Re: Tank monster - GAH!!!

["Charter" <charter@charter-terminal.com>]

I tell you, if it ain't one thing, it's another!  ;) 

I just came back from doing a 50% water change, because... well, because 
that's pretty much my answer to everything!  Fish not eating?  Change the 
water.  Weird pests?  Change the water.  Insufficient lighting?  Change the 
water.  (Just kidding!) 

The rainbows really seem to have been doing rather poorly lately.  Part of 
the reason I noticed the larva in the first place is because I'd drawn up a 
chair and camped out in front of the tank to try and figure out what was 
going wrong with the poor dears.  They weren't interested in dinner (always 
a bad sign!) and closer examination showed that they all seem to be 
breathing rather a little faster than normal, and their colors are a little 
off. 

Water parameters are good, but the water change does seem to have done them 
some good.  I've never had much luck with medication, so I'm not inclined to 
start dosing them without a solid reason.  I suppose I will just change some 
of the water every day, and keep my fingers crossed! 

Low-carb diet is an intriguing suggestion.  I usually feed them twice a day; 
once with flake (Tetra Color) and once with frozen food (choices include 
brine shrimp, veggie, glassworms, beef heart).  Should I stick with the 
frozen meaty foods for a while?  Veggie would probably be out, and I can't 
really tell what the carbo count is for the Tetra Color. 

- Erika 

steev ward writes: 

> Erika-
>     I think that's a Mayfly larva. I haven't had very good luck raising them.
> They might do well on a diet of Cyclops if you have any (seriously, I think
> that's what they eat.) Fish eat Mayfly larvae when they get the chance and the
> larvae aren't too big.
>     The bruise on the side of the rainbowfish is a cause for concern however. If
> it increases in size you might suspect a Mycobacterium infection. Clean fresh
> water and low carbohydrate food would be in order. 
>
> =steev