Diddy update
Posted: Tue Jan 31, 2006 1:27 pm
Ok, here's an update, rather sad. Diddy got progressively worse and died last night.
I checked water parameters as I did every week, and they were fine: pH 7.8, nitrIte 0, ammonia 0 and nitrAte 5.0. Since the fungus I had been doing partial (50%+) water changes, after my last post I removed all plants and ornaments to give them a thorough clean and to prevent Diddy from hurting himself. After PP's advice, I checked the tank thoroughly - all the plants were fine with no rot and no forgotten food anywhere. Every time I did a water change I washed the gravel in tank water, so I'm certain there was no rotting food. His diet was varied (bloodworm, snails, shrimp and mussel) and the tank has a good air supply. I've racked my brains and the only thing I've changed in the past couple of months was the increase in salinity - at a really slow rate of .001 SG per week. Absolutely nothing else has changed, we've had no power cuts or anything, and I've not even changed his supplier of food.
Since I first noticed the fungus he's had the following: fungus (which fell off), Ich, he's puffed once, blindness, and finally yesterday his other eye haemorrhaged. I feel appalling as he really seems to have suffered. I tried to do everything I could, cut out meds on advice, followed the articles to burp him after he puffed, and the article on treating Ich, increased water changes to every 48 hours, cleaned everything thoroughly and I've still managed to lose him. I'm experienced enough with fish to know sometimes there's just no saving them and no obvious reasons for problems, but as some of you may remember Diddy was a rescue case and I'm reluctant to get another unless I can work out what happened here.
Anyway, thank you for listening and for all the advice you've given me. Diddy was fine until about a week ago and seemed to plummet in health so very quickly. He was a real character, unlike any fish I've ever had before, and is sadly missed. RIP little man.
Becs
I checked water parameters as I did every week, and they were fine: pH 7.8, nitrIte 0, ammonia 0 and nitrAte 5.0. Since the fungus I had been doing partial (50%+) water changes, after my last post I removed all plants and ornaments to give them a thorough clean and to prevent Diddy from hurting himself. After PP's advice, I checked the tank thoroughly - all the plants were fine with no rot and no forgotten food anywhere. Every time I did a water change I washed the gravel in tank water, so I'm certain there was no rotting food. His diet was varied (bloodworm, snails, shrimp and mussel) and the tank has a good air supply. I've racked my brains and the only thing I've changed in the past couple of months was the increase in salinity - at a really slow rate of .001 SG per week. Absolutely nothing else has changed, we've had no power cuts or anything, and I've not even changed his supplier of food.
Since I first noticed the fungus he's had the following: fungus (which fell off), Ich, he's puffed once, blindness, and finally yesterday his other eye haemorrhaged. I feel appalling as he really seems to have suffered. I tried to do everything I could, cut out meds on advice, followed the articles to burp him after he puffed, and the article on treating Ich, increased water changes to every 48 hours, cleaned everything thoroughly and I've still managed to lose him. I'm experienced enough with fish to know sometimes there's just no saving them and no obvious reasons for problems, but as some of you may remember Diddy was a rescue case and I'm reluctant to get another unless I can work out what happened here.
Anyway, thank you for listening and for all the advice you've given me. Diddy was fine until about a week ago and seemed to plummet in health so very quickly. He was a real character, unlike any fish I've ever had before, and is sadly missed. RIP little man.
Becs
So sorry to hear it. It's so hard to lose any pet and I can't stop thinking dunno what I'd do if Mickey died now... even the Ceylon would upset me quite considerably.