NEED HELP Bichir w/swollen belly
Hello,
My name is Brandy and I very recently (Last Monday) became the proud mother of 2 orphaned Bichir's. We have become friends with a local fish store owner and she had a customer come in wanting to sell all of her aquarium equipment as well as the stock. Amoung all of it was 2 decent sized Bichir's. Given the nature of Bicher's and the State that I live in the owner of the store was not able to re-sell them so she gave us a call as we have other carnivorous fish. It was either us or the dumpster! Needless to say we took them in. Unfortunatly in the emergency situation, we had to but them in an un-established 20 gallon tank with river gravel for the subtrate, 1 live plant that they keep digging up and a big rock. I know we will need to up-size very very soon.
One of my main questions is the Senegal's belly has become progressively swollen since last Monday. I tried to attached photos but they are to large. He has been eating rosey reds and nibbled at some blood worms. We put 8 feeders in the tank and I have personally seen him eat 2 and there are 4 left. Not sure which one ate the other 2. I am concerned it could be stress related, or is he not passing the waste? We treated the tank Saturday with Maracyn-two (contains 10 mg Minocycline) which was recommended by our fish store friend. We did not do a water change since the water really isn't cycled yet. We have since followed the recommended directions.
We will be testing the water Ph, ammonia, and nitrate levels this evening to see where we stand?
Within the week they have lived with us I have grown QUITE fond of them. I would greatly appreciate any help and guidence anyone can give.
Brandy
Hello,
My name is Brandy and I very recently (Last Monday) became the proud mother of 2 orphaned Bichir's. We have become friends with a local fish store owner and she had a customer come in wanting to sell all of her aquarium equipment as well as the stock. Amoung all of it was 2 decent sized Bichir's. Given the nature of Bicher's and the State that I live in the owner of the store was not able to re-sell them so she gave us a call as we have other carnivorous fish. It was either us or the dumpster! Needless to say we took them in. Unfortunatly in the emergency situation, we had to but them in an un-established 20 gallon tank with river gravel for the subtrate, 1 live plant that they keep digging up and a big rock. I know we will need to up-size very very soon.
One of my main questions is the Senegal's belly has become progressively swollen since last Monday. I tried to attached photos but they are to large. He has been eating rosey reds and nibbled at some blood worms. We put 8 feeders in the tank and I have personally seen him eat 2 and there are 4 left. Not sure which one ate the other 2. I am concerned it could be stress related, or is he not passing the waste? We treated the tank Saturday with Maracyn-two (contains 10 mg Minocycline) which was recommended by our fish store friend. We did not do a water change since the water really isn't cycled yet. We have since followed the recommended directions.
We will be testing the water Ph, ammonia, and nitrate levels this evening to see where we stand?
Within the week they have lived with us I have grown QUITE fond of them. I would greatly appreciate any help and guidence anyone can give.
Brandy
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