Geez, on that second pic it looks like he's gonna suck up the little cory!

The Cory is so tiny compared to the other's.He's missing a big chunk on the top part of his back fins so he is still able to swim around and eat. He aactually looks pretty darn good for sitting in somone else's mouth.





That pic wasn't as bad as it looks,but that's kind of what I think happened.If you saw them shoaling,they run right across Won Tons face-like I said,if he takes a breath....
He's doing so well in that tank but I don't know of the chances are of that happening again.I can divide the tank,or just move him I guess. Funny thing is that he's actually very fond of the cory's.

OK Sharon, it's been over a month now - don't you think it's time we had some more pics?

I wanna see Ton now How big is he?

I missed the bit about the inhaled cory! Glad hes ok.. and maaaan, Won Ton is CUTE!

I got home this morning and much to my dismay,WonTon was laying on his back.He had another Cory stuck in his mouth! This time it didn't go as smoothly.I had to pull the Cory out with tweezer's.It was too much and I don't think that the cory is going to make it.I feel really bad.I should have removed him from the tank,the first time it happened,and instead I looked over the Cories,and removed the smallest ones from the tank.Apparently I missed one. I put Won in with two other Goldies for now,I just hope that his mouth wasn't too damaged this time.

oopsie. sorry to hear it happened again.
Try not to feel too bad, we all do stupid things like that even when we know the risks.. I know I do anyway.
I really hope Won Ton is ok

Nooooo Sharon I'm praying Ton will be ok... I'm sorry about your little cory

Any news on Ton, Sharon?

Jen,he's been having floaty issues.I swear that fish is like a "terrible two child". Right before the catfish ordeal,I came home and found him stuck behind a plant. He's been having issues since then. He eats like a pig.Everytime you look,he has this big string of thick poop,so I was hoping it was overfeeding and not damaged organs from being stuck. He just manages to eat everyone's food somehow! He can swim when he needs to,but he's laying on the bottom alot,and I'm real concerned about that. I did the peas and fasting-he did seem somewhat better,and that's when I found him with the 2nd cory.(Who knows now...maybe he's actually eaten a few) It was my work week and I just couldn't seem to find the moment to set up another aquarium.I have time to get two/three hours sleep,shower,and head back to work basically.I have this fear of new set-ups and going off anyway,not knowing if everything's going to be okay. After the cory,i felt sooooo guilty that I placed him in with 2 other bigger goldies.I went to work not knowing how he was and it was killing me.That catfish was really stuck. Somehow that poor fish lived through it and is actually going to be okay.I thought Won's mouth would be all sliced up though.I left him foodless for a day,and then fed him a pea.He acted like he was starving. I'm noticing now that his mouth can't hurt too bad because he was eating the other fish's pro-gold! I have set up his own tank and will add him today.Starve him another day or so,and try some peas with a little bit of Epsom. I'm just really hoping that he didn't damage his SB when he got stuck...

Geez Sharon - he reminds me of a puppy dog always looking for food, even that which isn't good for him.... or your poor cory

I'm wondering if floaty issues are part and parcel of fry? My white one was belly up a couple of times and my first thought was oh no - SBD so all he gets now is this stinking concoction of gel food that I made (my cooking reeks at the best of times ) and he's been sort of ok since but I also noticed he'd eat not only his portion, but the others as well so I now have to partition him off at feeding time otherwise he flips back over after a pig out - feeding time is not fun

So maybe it's because he's a bit of a greedy boy and it will right itself soon - and I hope it's not damage from getting stuck.

How big is he now?

He (which I bet he turns into a she cause he eats like his Mama) is like a Vac cleaner.I hate to keep him alone because he loves swimming with the other fish,but I can't starve everyone because he's a hog! This is my first Goldie Fry,so I don't know if floaty probs are norm.He gets a good mixed diet. I just wish I knew it wasn't SB probs from injury.

I took this pic about three weeks ago,I think?

He's gorgeous Devs.I always refer to my fish as male till they prove otherwise.

Thanks Blue,I just love this little guy to death.

He's just TOO cute And he's a big boy no?

I think I've gotta feed my guys more - Ton's about triple their size Is that a hint of wen growth I see?

Oddly enough,it does look a little raised.Seemed like it's taking the parents forever though. I always heard that slow wn growth was a good thing so I don't know.The parents had the same little bump.
Here's a pick of Mommy Marmalade.Not the best pic,but it kind of shows the size difference on her and her sibs-She's huge compared to them.

