2 little problems

[brian]

I'm having my first problems with my axies. The first is that they all have their gills turned forewards. What, besides excessive water movement, could cause this? THere is almst no current in the tank (plants dont even sway).

The second is a little more serious. Overnight sometime, my albino has lost the ability to control her bouyancy. It's floating a lot, so I figure it's a gas bubble (they come to the surface to breath quite a bit, figure it swallowed some). How long should I wait before I massage it's stomach? I'm hoping the condition will right itself, as I'm afraid to hurt the little critter. Although the albino is the largest, it's still only 3 inches head to tail. I'm going to move my filter so that the water flow breaks the surface, which should add more oxygen, so hopefully they wont breath at the surface as often.

 

[brian]

The gas bubble has passed. THe poor little guy looks exhausted. Gills are still turned forewards on all of them.

 

[elisheba]

I suspect your axos are experiencing stress from all the excitement surrounding their move. i wouldn't worry about the gills until they settle in a bit. (i assume here that your tanks were all cycled before you introduced your new friends.)

good luck -e

 

[brian]

I thought it might have been something like that, I just wanted to be sure. Everything was in place in other tanks for 2 weeks before I put it together for the axies, so it's all nice and colonized with mature bacteria.