GOT A
QUESTION?
Send your questions concerning the
freshwater side of the aquarium hobby
to “Q&A.” We can’t promise to personally
acknowledge or answer every question, but each
month those inquiries covering topics of general
interest or unusual subjects will be answered in
this column. Address your questions to “Q&A,”
T.F.H. Publications, P.O. Box 427, Neptune, NJ
07754, or submit via e-mail to editor@tfh.com.
Q
Angelfish Red-Eye
I have five angelfish in a
10-gallon tank, and I think
I may have a problem. Two
of my fish have red eyes around the
pupil. Is that healthy or unhealthy?
Help me, please!
Josiah Colon
via email
A
Red to orange iris coloration
is normal in many angelfish
varieties, so I don’t think you
have anything to worry about
there. However, you do have a problem
that has nothing to do with the color of
your angelfish’s eyes: A 10-gallon tank is
woefully undersized for five angelfish. I
assume your specimens are quite small
now, but you must be mindful of the fact
that they have the potential to reach 6
inches in length. If your specimens are to
survive and remain healthy, you will need
to upsize their quarters very soon to a
minimum of 50 gallons if you plan to keep
all five. If your intention is ultimately to
narrow down the group to a breeding pair,
you could get by with 30 gallons.
Q
Plastic Bins for
Quarantine?
I’m setting up my first
freshwater aquarium, and with
the economy the way it is, I’m looking for
creative ways to save on setup costs. Is there
any reason I can’t use a large plastic storage
bin as a quarantine tank rather than a glass
aquarium?
Bill Whittaker
via email
A
Well, there probably wouldn’t
be any harm in using a plastic
storage bin for your quarantine
tank (assuming it won’t leach
any harmful chemicals into the water—
consult with the manufacturer), but it wouldn’t
be ideal. One of the primary reasons for
quarantining new specimens is to observe
them closely for symptoms of disease—white
spots, sores, rotting or damaged fins, cloudy
or bulging eyes, etc.—before releasing them
into the display tank. Being opaque, a storage
bin simply will not allow you to view the fish,
except perhaps from above, so you would most
likely overlook any worrisome symptoms. Even
storage bins made from transparent plastic
won’t provide a very good view compared to a
glass or acrylic aquarium.
A quarantine tank does not have to be
complex or costly—in many cases, a basic
10-gallon tank is more than adequate—but
cutting corners to the extent that you can’t
actually view the fish is not doing yourself any
favors and will end up costing you considerably
more in the long run if you end up with a
display tank full of sick, dying fish.
Q
Snapping Severum
Hi, I’m a long-time reader and
hobbyist. I have a 55-gallon
tank containing one firemouth
Thorichthys meeki, two Satanoperca daemon,
and one redheaded severum Heros sp.
“rotkeil.” They have been in the tank
together for about a year and, despite the
occasional chase, seem to get along fine. In
recent weeks, I’ve been hearing a strange
noise, like a series of snapping sounds
under water. When I investigated further,
it appeared that the severum was smacking
8 www.tfhmagazine.com
August 2009