Wow !!! he is so big now, how old is he and want are you feeding him?

Holy cow, is that the same Marmalade you got from OrandaMan? If that was his name, can't remember...

That's my girl!!! Hard to believe it ,huh? I wish he'd stop by and visit so I could show him how pretty she grew. Heffer size!

Ha! Love reading about all your babies! Glad Won Ton is fine after his "incident"! And the baby cories they are too cute! I love to watch cories! I have 3 albinos in my big tank! I enjoy watching them following each other around! I bet it is hilarious to watch a "HERD O' Babies" swimming all over the place!!

You need to put out a "Kittens 4 Sale" Sign!!!!

Honestly Sharon, Marmalade's one good lookin's gal I understand now how Ton grew so big in such a short space of time, probably got his mum's genes Is Marmalade your biggest fish?

He definitely did get some good growing genes from Mom!! And the same vibrant color. Phew Im relieved you could get him his own tank now though Sharon how is he doing?

I think that Marmalade is probably my biggest.She has the length and the girth to go with it.
I've always started with small baby Pet Store fish,and none of them have grown like her.
I'm so proud of the fact that she came to me as a fry and has turned out at such a beauty. She just hates the camera though so I never get a real good pic of her cute chubby cheeks.
It is mostly all about genes,but this has also happened because she's been isolated from everyone but her siblings and the Bronze Cories that were in the tank before she was,the fact that I've always maintained good water quality and space,and great food.
See what you can get with the proper things,and barely all in a year.
Imogen,Won Ton seems to be doing alot better.He's swimming alot more normal,and seems to begetting back to his old self-Thanks for asking.

I'm so glad Tons doing better I've also always grabbed little store fish and it's interesting that when you pay more, they seem to grow much better. The manager at my local explained it simply as "you get what you pay for". The expensive fish all seem to come from importers of genetically strong fish while the cheaper little fellas are more your local breeders that don't give the same care. Either way though, I love all my little runts equally but I do have some that are just growing all over the shop. That ranchu that my nephew got for me has already grown an extra inch so he's fast becoming one of my biggest fish and he eats the same amount as my others

I would love an oranda like Marmalade - she's just lovely. Hopefully my 2 orandas will grow like her, especially Wilbur - the one the neighbours were going to flush until I asked if I could keep him. He's growing real well now so this is a bonus

That's good to hear WT is getting better. He reminds me of a naughty little boy with chocolate all over his face saying ' no i didn't eat all the cookies mom, i don't know where they could be'

Jen, I don't think I've seen your fish but I think your beautiful tanks and tankscape are just awesome.
All my fish are runts - and several are badly stunted- but I do have one -actually the calico you helped me nurse once- who is going to be big. After 8 months with me he has outgrown all the other fish I have!
I'm looking forward to seeing how big I can help him get

Jen,you'll have to show us a pic of Wilbur again,and the Ranchu your Nephew picked up for you,I remember his excellent taste in Goldies.
All my fish were very low priced,and you're right ,you do seem to get what you pay for,But like you,I wouldn't trade them for anything.They ended up with me for a reason.It's very rare that I've actually ever gotten to pick out a pet or a fish -hence the title of my Avatar!
Imogen,we're waiting for that Calico pic!

Yep, I have to do that. Start a thread about it. He was such a skinny mangy little slither when I got him.
And how about another pic of that adoreable Won Ton... ? Hes a celebrity now!

Here's a pic of Won Ton and Louie.


OOPS!!!! That's Won
Okay ,so here's Won and Louie.

OMG - would you look at the size of him! I've got to say Sharon, he's one good lookin' little fella, that face is priceless Louie's a keeper also - just gorgeous

So how big is Ton now? His body and wen are coming along so well.... how often do you feed him? I want some tips on how I can get my guys to fill out equally well

Cute! Won Ton is grownup now!?

Believe it or not,since Louie was floating after that last "cory incident" ,I've only been feeding him twice a day.I'm so afraid of him getting floaty after dealing with Mummy Marmalade for how many weeks now.
I would guess and say that Louie's a good 5-6 inches,so Won's coming along.One day I'll have to actually try and measure. His wen surprises me.I remember when I got those 12 week old fry from another member.Seems like it took forever for Marmalade,Mandarin and Kumquat to grow theirs.
( I actually call kumquat "Jujube" most of the time)

Here's a bad pic-but good for size comparison to Louie.

