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I think he's gonna make it!

2K views 7 replies 4 participants last post by  LMychajluk 
#1 ·
Am kinda happy and excited about this, so I figured I'd post.

I've been having some trouble with a new tank, and a couple of the Albino Corys I had were casualties of my ignorance (but that's another thread...). Last week, just before going to bed, I found another laying on his side on the gravel looking dead, but when I went to fish him out, he twitched. So, I took him out, and thinking there wasn't much hope, just left him in a bucket overnight with some fresh water. The next day, when I checked on him, I thought he was gone, but when I went to pick up the bucket, he made a feeble effort to swim. What a tough little guy!

So, I set up the hospital tank and put him in w/ some Melafix. Another Cory in the main tank was swimming a little funny too, so I put him in the hospital as well (the rest of them seemed to be doing fine, though...) The second seemed to make a relatively quick recovery, but the first guy spent 2 days laying on his side, breathing pretty hard. Then, he finally was able to get upright, but was still breathing hard. He tried, but seemed too weak to make a surface dash like they tend to do. But, over the last 2 days, I'd watch him try and get closer and closer each time. At first, he'd try and swim for the surface and only make it 1/4 of the way, then 1/2. Then, yesterday morning, he was sort of active, but swimming in loop-da-loops and upside down, but this morning, he and his tank buddy seem to both be acting pretty normal!
:-D

I'm going to leave them in the hospital for another few days to make sure they're strong enough, and in the meantime, I'm working on straightening out the issues with the main tank. But, wow, I'm really impressed with the little guy! I thought he was a goner a couple of times, and kinda felt bad for a while and almost wished he would just let go, but what a trooper!
 
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#4 ·
Have sometimes lowered the water level in the aquarium to make it a bit easier for the catfish to reach the surface. Have done this with baby corys as well who seemed to do better in shallower tanks than deep ones.
Hope you get the main tank sorted out.
 
#5 ·
Good idea, 1077, but the cheapie heater I got for the hospital tank is a non-submersible one, so the water level has to be almost to the lip of the tank. I'll keep my eyes open for a sale on submersible heaters, just in case one day I get some baby Cories (or another sick fish...).
 
#6 ·
Okay, I swear my fish just like to screw with me.

For the past 2 weeks, everyone in the tank seemed healthy and happy, especially the Albino Corys. They would swim around casually, not darting or dancing, poke around in the gravel, and they would almost glow in thier coloring. Earlier today, they all seemed fine, as do the other fish and the water parameters.

Then, ~20 minutes ago, I see one looking close to dead, laying on his side (almost upside-down) on the bottom in the middle of the tank. Still looks to be barely breathing, though. I go to poke him and he casually swims away. I net him and put him in a seperate container, and 2 minutes later he's happily swimming laps around the container. I put a couple drops of Melafix and will leave him overnight, but I swear he's just messing with me (or was asleep - do Cory's sleep soundly?). BTW, 3/4 of the other Cory's also seemed to be in a resting period in the corner at about the same time, but they're at least upright. Weird....
 
#7 ·
Okay, I swear my fish just like to screw with me.

For the past 2 weeks, everyone in the tank seemed healthy and happy, especially the Albino Corys. They would swim around casually, not darting or dancing, poke around in the gravel, and they would almost glow in thier coloring. Earlier today, they all seemed fine, as do the other fish and the water parameters.

Then, ~20 minutes ago, I see one looking close to dead, laying on his side (almost upside-down) on the bottom in the middle of the tank. Still looks to be barely breathing, though. I go to poke him and he casually swims away. I net him and put him in a seperate container, and 2 minutes later he's happily swimming laps around the container. I put a couple drops of Melafix and will leave him overnight, but I swear he's just messing with me (or was asleep - do Cory's sleep soundly?). BTW, 3/4 of the other Cory's also seemed to be in a resting period in the corner at about the same time, but they're at least upright. Weird....
Would review the water parameters in the tank that corys are being kept in. Water should test zero for ammonia and nitrites every day,all day. Nitrates should be no higher than 20 ppm between 25 to 30 percent water changes once or twice a week. Temps for cory's should be on the cool side say, no higher than 77 degreees.
Melafix is sometimes used for mild topical bacterial infections and or fungus but if these are not present,,?
 
#8 ·
I just did a 35% water change on Saturday. Temp is 78...maybe a bit on the high side, but I've seen profiles for this species (incl. here) that say up to 83. Ammonia in the tank has been a problem for me from the start, since I have it in my tap water, but I use a good conditioner (currently using NovAqua & Amquel+) and it's currently reading at .5ppm and seems to be slowly dropping over time. Nitrites are 0, and Nitrates are at about 5ppm.
 
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