Question about Giraffe Cat behavior

[NDsuperduty]

Re: Question about Giraffe Cat behavior

i will definately keep everyone updated.

[NDsuperduty]

Re: Question about Giraffe Cat behavior

My store was busy today so I did not get a chance to call alex today.  The only update i have is a sad one for me.  My Girafe cat broke one of his feelers/barbs while he was thrashing around one of the past nights.  One was broke/bent when i bought him and now a second is like that.  Do these ever heal or is this permanent?

[imagirlgeek]

Re: Question about Giraffe Cat behavior

I have no idea.  I do know that tailfins and such will grow back, so I don't know why his barbs wouldn't repair.  Junior's tail was almost completely chewed off when he came to us, and now it looks like it never had any damage at all.

[NDsuperduty]

Re: Question about Giraffe Cat behavior

I spoke with the lady that works at Ultimate Fish and she had 2 suggestions.  First was to add another air pump to make sure he is getting enough oxygen.  Second was to check for ammonia/nitrate levels because if it is spiked it could be irritating his skin.  I hope i can get this solved soon because the giraffe damaged a 3rd barb last night while i was asleep.  When he goes to the top of the tank, he is hitting my cover glass so hard that it lifts it up and when it comes back down it is landing on his barb.  This is basically catching the barb between the tank and the glass, snapping it off.

[imagirlgeek]

Re: Question about Giraffe Cat behavior

Oh my gosh!  

Well, let us know which one, if either, works.

[NDsuperduty]

Re: Question about Giraffe Cat behavior

i will add additional air pump, but i need to do a water change too.  the problem is its hard for me to do one in the winter because I have to use the outside water nosel to fill the take and the water is too cold.  I dont have an inside sink that will work with my python.  I guess I can fill my 45 gallon with water outside water, add hot water to it then pump it into the 125.

[imagirlgeek]

Re: Question about Giraffe Cat behavior

That sucks...have you tested the water parameters?  Are the values high?

[NDsuperduty]

Re: Question about Giraffe Cat behavior

have not tested them yet :(  I can take a good guess that with the addition of the giraffe cat and all the additional food he eats, it has sprobably spiked my levels pretty good.  This is also why I am planning a filter upgrade.

[imagirlgeek]

Re: Question about Giraffe Cat behavior

Ah....makes sense.  

Well, as usual, keep us posted.

[Zulaab]

Re: Question about Giraffe Cat behavior

Have you checked your Ammonia/Nitrates ?  I would get some Prime or Amquel right now and if you think these are the problems at least add it to the tank, to get rid of some until you can replace the water.
With a digital thermometer you can brew the water in the 45 to right temp and then move it over.. I would remove 45g of water out of 125 and then replace it with a tank full of the correctly temp'd 45g water...  then tomorrow do it again.
Find out what the hardness / pH etc of your water.... maybe he/she does not like the other factors of your water parameter..

Just suggestions.. hopefully these will help :)

Jesper

[NDsuperduty]

Re: Question about Giraffe Cat behavior

i will have to wait until around 9pm tonight to do anything.  I will definately do a water change tonight.  But I will have my wife put some amquel and stress zyme in the tank when she gets home around 3-4.

[Spot86t]

Re: Question about Giraffe Cat behavior

Here's an idea if you're concerned about water temp fluctuations when using outside water for water changes.  Both Lowe's and Home Depot carry 55 gallon drum liners.  These are very thick heavy duty bags.  They aren't cheap, but they're good quality bags.  Now to get your trash can, empty it out, wash it out with soap/bleach/cleaning solution of your choice and rinse VERY well.  I do this as a precaution in case the drum liner leaks.  Now clean off the outside so you won't catch the wrath of your significant other since you'll be parking this thing between your water hose and fish tank for a while.  Put at least one drum liner in it, 2 if you're really paranoid like me, and fill it with tap water  - adding your dechlorinator and whatever else you use for water changes.  You can either wait til the water reaches room temperature, or put a heater in it to speed things up.  When I use a heater to bring up the temp, I put a piece of pvc across the top of the can and dangle the heater from that so it doesn't touch the sides and melt the drum liner.  Add a thermometer so you know when it's ready.  Now go help your wife fix dinner so she forgets there's a trash can in the middle of the living room....    When the water is ready, a power head, pond pump or other suitable pumping device, along with a length of appropriate hose helps transfer the water from the trash can to your tank.  Also, run the powerhead or other circulation device while the water is heating so you don't end up with cold water on bottom and warm on top.  You want it consistant through the entire can.

BTW, don't try to move the can if full - the weight stress on the seams may cause it to leak - that would be a BAD thing....  Mine has wheels and when it's only about 12"-15" deep will I slide/roll it to another location.

[eklikewhoa]

Re: Question about Giraffe Cat behavior

You could always buy a new trash can and use it for holding water.

[NDsuperduty]

Re: Question about Giraffe Cat behavior

I didnt end up doing a water change today because I forgot that I just did one on New Years eve.  After testing the water with some test strips i found that my Nitrites were almost nothing, but my nitrates were a little high, so i will need some kind of water change.

I am also adding a larger air to the tank tonight.

[imagirlgeek]

Re: Question about Giraffe Cat behavior

How's he been doing the last couple of days?