Moon shaped floating things

Question
When I was feeding my fish today (they're basic fish - I just got a freshwater tank and bought 6 fish at WalMart but I don't know what kind they are, just common) I noticed what might be fish pooh floating in the water, right at the top of the tank.  It's shaped like a letter C although sometimes it's not the whole letter, but part of it.  It's brownish-reddish.  Do you have any idea what this might be?

Answer
Hi Cheryl;

They could be fish waste, particles from the gravel, tiny pieces of decorations, etc. Change 25% of the water and siphon as much out as you can to get rid of it in case it's waste. Be sure to use water conditioner and be sure the new water is the same temperature as the old water. It will help avoid shock. Your tank needs a 25% water change every week anyway as part of normal maintenance.

It is really important to know exactly what kind of fish you have. Unfortunately, WalMart personnel are often not knowledgeable about the fish and the tanks they sell. I have seen it turn out very sad and tragic actually. Some fish get very large and need more room than an average little fish tank can accommodate or the fish sold are not compatible with each other or the type of setup. Some fish are tropical warm-water fish and some are cold water fish. They should not be mixed or kept in the wrong environment. You will want to know what conditions your fish need. If you can, go back to the store and find out the species names. They are usually written on the tanks or on labels there. Let me know what you have and I can help you avoid possible problems. You could also tell me what they look like or even send me a photo of your tank with the fish to;

Allexperts_Fish_Guru(a)yahoo.com

Also, did they tell you about the "Break-in Period", also known as "Cycling"? It takes several weeks to happen and can be very dangerous for fish, sometimes making them very sick or dying unless certain precautions are taken. Here is a link to my article about it so you will know what to do when the fish need you to help them through it;

http://www.xanga.com/expert_fish_help

Let me know if you need more help...

At Your Service;
Chris Robbins