What happened? Further Q to setting tank for main man

[lilacamy931]

Well some who have read my other frantic posts may know that I was worried when found out had two males, there has been one spate in first couple of days of having them. Havent seen anything since. They have all been behaving nicely and all gather for their feeding when I get home from work, it is really sweet to see all 4 peering out at me when I get in (I always rush straight away to feed them). Sunday is their day of rest on eating.

Today when I came in I was back late (by about an hour and a half). Only 3 were waiting for me, 2 females and the larger male though he was sulking at the back and looked pale. Couldn't see the other for the life of me, so decided to start feeding, eventually he appeared and he was extremely pale too.. Both were pale the larger male stripe almost disappeared, they coloured up again with some food but weren't their usual selves compared to the females.

Just double checked the water params everything is at 0. I am missing the water change tonight as still at 0 and have put them to bed as usual.

Was it because they didnt get their usual feeding on time or could there have been domestics?

Bigger man is still a little pale but he is pretty grumpy anyways.

[Sponge bob]

It could be some fighting other wise they could'a got stuck in the filter?

[lilacamy931]

hmmm... just did seem odd it was just the males. I have a fluval 2plus, they seem to fat to get sucked in (fingers crossed) the slits are quite small. Hoping it is a one off behaviour and I am overreacting.

Couple more days and can have a smaller tank set up just in case (fingers crossed). Mainman is very grumpy as said, hmmm, men!

[Sponge bob]

I hope there fine. Keep an eye on them.

[lilacamy931]

I certainly am as the doting parent - probably won't get much sleep tonight, though they have settled down with lights out.

[Sponge bob]

Ok.

[LilGreenPuffer]

Is the top open, and could something have fallen in?

[lilacamy931]

Hey all, the tank is completely covered so nothing could get in unless someone opened the lid. All four are happy and getting along this morning with usual colours. So for now I guess as suggested keep an eye on them. Water params still fine and at 0 as well

[LilGreenPuffer]

Sounds great!!!

[lilacamy931]

Well all four are swimming in open space today. the two girls and mini man are good colour, main man is still subdued in his hues and half heartedly chases all the others. He and the others have eaten well though.

If it came to it and it might (need to watch behaviour more) would main man be alright in a 3gallon... I know the recommended is 5g but at mo only access to 3g if I kept up on water changes say every other day or every 3 days?

My main tank is looking good in respect of cycling, had two days of 0 readings. Could I run the small filter in the main tank get some good stuff in it (how long should I leave in the main tank) and then place in the second tank and place main man with it? What is the best and quickest way I can set up a singular tank for main man by himself, also will he cope being on his own as he has grown up with the other 3 as such?

Many thanks

[LilGreenPuffer]

Theoretically, you'd only need to do a water change once a week, but since 3g leaves you no cushion, I'd be testing water daily, and vacuuming twice a week would probably be in order. You'd need a tiny vaccuum, though! Maybe you could make one with just thick airline tubing and a little pump-thing to start the suction.

He'll be fine on his own.

As for cycling the new one, what I'd do is exactly what you described, leaving the filter in for a week, and adding a nice squeeze from your big filter cartridge straight into the new one when you move it.

[edmlfc1]

One dwarf puffer 3-5 gallons. If you need to move him into the 3 gallon he will be fine. The main concern I would have is keeping the temp stable. As long as the tank is cycled it would be ok. Have you looked for a temporary divider? I'm not sure how much they cost but they have some that fit a 10 gallon at petsmart. Assuming you have a petsmart near you.

[moaid]

just sharing!..to vacuum the dirt....i fill up an air tube with water, close ends with thumb. one end into tank water the other end into empty pail...once the water flow out into the pail it becomes a natural vacuum at the tank end...pail must be lower than the tank though... no pump needed!

get half (or 1/3) of the existing water from the old tank into the new one...think that will help reduce the differences and for him to adapt quickly...

[lilacamy931]

LOL Thanks guys! That is all great information. I will look into a divider (we don't have petsmarts here.. I think?!) but will get to my local Southern Aquatics in a jiffy.

It is typical again that everyone has been on best behaviour last coupld days. Main man seems to change colour alot, hmmmm... I am going to set up the tank for now (keep an eye out for a 5g in meantime) and/or have a divider ready to go just in case. After the incidence with Piggy knocking herself out, I reaaallly don't want to lose one (How on earth did I become attached to four peas in such a short time )

[LilGreenPuffer]

How? They're adorable, of course!

Constant color changes are normal.

Dividers are ugly, but useful. I got one at my LFS a few year ago for a few bucks. You'll probably have to rearrange your decorations a lot to get in in there, since it's a line straight through there, front to back.

Hey, moaid, thanks. I'll try that. It's easy to start the suction the first time without a pump or anything, but when it's already wet, it's so hard!