not moving around right now. Maybe he's trying to recover?
He's only moving one fin again. I guess the other fin is damaged. I'm going to let him recover while I go and get some things done. It looks like he's staying against the wall of the bowl for support. I wonder if I should put him in the tank, it's a better temperature? Maybe I'll do that and see how he does. He's had a hard afternoon. Now, he needs time to rest.
I put him back in the tank. He seems to be doing better in there. Going to go for now, I'll check on him a little later.
Monday, April 12, 2010
This is one calm fish now
Well, the fish is really calm after all this adventure. He only has use of one of his two fins, but that seems to be OK. I tried putting him back in the tank, but he's not swimming around. He's just sitting on top of the heater near the surface and taking breaths. Basically he's in the top corner of the tank. Should I put him back in the bowl? He was moving around more in the bowl, maybe I should liet him stay in there. Anyway, he's in recovery mode. I don't know for how long he's going to stay that way, or not. But I really don't feel like finishing him off and having to go look for another fish. I'm not sure how he'll do, but time will tell. At least he's still alive and moving. Taking that d0uble tranquilizer definitely helped calm me down. Maybe too calm. I should have taken 1 1/2 instead of 2. Oh well. For next time I will know.
Well, I think I'm just going to lay down and relax for a little while, and keep an eye on the fish. He seems to really like that heater.
The fish is moving very slowly throuhgout the tank. Maybe he's in recovery mode? I'm wondering if I should put him back in the bowl. I sure did calm him down with all of these treatments. He's not swimming erratically anymore.
I think I'll just let him be for now and see how he does. I'm going to rest a little while.
Well, I think I'm just going to lay down and relax for a little while, and keep an eye on the fish. He seems to really like that heater.
The fish is moving very slowly throuhgout the tank. Maybe he's in recovery mode? I'm wondering if I should put him back in the bowl. I sure did calm him down with all of these treatments. He's not swimming erratically anymore.
I think I'll just let him be for now and see how he does. I'm going to rest a little while.
Promises Broken
I know I promised I'd never do anything to this new betta fish. Well, I kind of went back on that today a little, right now. Because of my new job and all the stress I am feeling and the allergies and what seems to happen to me every spring/summer with the bad air here and my anxiety, and the fish jerking in the tank, I thought I needed to calm him down some. He was practically climbing the walls of the bowl when I moved him from the tank to the bowl, and I don't know why.
So, I chased him with a spoon and took him out of the tank a couple of times. The second time, I poked his eye with a toothpick and he immediately flipped back into the bowl. Now he is moving around, but much more calmly. Could this be because he's tired now?
The first time I took him out with the spoon, he flipped onto my desk, my mouse, and even the keyboard. Finally I was able to pick him back up with the spoon and put him back in the bowl.
This fish used to have no fear of me. It didn't know what I did to the other betta fish. Now, it's definitely fearful. I don't know if I'll be able to get this fish to eat ever again. Well, of course, we all know that there's an answer for that, don't we?
So, we'll see how it goes. I like the way the fish is swimming around much better now that I chased it around with the spoon and took it out of the bowl twice. I didn't really do much else to it, so there should be no permanent damage to the fish.
Now, I'm considering taking the fish out a third and maybe fourth time. Once I start it's hard to stop. I'll keep you posted. Hey, the fish made it one month, that's about the longest time of any fish I've had in awhile.
So, I chased him with a spoon and took him out of the tank a couple of times. The second time, I poked his eye with a toothpick and he immediately flipped back into the bowl. Now he is moving around, but much more calmly. Could this be because he's tired now?
The first time I took him out with the spoon, he flipped onto my desk, my mouse, and even the keyboard. Finally I was able to pick him back up with the spoon and put him back in the bowl.
This fish used to have no fear of me. It didn't know what I did to the other betta fish. Now, it's definitely fearful. I don't know if I'll be able to get this fish to eat ever again. Well, of course, we all know that there's an answer for that, don't we?
So, we'll see how it goes. I like the way the fish is swimming around much better now that I chased it around with the spoon and took it out of the bowl twice. I didn't really do much else to it, so there should be no permanent damage to the fish.
Now, I'm considering taking the fish out a third and maybe fourth time. Once I start it's hard to stop. I'll keep you posted. Hey, the fish made it one month, that's about the longest time of any fish I've had in awhile.
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