Mmathis
TurtleMommy
- Joined
- Apr 28, 2011
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- NW Louisiana -- zone 8b
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This is one of my Shube babies I'm keeping in an indoor tank until they're ready [or I think they're ready] to move outdoors. He's probably at or a little under 1/2" long.
Here's what I think happened: I have a slice of Matala pressed against the back of the tank, held in place by the HOB filter intake tube. I have a long airstone that runs underneath the Matala.
After I did a water change last night, I noticed that the Matala had been displaced away from the glass. I went to straighten it up, and FOUND ONE OF THE FRY STUCK BETWEEN THE GLASS AND THE FILTER! It was alive, but I had no idea how long it had been like that, nor if it had been traumatized [no evidence], or what it's medical state was. I figured it at least had been out of the water for the time period it took me to empty & refill the tank. It was moist, but looked very dehydrated [flat & limp -- I actually have no idea what a dehydrated fish would look like....]..
I put it in a smaller tank [with the smaller fry] and put it underneath a net that I positioned over the air stone -- my version of fish CPR! The net was to keep the fish in place, in the bubble stream, so I wouldn't have to hold it. After about 10 minutes, I took it out of the net -- it was a little perkier -- and left it alone for the night, still in the smaller tank. It stayed on the bottom, on its side.
This morning, it was still alive -- I was shocked -- but very unstable, wanting to lie on its side rather than float upright. It didn't move much on its own, but if stimulated, it was reactive. So, from there I put it in a small bucket with an air stone. I mixed a little salt in some fresh water and added that, and kept the water level very low, like just above the dorsal fin. For some reason, I thought this might help it stay upright better.
This afternoon, it looks a lot better and IS staying upright. I put some baby brine shrimp in with it and I couldn't swear, but I think it ate a little.
If he doesn't make it, well, it was meant to be, so no heroic efforts here [I've already done more than some would have], but
wondering if there anything else that I can be doing to help this little guy along during his recovery?
Here's what I think happened: I have a slice of Matala pressed against the back of the tank, held in place by the HOB filter intake tube. I have a long airstone that runs underneath the Matala.
After I did a water change last night, I noticed that the Matala had been displaced away from the glass. I went to straighten it up, and FOUND ONE OF THE FRY STUCK BETWEEN THE GLASS AND THE FILTER! It was alive, but I had no idea how long it had been like that, nor if it had been traumatized [no evidence], or what it's medical state was. I figured it at least had been out of the water for the time period it took me to empty & refill the tank. It was moist, but looked very dehydrated [flat & limp -- I actually have no idea what a dehydrated fish would look like....]..
I put it in a smaller tank [with the smaller fry] and put it underneath a net that I positioned over the air stone -- my version of fish CPR! The net was to keep the fish in place, in the bubble stream, so I wouldn't have to hold it. After about 10 minutes, I took it out of the net -- it was a little perkier -- and left it alone for the night, still in the smaller tank. It stayed on the bottom, on its side.
This morning, it was still alive -- I was shocked -- but very unstable, wanting to lie on its side rather than float upright. It didn't move much on its own, but if stimulated, it was reactive. So, from there I put it in a small bucket with an air stone. I mixed a little salt in some fresh water and added that, and kept the water level very low, like just above the dorsal fin. For some reason, I thought this might help it stay upright better.
This afternoon, it looks a lot better and IS staying upright. I put some baby brine shrimp in with it and I couldn't swear, but I think it ate a little.
If he doesn't make it, well, it was meant to be, so no heroic efforts here [I've already done more than some would have], but
wondering if there anything else that I can be doing to help this little guy along during his recovery? 
