[squishylittlefishies]

Ok, so there is a daycare that I am often helping in for one of my classes and they have a big fish tank that is honestly depressing. It seems not well kept and all the fish are very pale and obviously unhappy. But their tank maintenance is their problem I wouldn't try to change that, the problem is the fish.
It is socked with :
1 large parrot cichlid
1 large tinfoil barb
4 tiger barbs
And wort of all, one green spotted pufferfish.Eeek!
The pufferfish looks really sick and a yellow color with faded grey spots. It is really sad. They need to live in brackish water and a freshwater setup is simply not acceptable, especially one with no plants and these tank mates! I don't know how long they have had the puffer but I am assuming he is relatively new because he is still alive. And then the tinfoil barb, don't they need at least four others to school with? He is big and slow moving and the tigers will often nip and harass him. The cichlid just wanders around and does his own thing. I don't know how big the tank is, but it is large, probably enough space for what they have but not big enough to add more. There are also very few hiding places in the tank.
So, obviously, nothing about this setup really works.
My main concern is the pufferfish. The other fish can at least survive and be sad but the pufferfish won't. Chances are he is not being fed the proper food either to get him nutrients and trim his beak. I feel like they need to know the situation because I am quite sure they would not want to be cruel and are just ignorant or misinformed. I'd be happy to tell them if I had a tank to give them or to take the puffer for them, but I don't. So if I tell them, I can't really offer any help to fix the situation other than my knowledge.
Ideas? I hate to see the fish looking so bad, but I don't know how to help!
Thank you!
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[GwenInNM]

Ok, so there is a daycare that I am often helping in for one of my classes and they have a big fish tank that is honestly depressing. It seems not well kept and all the fish are very pale and obviously unhappy. But their tank maintenance is their problem I wouldn't try to change that, the problem is the fish.
It is socked with :
1 large parrot cichlid
1 large tinfoil barb
4 tiger barbs
And wort of all, one green spotted pufferfish.Eeek!
The pufferfish looks really sick and a yellow color with faded grey spots. It is really sad. They need to live in brackish water and a freshwater setup is simply not acceptable, especially one with no plants and these tank mates! I don't know how long they have had the puffer but I am assuming he is relatively new because he is still alive. And then the tinfoil barb, don't they need at least four others to school with? He is big and slow moving and the tigers will often nip and harass him. The cichlid just wanders around and does his own thing. I don't know how big the tank is, but it is large, probably enough space for what they have but not big enough to add more. There are also very few hiding places in the tank.
So, obviously, nothing about this setup really works.
My main concern is the pufferfish. The other fish can at least survive and be sad but the pufferfish won't. Chances are he is not being fed the proper food either to get him nutrients and trim his beak. I feel like they need to know the situation because I am quite sure they would not want to be cruel and are just ignorant or misinformed. I'd be happy to tell them if I had a tank to give them or to take the puffer for them, but I don't. So if I tell them, I can't really offer any help to fix the situation other than my knowledge.
Ideas? I hate to see the fish looking so bad, but I don't know how to help!
Thank you!
Posted via Mobile Device

This is really sad. I would offer to bring in snails (most any fish store should just give you some) for the puffer and start there. Just be honest and educate them about the requirements of fish. Can you volunteer to do a water change for them? Why not ask? I'm sure they'd be grateful for the advise. I don't think people intend to be mean to fish, they are just so uninformed, and don't think fish "deserve" enough bother/research. The puffer can live in freshwater, but not forever, though people claim to do it. It's probably just extremely stressed, and if the water parameters are poor, that won't help, on top of not getting the right food. The other foods GSP's love is raw shrimp, clams, mussels. Go to your grocery store and get one raw shrimp, offer a small piece to him, but don't overfeed. Just till his belly is round.

 

[squishylittlefishies]

That is a good idea. I have a few pesky snails in my fish tank that hitchhiker on a plant.mi can bring those in
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[henningc]

Ask them if they would allow you to maintain the tank. Be responsable for it and teach whoever is doing it now what to do.

 

[rsskylight04]

I would tell them the same thing you just told us, with special emphasis on the part about no one WANTS to be cruel.

 

[SeaHorse]

How's it going with this tank? Have you made any progress? It's been a few days... wondering how things are with this puffer/tank.

 

[squishylittlefishies]

Hey guys, sadly I have not been able to do anything yet because I haven't had the chance to go over to the child care centre for awhile I'm off the break at the end of this week hopefully all the fish are still alive.... Ima pick up some more snails from my lfs soon and I'll bring those in too. Thanks for all your input!

