Okay, so I thought I had things sorted out in the 90gal tank. The previous JD has been returned to the fish store, the new JD (the one I wanted all along) is swimming happily and peacefully. Pleco, for his part is doing nothing, and the danios are schooling like the idiots they are. Everything's copacetic, right?
WRONG. Very nearly DEAD wrong. For JD, that is.
So, I had the day off to play with my tanks. After putting in some new plastic plants and doing some other routine stuff, I switch off the tank lights, wifey and I put baby in her carseat and head to the in-laws for a visit.
A few hours later we return, flip on the lights and I peer into the big tank. Where the hell is JD?
ON THE CARPET ABOUT 3 FEET AWAY FROM THE TANK, THAT'S WHERE.
Oh, and he has turned BLACK. Charcoal black, head to tailfin, and covered in lint.
I holler to my wife in the other room, "Aww, dammit! The idiot killed himself! He's on the damn carpet and he's black!"
So I pick him up. This is my new $20 fish that I've wanted for a while, the most colorful one in the whole store, and now he's a suicide after ONE DAY.
All because idiot fish dad (me) neglected to put the plexiglass cover back on the tank. My best guess is that pleco did one of his rare 'freak out' episodes, and spooked JD whom was already recovering from heavy stress, causing him to panic and jump out of the tank.
I have no idea how long he has been on the carpet, but things were not looking good at all. On a whim, I just picked him up and dropped him back into the tank, and lo and behold, he sinks to the bottom, on his side, and his gill plates start venting vigorously (for a fish that has its fins stuck together, eyeballs wonky and covered in carpet lint).
I gently nudged him into the back corner, near one of the airstones, and observe to what extent he will recover, if at all.
Well, that was about one hour ago. I went to the corner store for a few gallons of milk, and a case of beer to help me fix my mood.
1 1/2 hours later and JD is swimming around the tank, but he's still not all there yet. If he makes a recovery, he may always be a bit 'special' due to brain damage. I hope he recovers. I told my wife if he doesn't, I'm going to have to go fishing in the creek for a small sunfish to replace him.
He obviously has damage to his slime coat, possibly eyes. His fins seem to be ok, even on his left side, which was on the carpet when I found him. I just hope he recovers. Oh, and I put the damn cover back on the tank. Had I done that earlier, this would not have happened.
Pics are of JD, taken just now, during recovery. His color came back, although he looks damaged.
WRONG. Very nearly DEAD wrong. For JD, that is.
So, I had the day off to play with my tanks. After putting in some new plastic plants and doing some other routine stuff, I switch off the tank lights, wifey and I put baby in her carseat and head to the in-laws for a visit.
A few hours later we return, flip on the lights and I peer into the big tank. Where the hell is JD?
ON THE CARPET ABOUT 3 FEET AWAY FROM THE TANK, THAT'S WHERE.
Oh, and he has turned BLACK. Charcoal black, head to tailfin, and covered in lint.
I holler to my wife in the other room, "Aww, dammit! The idiot killed himself! He's on the damn carpet and he's black!"
So I pick him up. This is my new $20 fish that I've wanted for a while, the most colorful one in the whole store, and now he's a suicide after ONE DAY.
All because idiot fish dad (me) neglected to put the plexiglass cover back on the tank. My best guess is that pleco did one of his rare 'freak out' episodes, and spooked JD whom was already recovering from heavy stress, causing him to panic and jump out of the tank.
I have no idea how long he has been on the carpet, but things were not looking good at all. On a whim, I just picked him up and dropped him back into the tank, and lo and behold, he sinks to the bottom, on his side, and his gill plates start venting vigorously (for a fish that has its fins stuck together, eyeballs wonky and covered in carpet lint).
I gently nudged him into the back corner, near one of the airstones, and observe to what extent he will recover, if at all.
Well, that was about one hour ago. I went to the corner store for a few gallons of milk, and a case of beer to help me fix my mood.
1 1/2 hours later and JD is swimming around the tank, but he's still not all there yet. If he makes a recovery, he may always be a bit 'special' due to brain damage. I hope he recovers. I told my wife if he doesn't, I'm going to have to go fishing in the creek for a small sunfish to replace him.
He obviously has damage to his slime coat, possibly eyes. His fins seem to be ok, even on his left side, which was on the carpet when I found him. I just hope he recovers. Oh, and I put the damn cover back on the tank. Had I done that earlier, this would not have happened.
Pics are of JD, taken just now, during recovery. His color came back, although he looks damaged.
