help with my dats!

rated by 0 users
This post has 30 Replies | 0 Followers

Posts 2,438

stingrays4 Posted: 6-30-2007 20:58

rated by 0 users

Hi i recently acquired some datnoides quadrifasciatus.
i got 6 dats,to go into an established 6 x 2 x 2.The origanal stock moved onto new homes,but the remaining fish,became scatty and jumpy so moved these out aswell! unfortunatly in the mean time i lost one dat! the fish looked very black and started to lose its balance-{it also had scratches around the head area-hard to tell wether its was bullying or scratches from trying to hide?}the fish in question was dead when i came home from work{this was when i removed the other fish}
The five remaining dats are now on there own,but remaing very dark in colouration,they are eating live worms,river shrimp and frozen krill,cockle and mussel reluctantly! they remain hiden at all times and only come out far enough to grab the food and gone in an instant again!
i would appreciate any ideas as to what to do next? thanks James. O0

Hi thought about time i updated this! Tank no 1 = 3 retic rays,1aro,2 ompuk cats,8 angels,1 syd greshoffi{19 years old},1 syd unkown,1 stripped dora,1 plec,1 silver dat,1 pim and a soribum lima! Tank no2 = 6 auralis barbs,2 needle gars,1 molly,1 dat microlepis,1 trye track eel and 8 bristlenoses! Tank no 3 = 2 goldfish{on holiday}1 flag tail thingy{over twenty years old},4 silver dats,1 pim and a plec!

Posts 6,457

nicolapompicola replied on 6-30-2007 21:39

rated by 0 users

Aren't most dats brackish, or prefere brackish water to fresh? if you havn't got salt in already, i'd be tempted to stick some in, just to see if it helps any. Brackish fish CAN survive in fresh water, but, they're very stressed by this.

Posts 2,438

stingrays4 replied on 7-1-2007 19:54

rated by 0 users

Hi yes that is correct,nicolapompicola O0
but the chap i got the fish from was keeping them in fresh and recomended i keep them in fresh water for starters! but in your opinion would you add the salt all in one go or over several water changes?
thanks O0

Posts 2,399

fry_keeper replied on 7-1-2007 20:55

rated by 0 users

[quote author=stingrays4 link=topic=18566.msg240679#msg240679 date=1183319656]
Hi yes that is correct,nicolapompicola O0
but the chap i got the fish from was keeping them in fresh and recomended i keep them in fresh water for starters! but in your opinion would you add the salt all in one go or over several water changes?
thanks O0

mate its ALWAYS gonna be gradual, thats the answer to that, over several water changes. Perhaps they wouldnt drop dead with piling in a load of salt at once, by why risk it O0 i am sure you wouldnt even contemplate piling in lots of salt at first first water change!

hmmm, cant shift this name

Posts 6,457

nicolapompicola replied on 7-1-2007 21:04

rated by 0 users

i'd do it gradually... like a couple of spoons per l every water change. Smile

Posts 2,438

stingrays4 replied on 7-3-2007 20:34

rated by 0 users

Hi yes thought it would be best to be cautious and add gradually!
as a matter of interst in your opinion would you house the dats in a smaller tank so you could keep a closer eye on them?as i can only see 3 at anyone time?
they are about 3/4 inches long at the moment! {i have an empty four footer they could go in?}
thanks for your replys. James. O0

Posts 6,457

nicolapompicola replied on 7-3-2007 22:05

rated by 0 users

if the tanks cycled and stable, they may feel safer in the smaller tank. Smile

plus, it'll save you salt costs Wink

Posts 2,438

stingrays4 replied on 7-4-2007 7:03

rated by 0 users

HI thanks NICOLAPOMPICA {or do you prefer Nicola?}
what i do is use water from the big tank and move over a matured filter and hey presto one fishtank ready for fish ;D
i will do that on the weekend of the 15/16 july as i am unfortunatly busy this weekend! once again thaks for all your replys Smile

Posts 2,675

ferox replied on 7-4-2007 8:50

rated by 0 users

According to fishbase.org, Datnioides-

"Lives in brackish water at the mouths of large rivers and coastal lagoons, as well as in freshwater lakes and rivers above tidal influence. Feeds on fishes, prawns, crabs and some insect larvae."

So it appears that these fish exist quite happily in fresh water in the wild (One reference I came across suggested that they are anadromous, ie they return from brackish or salt water to spawn in rivers).

With regard to the question of whether salt should be added gradually or all at once, it's probably good advice to make the change over time but at the same time it is worth remembering that most 'brackish' water fish have a very high tolerance to rapid changes in water quality. In estuaries the seawater and freshwater are not uniformly mixed and any fish living in these environments are generally accustomed to moving between the two extremes in an instant, probably countless times per day.

7 8 tanks (tropicals) Big Smile , and a pond.

Without understanding, knowledge is worthless

Posts 6,457

nicolapompicola replied on 7-4-2007 9:44

rated by 0 users

[quote author=stingrays4 link=topic=18566.msg240875#msg240875 date=1183532592]
HI thanks NICOLAPOMPICA {or do you prefer Nicola?}
what i do is use water from the big tank and move over a matured filter and hey presto one fishtank ready for fish ;D
i will do that on the weekend of the 15/16 july as i am unfortunatly busy this weekend! once again thaks for all your replys Smile

I don't mind either Wink

sounds like a good plan to me, i hope the fishies are happy! Big Smile

Posts 2,438

stingrays4 replied on 7-5-2007 19:04

rated by 0 users

Hi thanks ferox,for the info!yes they are interesting fish!{i think!} i am gonna get them into the smaller tank a.s.a.p as i will be able to keep a better eye on them in there!
they are still very dark and getting more secretive each day! :-\

Posts 2,675

ferox replied on 7-5-2007 23:54

rated by 0 users

Have you seen this article?

http://www.practicalfishkeeping.co.uk/pfk/pages/show_article.php?article_id=480

7 8 tanks (tropicals) Big Smile , and a pond.

Without understanding, knowledge is worthless

Posts 6,457

nicolapompicola replied on 7-6-2007 13:39

rated by 0 users

Fairly soft to hardwater, with a pH around neutral or slightly alkaline, is fine for the freshwater species, but hard and alkaline or preferably brackish conditions should be provided for
D. campbelli and quadrifasciatus.

" preferably brackish conditions should be provided for
D. campbelli and quadrifasciatus." the important bit me thinks O0

Posts 2,675

ferox replied on 7-6-2007 14:47

rated by 0 users

Looks like they can be kept in just about any water then, a genuinely euryhaline fish. But perhaps the addition of salt, whether essential or not, may give them an edge in disease prevention.

7 8 tanks (tropicals) Big Smile , and a pond.

Without understanding, knowledge is worthless

Posts 2,438

stingrays4 replied on 7-6-2007 20:18

rated by 0 users

Hi thanks ferox-that is quite an informative article on dats and made interesting reading{espcially how they can hide!} : Smile

i fed live river shrimp tonight and they certainly made short work of them! :o they shoot out and are back in hiding so fast if you blink you miss it! Big Smile

but did manage to count 4 tonight! Smile

hi Nicola that does seem to be the only 'mistake' i am making at the moment-{fish are not in brackish-yet} O0

Previous | Next

Page 1 of 3 (31 items) 1 2 3 Next > | RSS

help with my dats!

rated by 0 users This post has 30 Replies | 0 Followers

rated by 0 users
This post has 30 Replies | 0 Followers