Backyard Aquaponics
A place to discuss aquaponics

I lost one of my dogs to a bear. Unfortunately I did not find out that that was how Spike, our red doberman's name, left us until I was much older. My parents said he ran away. I found out when I introduced my parents to the parents of my then girlfriend, now wife. It was Christmas Eve. My father relayed the story to them at dinner. I was pissed! They should have told my brother and I the truth from the beginning. My parents claimed that they were trying to protect our feelings. I responded with telling them that the story of our dog running away made it seem like our dog did not love us, where as what really happened is that our dog died out of love trying to protect us. As a kid I decided not to raise my child the same way that they raised me. What I did not realize was the way in which I would do it different. Honesty is a paramount. I will never avoid a tough conversation by lying. I will tell the truth, and have those conversations.

My dog is a dobey x too. They are outstandingly loyal to their family. I had to explain to Dom when I first introduced them.
He likes to tickle my son until he squeals, and they often run around making horrendous noise. Henry is Michael's protector and I had to gently explain that although the dog is absolutely bomb-proof around children, it might pay to keep playtime a bit mellow until Henry learns that he is not a threat to Michael. He tolerates everyone, but he LOVES that kid to death.

If someone broke into the house and didn't immediately die of a heart attack upon seeing Henry bounding towards them, they would no doubt just be licked to death. Unless I screamed...

I have the same deal with Michael as you and Miss Maggi. He knows that things die, and that sometimes sh*t happens. I want him to be well-equipped to deal with crises as he gets older. Same goes for explaining why the dogs need to be sterilized etc etc. People think it's awful that I tell him, but I really don't see the problem. He's a smart little boy.

Apparently my father could not yell at us in front of Spike. My father was certainly Spikes "master," but no one messes with Spikes kids!

Ok guys and gals. Wtf is wrong with this guy? Bird, fish, bacteria, parasite, spaceship?
He has only had one eye for ages, and always looked a bit rough, but seemed to go along just fine. Now one entire side of him is looking awful and he looks close to death, swimming on the surface on his side.
Think I need to knock him on the head, but also would like to make sure he's not salvageable first if I can, and that it's not likely to affect the other fish .
Thanks in advance!



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Hiya Kat, I'm assuming you've given them a salt bath.
When are you going to get a gb up n running?

He doesn't look good at all Kat, any others showing similar symptoms?

It didn't get sucked into the pump or something?

or something is eating him?

You guys are so lucky!
2nd spear centurion Legio XI rtd.
Then they stopped paying my pension in 440 AD!
I have had to work for a living since!
Snake. Not my favorite,I prefer dormouse in honey.
But skinned, flash grilled with rosemary.
Then very finely sliced.
Serve with olive oil and salt.
Carpaccio!
Don’t fear your enemy, eat them!
Titus

Thanks guys, this fella has now been ikejime'd as I thought that was the kindest option. It makes me quite squeamish doing it when it's not an eating fish, not sure why - pet complex maybe?

Anyhow in answer to the Q's:
Yes they are/were salted to about 2ppt before today's rain. A preventative measure during the cold weather more than anything else, since they're more susceptible to disease.

The big GB was meant to be going in today, but weather prevented my Dad from getting down here with it. The second filter has been converted to a small GB though for now, and still have the canister filter inline. I'm not overly concerned about the water as the levels are all good, other than pH being slightly high at 7.8, which I think might be algae-related, but I'm getting on top of that again. Next weekend should be all systems go.

No other fish are showing any ill effects at all, with the exception of one other goldfish who is sporting a stubby little tail, where I am guessing he has nipped by the Silver Perch in there. I suspect he was responsible for the last mysterious goldfish death a few months ago, as it was also sans tail. I cut back the feed for a while when I had an ammonia spike, and I guess he got hungry :-/
I'm thinking that he's tagged the tail of this goldfish since he only had one eye he'd be an easy target, and then once he was less nimble the SP has gone back for more. Even the koi were nudging it around once it was looking sick. Or, as Colum suggested, maybe his lack of mobility meant he got sucked against the pump after losing bits of his fins?

I will add some more salt up to about 4-5ppt tomorrow morning just in case. Rain won't stop until much later tonight so there wasn't a lot of point doing it today.

Oh and Titus, it's illegal to kill snakes here unless they pose an immediate threat to your life, and I wouldn't know where to start in preparing a venomous snake anyway haha, nor could I even be in the same room as one to try it!


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Why can pre-schoolers grow sunflowers, but I can't? I am feeling so defeated about this now. Maybe I should give the rest of my seeds to Michael and see how he goes instead...

P.s. All the fishies are fine and I will post pics of the mini growbed if I get home in daylight tomorrow.


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Don't feel bad, I can't get lettuce to grow for the life of me. Tomatoes, peppers, eggplant, no problem. Lettuce, what is supposed to be easy, no luck.

Oh good, cos my lettuce seedlings all died too...
But I was less sad because it's lettuce. I wanted big showy sunflower heads to get Michael really excited about the garden this Spring.
But I do feel better, thanks Ron :-)


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Kat, plant way too many sunflower seeds, of a few varieties. The odd will be that one or two will make it.