This tank was bought as a used display tank from an aquatic shop around 30 years ago and was used up to a couple of months ago when we downsized. We have never had any problem with it, but it could probably do with a bit of TLC and resealing because of its age. It comes with a large wooden stand and ...

Thank you so much Jools.

Sad but "good" news. I had to go into Edinburgh for a meeting I couldn't get out of, but my husband phoned at 3pm to say the Gibb had gone. He hadn't moved at all from the position he had taken up last night and just stopped breathing. We are really sad but at the same time hugely relieved that the ...

I really can see intellectually that blunt force is the better option, but after 34 years it feels horrific.

Hi Jools You or David indeed sold us the fish from the shop. We have a similar vintage Agamyxis from there also. We don't have a pond. Would it be worth buying a large planter or something? I've just got up to find him sitting in the exact spot I left him when we went to bed. If he's not flopping ...

Thanks again Eric. I've found that bezocaine as Optomease is licenced here for fish farm usage, but doesn't seem publically available. I will have a recce at the chemists here tomorrow for something similar to your photo. At present the Gibb is just sitting on the bottom in a normal orientation, he ...

Hi Eric Thanks for your reply. Do you use benzocaine gel for cold symptoms, or are you able to buy an actual solution in the USA (I'm in the UK). We just had a chat with our local aquarium shop. Blunt instrument was the recommended method, but we are both traumatised just at the thought, so although ...

Our 34 year old large Gibbiceps is sadly on his way out, but having expected him to die two days ago he is still with us. He is breathing shallowly and keeps ending up on his back, and I would like to put an end to his suffering but because of his size (about 45cm) I don't know the best way to do ...

Well, three months down the line nothing is improved, and certainly not my mental health. I hoover the gravel every couple of days to try and get rid of eggs and larvae (I don't want to do it every day because of having to take out water each time) and also hoover the walls above the tank to try and ...

Is it just the lighting or is that a very strangely patterned gibbi? -Shane Apologies for the delay! I am lousy at tank photography, however...I think he is a standard pattern though. http://www.boristhefish.co.uk/boris2021.jpg My fly war continues...I have taken out half the gravel and am stirring ...

The lighting is quite yellow (camera rather than tank) but I don't think he's particularly unusually marked? I'll try and find another pic.

Thanks to you both, I'm hoovering the gravel when I take out the regular couple of buckets. It would be nice to have sand, but the Gibb (about 45cm total length now?, old photo) would disperse it everywhere. http://www.boristhefish.co.uk/boris.jpg The larvae are thin and brown and about 1cm long ...

Hi Darrel, I will look up look up the various midge types - they definitely don't bite, being thankful for small mercies! I don't have any tetra type fish (accidental incorrect overly aggressive cichlid purchase), but there are loads of the damned things in the gravel, and flying in my sitting room ...

Hi Eric, thanks for your reply. The gravel is largish (not quite pea size) but smooth - the corys can dig but it's probably about 5cm deep at least, so they can't get to the bottom. I did think about reducing the amount of it, but that'd be a big task. Did your moth flies eventually go away, or did ...

I apologise if this isn't the correct place to post this. I have a well established 5' x 2' x 2' tank with a large elderly Gibb, an Agamyxis and a couple of dozen mixed Corys. I recently noticed very small flies buzzing around the tank, which I identified as fungus gnats. I strung fly paper at ...

Thanks a million, that is fantastically helpful! I am lucky in that I should have a while to move between the two houses, so nothing needs to be rushed and it can be done separately from the main move. I've got two external filters and mat heating, so that makes that part of it easier. I just need ...

Hi, I hope this is the appropriate part of the forum to post this type of message, apologies if it isn't. Apologies also if this is covered in another thread, but I couldn't find anything. I have a 5' x 2' x 2' 100 gallon tank with an approx 18" Gibbiceps (or whatever they're now called...), a ...