 

[Chesh]

Let us know how it goes when you get back in there! I really hope you are able to help those fish out, somehow. . .

I found myself in a similar situation last year in my daughter's kindergarten class. I ended up taking over the tank, and was able to turn it into a fantastic learning experience that the whole class participated in - it was a lot of work, and stressful to maintain a tank out of my home, but overall a positive experience - especially for the kiddos!

I hope you find some way to turn this situation around, please keep us updated on how things turn out - and good luck!

 

[squishylittlefishies]

Tic toc still not much going on....
I feel like the whole situation is a little bit awkward. For you, as a parent who is in there a lot it was probably pretty simple, but I'm a student there and my class has not put me in the daycare more than a few times. I don't know, it just seems like it will be weird when I, a random student, go into the daycare and just like start talking about their fish haha. They'll be like...So...why are you here? Haha.
Anyway, this week I hope I'll be able to get in there! Well just have to see what happens!

 

[Agent13]

I did it at my daughters daycare! I just talked to the director about it and they were very happy for the help and advice. I do the upkeep sometimes but I've taught them how to as well. Honestly i'm a really shy person (dont be shocked people lol) , but I just walk on into the staff kitchen like i own the place grab the supplies I put in there and go about water changes on my own lol. I've donated the tanks to seperate everyone properly. Yes I get some looks from teachers(especially new ones!) like "who the hell is she?!?" haha. Just get up the nerve and talk to them. Good luck!

 

[squishylittlefishies]

Ok guys, I just got back from the daycare, so I have more info! I haven't offered to do anything yet, I just wanted to look around and gather some info so I can go in prepared to help next time.
.
The pufferfish is dead:'(
They said they had her for about 6 mo before she died. They said they had just got a big batch of glofish or something and she was attacking the bag they were in before they even released them into the tank. They put them in anyway and they all *mysteriously* disappeared. She died just after that. They think eating them made her sick, but I dunno, she looked pretty bad before then IMO.
A few things, firstly, I don't thing glofish are compatible with really any of this tanks inhabitants. Second...if a fish is showing such aggression towards a new member before it's even added, why would you put them all in anyway? I think these guys really do just need somebody to help them learn about what does and does not work.
So, back to the inhabitants that are currently alive in the tank. I don't have personal experience with the fish so I'm not sure what's normal but I'll upload some pictures and tell y'all what seems to be awry. So.
The tiger barbs seem basically ok. The parrotfish seems stressed, but also Okish.
He keeps his tail fin shut all the time... Seems stressed? Stays mostly in the corner of the tank and seems to keep his fins more at his sides I think.
The silver fish(will somebody ID him for me?) is the worst off as far as I can see.
His left eye is very filmy looking.
He has a white almost cheesy waxy coating over his body. I don't know if that's just his normal slime coat or what, but there are tons of areas where it seems that the coating is dented, peeling, or there are big missing patches. His skin seems almost veiny in places too... Very strange.
He is always flicking his dorsal fin to the left, like he is trying to use it to swim... Again, I don't know if that is abnormal for his species. You can see how it is kind if bent in the pictures.

 

[squishylittlefishies]

Another picture.

 

[squishylittlefishies]

I'm sorry these are all sideways, I don't know why they are uploading like that!
The places I see the most damage on his scales/coating are the top of his head, right before his tail, and by his back.

 

[squishylittlefishies]

Poor fishy. It really makes me think of like, if you were carving a block of soap or wax with something kind of sharp like a butter knife or pencil. That's just how I would describe all the scratches and chunks out I see on his body.

 

[squishylittlefishies]

Last picture. Sorry there were so many! I couldn't decide haha

 

[SeaHorse]

They look so very sad don't they? And not in good health at all. Can't help with the species but am rooting for them and can't wait to read your "Plan of Attack" and follow along as they recover.

 

[squishylittlefishies]

Thanks I just need some more info on species,c are, and compatibility and hopefully we can turn this tank around into something happy and beautiful!
Edit: I just looked up some pics and I'm pretty sure he's just a sick tinfoil barb. He's got a faint red tint on his fins, and the face shape.
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[SeaHorse]

I agree on Tinfoil Barb but the name wouldn't come to me to post it. It was driving me nuts. lol. thanks.

Can you get the tank measurements to determine the tank size? # gallons you are working with?

 

[squishylittlefishies]

Yup, I'll try. Compared to the pictures of what a tinfoil barb should look like, I realize how bad this one looks. No shine at all...eek
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[Chesh]

Those poor things. T___T
I really hope you can help. . .
We need some stocking help on this thread STAT!!!