eating comet alive?

Question
QUESTION: Eating him alive? what do you mean? I don't want him to die to. I isolated him because I wasn't sure if it was a catching disease but now I know it is. How on earth did he get that I wonder? I don't want it to eat him alive, I want it to leave my goldfish alone. I have promised the fish I am going to take much better care of them and find out more abbout diseases. I keep the tamk clean and do water checks every week as you know. I am in a band at college and we are doing a song about my new fish. Thank you so much. It just so happens that I think I have got the medication needeed for Comet. I know I have but until now I didn't know it cured fungus. I will let you know how he does.
Danielle.
I feel sorry for Comet.

ANSWER: Hi Danielle,
I'm happy you have the medication.  Remember to remove your carbon from the filter when medicating.  Carbon removes the medication, so should be taken out.  You could also give your other fish a little treatment just incase.  Give them half the dose to be sure they will be okay.
Lynda

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QUESTION: I removed the carbon from the filter. Disaster has struck. Now the other two have caught it but it doesn't look as bad on them as on Comet. How big do catfish normally grow? I have a friend at college who has a Betta fish but she said she feels to scared to ask you what is wrong with him. I told her I will ask you for her. The betta's eyes have gone cloudy, he has lost his appetite and his fins look cramped and blood streaked. She loves him. I told her she didn't need to be scared of asking you but she prefered me to ask you for her. She thinks the poor liitle fish is going to die.
Danielle.

ANSWER: Hi Danielle
Depending on the catfish, most grow very big.  For instance a Pleco can grow to more than a foot in lenght.  Your fish will cure because you have caught them in time.
As for your friend, cloudy eye is caused by poor water conditions, and poor diet.  She should treat her fish immediately with Tetracycline, or any other antibiotic that she can find.  First she must do a complete water change with a good conditioner before medicating.  Tell her to always make sure the betta does not have ammonia or nitrates in his water.

Here is how a Betta should be treated:


When we buy a betta, the first thing the Manager of the store usually tells us is that a betta eats bloodworms...WRONG!  A betta should be fed Betta Pellets, Betta Flakes, Daphnia, and bloodworms only once a week as a treat.  He should be fed 2-3 small meals a day - example..2 pellets for one meal.  Never one big meal, his eye is the size of his tummy, so we have to remember this when feeding him.  He should fast one day a week, and on that day he should have a pea to clean out his system.  (Cook a frozen pea until it is tender, remove outer layer, and cut into tiny pieces, feed the betta one piece at a time making sure that none fall to the bottom of the tank.  One day he should be fed pellets, the next Betta Flakes, and so on...  Vary his diet, it is very important for his health.
He should have at least 2 gallons of heated water, and 5 is best.  The Myth that bettas are happy in small bowls is a lie.  In their habitat, their water may be shallow, but they have lots of room to swim.  They are tropical fish, and need 78-80 degree water.  If she does bring up his temperature, tell her to bring it up slowly, very slowly, like one degree every two days, as bringing up the temperature to fast could kill her friend.
Water changes are so important for the betta.  His water should always be clean...free of ammonia and nitrates.
A betta who is kept in a small container or bowl, is cold as we can never have the right temperature, and it slips down to 70-72 degrees which is too cold for a betta.  Living in such conditions shortens the Betta's life.  He is cold, miserable, and unhappy.  Pet Stores seldom tell you this.  They are there to make money, and will sell you anything, say anything, just to make a buck!  Don't get me wrong, some are truthful, and will try to sell you what is best for a Betta, but most don't bother.  The Betta is one of the most mistreated fish on the market.
I thought I would tell you how a betta should be treated, and that this would help you understand why Bettas do not have long lives in bowls.  A betta may live up to 8 years if well kept.  I have a bettas who are almost 8 now, so I know that their lives are cut short in small unheated containers.  
Always add a silk plant in his tank so that he can rest on the leaves, and a little toy that he can go through at the bottom.  They like going through things.
Hope this helps your friend, but she must act fast if she wants to save her betta.
Lynda


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QUESTION: Hi Lynda. I am getting a catfish soon and I was wondering if a 20 gallon tank would be ok or would I need a bigger tank. I want a small catfish. I went into the pet shop on my road to get these three fish andn I saw a gigantic catfish in a huge tank. It was huge and I don't mean just a big catfish. I mean it was it was massive. IOt was way to big for my tank. What type of catfish do you think would be best for me? All the fish are fine now. I suppose you could say I kicked fungus int othe middle of next year if you know what I mean.
Danielle.

Answer
Hi Danielle,
The pleco get much to big for a 20 gallon.  I would go with the drawf Oto ( Otocinclus) Catfish. Buy a few because they love to be in groups.  You could also go with The cory catfish.  They are cute, and buy a few too.  They do a good job of cleaning the bottom of a tank, but you must feed them too.  They sell special pellets for them at the pet store.  Make sure they eat because the goldfish are gluttons, and might snatch there food!  I love these little catfish, and always had some in all my tanks.  They are really cute, and lively.
Lynda