Possible rescue this weekend, preparations?

[twohuskies]

AWESOME!!! Good idea with the WC's. With his HITH & popeye, it will certainly help. Can't wait to see some pics of Phoenix!

Great name...he really did rise from the ashes...

[oscars4me]

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125gal 1 Tiger O, 1 JD, 5 SD's, 1 Snow King Pleco
75gal 1 Lutino O, 3 SD's 2 BN Tetras

[gryffin]

Phoenix continues to well- he seems to prefer to go after food that is sinking slowly- he grabs it, eats it and then looks at me to see if more is coming. Not begging, but more than just a passing interest in food.

Speaking of which- how much and how often do you guys think should I feed him? Based on what I was told, he's a year old. I think he is about 6-7 inches, but it is just an estimate right now, based on how much of the tank width he seems to take up.

BTW, I'm think he's a tiger, not a red as I originally thought!

Here's some pics from today (I'm home sick):

[Strohs58]

Good job on the rescue.
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150g Oscar Tank
90g Mbuna Tank
70g FlowerHorn
20g Community

Its the tank size stupid...

[~Pandora~]

I feed mine bloodworms when they are a little under the weather it perks them right up.

Poor fellow looks like he is missing a few scales.

[twohuskies]

OH! Phoenix is very pretty! MUCH too large for a 10G, but thank goodness, you got him out of that prison.

Are you treating the HITH? What is that whitish spot near his tail too?

Overall, he looks better than I thought he would. You are his savior, that's for sure!

It will take him a few days to settle in and get used to his new, palatial home. After that, he'll be wagging and begging for food everytime you come near him. TFG is the best to answer on the amount and number of feedings. I was giving in to the begging, and he set me straight.

Great job, again, on the rescue! Keep us posted...

[gryffin]

I think that Phoenix is a girl. Last night she was hanging out near the front glass in such a way that I could clearly see an oO vent configuration.

This morning she ate two pellets right as I dropped then in, but then seemed to get hung up watching me and swimming back and forth a bit, even bumping into the glass a little. Then when I walked away, she started going after the other pellets I had dropped in.

I did stick a trio of plastic plants and a single terra cota pot in the tank last night after I did another partial water change so that there was some shelter and some things to investigate.

The white spot near her tail is an area of missing scales- it may have happened when she was moved from her 10G to my 5G bucket- there was a lot of thrashing as she was caught and moved.

At the moment, I am treating her with salt (gradually increasing to 5TB per gallon) to help her cope with the transition from dirty to clean water, ~25-30% daily partial water changes and a quality diet. After a few days, I'll see how things are progressing and decide what additional treatment she may need. I was concerned about medicating too soon because sometimes clean water does wonders on its own and also medicine can be tough on an already weakened fish.

[smellsfishy1]

I think 5 tablespoons per gallon might be too much.
Maybe 1 tablespoon per 5 gallons is what you meant.
Not sure but I just noticed it.

[gryffin]

Yes, bad typo- I definitely meant 1TB per 5 gallons!

[twohuskies]

I think you're right to wait on any meds. Salt, clean water, and good food can really help any compromised fish. How's Phoenix doing now?

[gryffin]

She's doing great! The white spot her her tail is about 1/3 the size it was in the picture above. The little one behind the gill cover is gone. The big pit on top of her head is darkening.

She's out swimming about a lot more, and she comes to the front of the tank just about any time I approach it. She's begging for food and eating readily.

[twohuskies]

[gryffin]

Here's one from this morning- while trying to entice me to feed her

And no, I don't normally slant my filter intakes, but someone keeps adjusting it everytime I straighten it.

[twohuskies]

WOW...now THAT is a dramatic improvement!!! She looks GREAT!

I'm so happy I'm just full of emoticons this morning

I have the same problem with various fixtures in my O's tank. He/she (dunno which) just seems fin-bent on rearranging things. I didn't go looking for an O, but I'm soooooo happy I rescued mine from a 10G prison. Great personality in a fish...And the begging is soooooo incredibly hard to resist, but alas, I must. But, he still pouts if he doesn't get something yummy at bedtime.

GREAT job with Phoenix. I'm sure that fish is starting to realize she is the luckiest O because of you!

[oscars4me]

Great Job.
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125gal 1 Tiger O, 1 JD, 5 SD's, 1 Snow King Pleco
75gal 1 Lutino O, 3 SD's 2 BN Tetras