Comments on: On having a black thumb http://www.caitlinjane.com/2009/05/27/on-having-a-black-thumb/ Thu, 16 Jan 2014 17:39:15 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.6 By: treyci http://www.caitlinjane.com/2009/05/27/on-having-a-black-thumb/comment-page-1/#comment-18869 treyci Thu, 28 May 2009 05:55:21 +0000 http://www.caitlinjane.com/2009/05/27/on-having-a-black-thumb/#comment-18869 yeah, i think i’d try going back to the old brand of neutralizer, add a little salt, and maybe try to treat with iodine or something like isn’t too hard on the fishies. and no – you don’t agonize too much, they are your pets – aquatic or not – you have a soft spot naturally for things that your nurture. you just want them to thrive.

]]> By: estrojenn http://www.caitlinjane.com/2009/05/27/on-having-a-black-thumb/comment-page-1/#comment-18859 estrojenn Thu, 28 May 2009 02:44:14 +0000 http://www.caitlinjane.com/2009/05/27/on-having-a-black-thumb/#comment-18859 it sounds like ick…that happened to my first batch of fish. i now use aquarium salt which helps a LOT! if it is ick (bacterial infection) you can try to treat it with a crazy blue treatment but its pretty hard on the fish…

]]> By: Caitlin Jane http://www.caitlinjane.com/2009/05/27/on-having-a-black-thumb/comment-page-1/#comment-18828 Caitlin Jane Wed, 27 May 2009 16:17:28 +0000 http://www.caitlinjane.com/2009/05/27/on-having-a-black-thumb/#comment-18828 Thanks for the help, Treyci. Her food hasn’t changed, so I don’t think that’s it. We’ve been using a different brand of water neutralizer, and that’s the only real difference, I wonder if that’s it. And one time, ONE TIME, I used waste control (which is what killed her lifelong pal Kelly, I think), and maybe that has caused some damage too. Stupid pet store lady swore up and down that I needed it.

Honestly, I think I agonize over this pond more than necessary.

]]> By: treyci http://www.caitlinjane.com/2009/05/27/on-having-a-black-thumb/comment-page-1/#comment-18825 treyci Wed, 27 May 2009 15:33:19 +0000 http://www.caitlinjane.com/2009/05/27/on-having-a-black-thumb/#comment-18825 the bump sounds like a bacterial infection, you can treat that with iodine. the color issue usually has more to do with either the diet (not enough carotenoids – the particles they get their color from) or poor water chemistry (not enough or too many minerals in the water.) irons produce reds, etc. you can test your water with a test kit to check your chemistry. you can also increase your water’s salinity (salt content) to about .3% to help prevent further bacterial infections. hope that helps.

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