ancistrus with dolphin behaviour

Andy · Post by **Andy** » 06 Jul 2003, 20:55

Hi,
I've got a female ancistrus that's started surfacing for air and seems to have a habit of blowing airbubbles. Should I be worried or is this normal behaviour?

On another note, the same female seems to have recieved what I think is a stabwound from a striped raphael. How can I aid the healing process? I've heard a tip that salting the water with iodinefree salt will help. Is that any good?

Andy

Plec0maniac · Post by **Plec0maniac** » 07 Jul 2003, 04:43

add antibiotics.. add heater.. Ive only witness this with our shipment of L177.. They all seem to be going to the surface.. All I do is add heater for stable temp. and add some furazan gold and add desolved salt to the tank

Andy · Post by **Andy** » 07 Jul 2003, 05:20

Thanks for answering,

The thing is that I've got a heater already and I seem to have some trouble getting the temp. under 25celsius. I've also added two tablespoons of salt. I guess it's just a matter of time now to see if things improve.

Andy

S. Allen · Post by **S. Allen** » 07 Jul 2003, 05:41

ugh... bristlenoses can be happy up to 30 celcius in my experience...

Andy · Post by **Andy** » 07 Jul 2003, 16:34

so what am I doing wrong? (that is, if I'm doing something wrong.)

Plec0maniac · Post by **Plec0maniac** » 07 Jul 2003, 16:48

it myght be ur water?

Andy · Post by **Andy** » 07 Jul 2003, 17:18

I kind of doubt it's the water, I checked that a couple of days ago and the nitrites were minimal. If it's not that, what else could it be? I'm going to check the water again tomorrow when I get the gear to do it just to be on the safe side.

aeroflight · Post by **aeroflight** » 07 Jul 2003, 18:33

It could be that your water needs some more oxygen. I've heard that in some cases when there isn't enough oxygen in the water, some plecs (and other fish too) will rise to the surface for additional air.

Caol_ila · Post by **Caol_ila** » 07 Jul 2003, 18:35

Hi!

Adding antibiotics just as a precaution is really stupid as it will create resitent bacteria which cant be cured so it really hurts more than it does good if you dont have a clue....

Andy · Post by **Andy** » 07 Jul 2003, 19:03

I know about the resistant bacteria as I work fulltime as a nurse and have had to keep a close eye on that issue, it's the same deal for people as it is for the fishies. I've been using salt in the hopes that it'll strengthen the the fish. The ancistrus female is captured from the wild and I'd rather not lose her. I was hoping for some nicely patterned fry some time in the future.

Plec0maniac · Post by **Plec0maniac** » 08 Jul 2003, 09:03

not antibiotics.. sorry but water condtioner instead.. add aeration will also help

Caol_ila · Post by **Caol_ila** » 08 Jul 2003, 12:54

Im surprised that such a mistake came from you plecomaniac...good to have it cleared up.

I recall that my Ancistrus sp. only breathe air in severe cases of Nitrite in the Tank. And this can happen from day to day...

Andy · Post by **Andy** » 09 Jul 2003, 19:23

Sad to have to say this, she's dead. Maybe I'll get lucky and the LFS will get some more wild ones in the future.