Speaking of which, how is Marmalade doing now? I often think about her so if Louie's a good 5-6 inches that must mean Ton's (don't you like how you call him Won but I call him Ton? ) a good 4-5 inches

It's official, I must have done something wrong with my 3 - they're only about 2 inches And their mother Moo was one big gal so it can't be genes...

No,I don't think that "Ton's" that big- maybe Louie is bigger than I think.Tons actual body is small-to me anyway.His fins make him look alot bigger I think.I'll have to check his size today when it gets light out.I'm terrible for fish sizes-I always guess.With as much as you feed your fry-I'm sure that they're around the same size as fat butt.
From floating at the top,she started showing a red spot-which looks like it's turning into an ulcer.

She's been floating for a long time now,and we know that it's not a good sign.I've seen her feeling better,and she'll actually swim down to the bottom and get the food that drops,but her body goes right back up.
I've been feeding her so much less that I swear she's lost weight.I've been giving her gelfood/bloodworms and a few pro-gold pellets here and there,but not too much.The poor girl's so use to eating like a pig.
I started treating with Maracyn II yesterday for the ulcer looking thing.I also put some Neosporin on it.
I hope there's a miracle in the works for her,as she's a real trooper and still fighting,but it looks worse every day that she stays up there jen.

I'm starting to come to the realisation that if swim bladder problems happen later then there must be another cause. My butterfly was in the same boat as Marmalade so a few days ago i started to feed gel food with metronidazole in it and today for the first time, she's starting to stay right side up. Honestly I know how you feel, I couldn't watch it any more, especially when they struggle to right themselves

So medicating may have a good affect - have you tried feeding her medigold? Or even better, do you have any metromeds? It's worth a shot because I know they can't live like that forever which is what got me medicating without the benefit of a clue as to what may have caused it.

Another thing i tried in desparation was a few 15 minute baths in epsom salt (1 tablespoon per gallon) because she was quite swollen and it wouldn't have been from eating because I barely feed her now - especially as she flips and hits the top of the tank so fast...

I don't know if it's the epsom or the meds that have helped her but something has - she was on her back for a full 6 weeks before this.

I'm saying a prayer for Marmalade and hopefully the meds will have some affect and get her back the right way up

I did the Medi-Gold and then the Metro-meds for a while,and I swear it was constipating her more and making her floatier.I don't know-maybe I was imagining it.
I tried Maracyn II earlier on when I wasn't sure if it was egg impaction or bacterial.It didn't do much for her.The reason I'm trying now is just to see if I can contain that ulcer and get it under control-before it really is an open oozing ulcer.
I didn't have enough of any other bacterial med to use.Luckily I don't need meds but once in a blue moon,and the Maracyns usually are enough.
Maybe I should try the Metronidazole.Right now,I've been using that Mazuri Gel I've heard so much about as Gel food.It's too soon to tell if it's a good thing although people that have used it have loved it.
She's eating it,but not like her pro-gold or Bloodworms.I think the poor baby's so starved.
This is the first time that shes ever had to deal with meds.I feel so bad for her.
Jen,I'm so glad that your Butterfly seems to be doing something positive here.I don't think it's been quite 6 weeks for Marmalade so maybe there is hope.
How did the fish act during that Epsom bath? Those kind of things always scare me.....
I did the 1/8 tsp in the beginning per gallon,but haven't done it since.I've only regular salt dipped a few times,and they were smaller fish that didn't do so well.

She did surprisingly well and I did the epsom baths once a day for 4 days - but made sure it was 15 minutes, not a second more. Plus the one thing that's so glaringly similar is Waddles was also severley consipated which is why I think the food and meds are doing so well. The gel food is made up of peas, beans, garlic, spirulina and tuna, the things that seem to cause good movement and less constipation and then I crush a couple of metronidazole tablets in there - she seems to enjoy it

Here's a couple of pics of how she was for 6 weeks (they're such bad quality because I took them when the lights were off to try and avoid stressing her - so I've had to lighten it using photoshop)





And here she is later this afternoon after a waterchange:



It's amazing how now she's swimming a bit better, my stress levels have lowered

What are the chances you can get your hands on some meds to make a gel food?

Wow,what a difference! If I can get this sore spot under control,I'll feel better and will definately give this a shot.Can you pm me with ingredient amounts?I just ordered a bottle of Metronidazole,new medi-gold,and new Metro-meds. Hopefully the Metronidazole gets mailed asap.

Will do

Devs - Amazing story BTW how is Won Ton ?

My first post

love your fish more pics please