Unnecessary guest on my fish fins

[neha]

She can’t find a test kit locally, and at 14, can’t get them online right now. She’s been trying to find a kit, she’s in India, and has asked repeatedly for advice on a kit she can afford. I’m willing to bet at her age, she doesn’t have a credit/ debit card, or a job to afford to buy a kit. Read her profile, and all her posts. It gives a lot of info if you read through the lines.

Thank you so much and im really sorry to disturb you all like this

 

[neha]

that may all be true, Jamie, but how then are we to help? More like guessing and hoping, educated though the guesses might be.

Short of starting over and giving her a fool-proof guide on how to keep fish, something here has to give. She's throwing darts now with the garlic soaking, etc. I mean, I raised a lot of tropicals in many size aquariums when I was growing up, had some issues and at the time, didn't know what I was really doing. Sometimes I had books that I used to get an idea, then I treated. Other times, the fish died and I chalked it up to a lesson learned, whatever it was.

She's wanting us to determine issues from insufficient data (including pics as the ones posted don't show what she's describing --the black lines, etc), and doing so in a totally insufficient environment. People have micro aquariums (usually saltwater, btw) and they're EXPERTS doing it, not beginners. They KNOW what to do, what to look for. You can't have success in fringe areas like this unless you DO understand. I don't see that here, so she's better off starting over with NEW, SMALL (and I mean when fully grown) tropical fish, with a dedicated filter that can be easily cleaned. And she still has to have SOME knowledge of exactly the water quality she's starting with. If the source water is high/low in anything, it's going to affect her aquarium. And how is she to know that if not without a test kit? Or at least info from some knowledgeable person who knows these answers. Maybe her water is so off parameter that she's going to need ph balancers, gh/kh additions/subtractions. Only she's going to know this (or someone in her region). Too many variables and I feel her pain because she cares about her fish but it doesn't seem that her pet supply place is being anything but un-helpful. Not a good place to be.

She needs someone in her country that has had success to at least give her a fighting chance/starting point, be it aquarium size or water parameters.

thank you so much for your reply and i agree that this is the biggest mistake of my life that i kept fishes as my pets and sorry to disturb you

 

[neha]

Agreed, which is why I posted in another thread to see if we had anyone in her area or that had lived there that can point her in the right direction. I am just trying to help her find a way to keep them alive until she can find a solution or get a kit.

thanks

 

[JamieB]

Neha, it was not the biggest mistake. I’m sure you feel bad, but you are trying. I killed all my fish when I moved many years ago, they froze as we drove across the state. Every single fish I had, they all died. That’s how I know moving tropical fish in winter is a stupid move. You, on the other hand, are trying to help fish, to learn, and to do better. Your best bet, is find another pet supply store. See if you can find one that does have knowledgeable people working there, who will help you. API is the brand most people here seem to recommend as the best, but it may not be carried there. So look for a solution test; where you add drops of a liquid solution to a small amount of your fishes water, wait for it to turn colors, and then match that on a color chart which will tell you the quantity of what’s in the water. The test kit should come with a solution for ammonia, nitrate, nitrite, water ph, glass tubes to test in, and the color chart. But, if you cannot find one, test strips are better than nothing.
Do not get discouraged, use this as a learning experience. You can learn about fish, and about how adults can argue but not be mean, nor give up on what they think. You are trying to do right for your fish, and that gives them a better chance than many others will have.

 

[neha]

Neha, it was not the biggest mistake. I’m sure you feel bad, but you are trying. I killed all my fish when I moved many years ago, they froze as we drove across the state. Every single fish I had, they all died. That’s how I know moving tropical fish in winter is a stupid move. You, on the other hand, are trying to help fish, to learn, and to do better. Your best bet, is find another pet supply store. See if you can find one that does have knowledgeable people working there, who will help you. API is the brand most people here seem to recommend as the best, but it may not be carried there. So look for a solution test; where you add drops of a liquid solution to a small amount of your fishes water, wait for it to turn colors, and then match that on a color chart which will tell you the quantity of what’s in the water. The test kit should come with a solution for ammonia, nitrate, nitrite, water ph, glass tubes to test in, and the color chart. But, if you cannot find one, test strips are better than nothing.
Do not get discouraged, use this as a learning experience. You can learn about fish, and about how adults can argue but not be mean, nor give up on what they think. You are trying to do right for your fish, and that gives them a better chance than many others will have.

thank you so much but now i'am really depressed after this , i m missing my two koi and trying to do best for the remaining fishes . I found a new aquarium and it is very near also and i will try to get there and ask for a test kit.

 

[neha]

My mom has allowed to get the test kit online between the cost 9 dollars to 10 dollars .I found the API TEST KIT online and one is API TEST -FRESH WATER MASTER TEST KIT OF RUPEES -2,933 [which is very costly and i can't afford it ] and the another one is - API SALTWATER MASTER TEST KIT OF RUPEES -5,427 [ which i can afford it ] . Is there any big difference between the two ? can i get the second one .please kindly suggest something

 

[JamieB]

You need fresh water. Find one you can afford for fresh water. I’ll do a search and see what other brands are good.

 

[JamieB]

They are saying the API kit is the cheapest here that’s good, and you should try the aquarium forum/ thread. Just scroll down a little, there’s a thread line about aquariums. I think you may have posted there once already. I’ll see if I can find a good link to aquarium test kits.

 

[neha]

They are saying the API kit is the cheapest here that’s good, and you should try the aquarium forum/ thread. Just scroll down a little, there’s a thread line about aquariums. I think you may have posted there once already. I’ll see if I can find a good link to aquarium test kits.

thanks

 

[Gemma]

Better late than never, welcome to the group, neha

 

[neha]

Better late than never, welcome to the group, neha

yehh. thank you