heater burn on new bn

Hi everyone,
sorry, I have not had a chance to post pics of my new bn, was supposed to be medusa ,but I am pretty sure it is a marble/calico. I will try to get over to my nephew's and have him post some pics but in the meantime, a problem popped up..

After 4 weeks in q-tank(20g) I added him to my main tank, 54g trigon/corner, with my 2 L128's, 9 harlequin raspboras, 3 rainbow, 4 barb , 1 farlowella.
Problem is his coloring has changed ,perhaps it is the lighting difference in the tanks, but he looks green,where the goldnen color was , and also ,when he get startled, he hides behind the heater, can't get a guard for it here yet, been looking, saw covers in UK ,but not able to find in US for eheim-jager ,so wonder if I should put him back in the 20g permanently or is that too small for him to live in ? He has a little pink on his head area, so I will be putting him in the q-tank anyway for med - ''fix twins'' , but I know he will be safer in there , that tank heater has a cover, but agian, is it too small for him to permanently live in ? Gonna move him this weekend and start the meds. Advice appreciated.

Will try to get some pics posted asap , till then, what is your members advice .
Thanks , Georgie

I'm assuming your talking in US gallons rather than imperial, but 20 US gallons is about 75 litres. A 75 litre tank, given that it's a normal tank shape, should be more than OK for a single BN and is just about big enough for a pair.

hi, yes, US gallons, thanks so much.. I HAD to switch him to the 20g last Sat am ,cuz I noticed he was int he hydra-sponge output cylinder,which must have come detatched the day before during a wc. I could see him through the slightly clear plastic and he refused to come out so had to gently shake him , and did so into a bag, and made the switch. Noticed he spent all day Fri on the top glass , refused to choose a cave, have 5 caves for 3 plecs plus many other hidey areas. Seems he was not happy there and noticed he had burned/singed a side bristle. Had already ordered a cover for the heater, but not instock ,so in 20g have rena with cover. Safer for him , and began med with the ''fix twins''. He seems happier now and his color is better, ..pls excuse that I have not posted pics yet ,need to hook up (time-wise) w/my nephew to post.

many thanks, Georgie

20g is definitely more than enough space for him. Have you tested the water parameters in the bigger tank?
The pink spot on the back of his head is not unusual, some males tend to have quite a bright spot and some females have it also, though not as noticeable.
I'd keep a close eye on him. Maybe compare the parameters and temp between the 2 tanks, might be a clue there on what what he reacted to? Hope he gets better soon.

~Tegan

Hi Sil,
yes, I test my water often, maybe too often, every 3 days ,not everything,but ph, nitrAtes, and sometimes amonial, ususally i must keep my eye on the ph in the 54USg trigon,as the wood drops the ph, so I add crushed coral bag to one of the filters. Wc's -10% daily and vacuum every Fri. A-0, ni-0 ,na-7 , ph 6.8
I believe the 2 blue phantoms rejected the new bn ,although size is similar, but possible bulling, not sure,just know he would often squeeze himself behind the heater , at top of tank and only went to bottom to eat veggies.

The 20USg tank has 2 HOB filters , and a hyrda-sponge filter, and I have added an airstone while medicating and dropped the water level. Less wc's and vacuum every 2 weeks as only 3 fish. waster readings same as 54g above.

The water parameters is same in both tanks...I am pretty sure he singed his bristle and head on the heater, but will keep an eye on things. The bristle on side cheek was white, and perhaps the pink on head is normal ,but worried me and he was basically living up there behind the heater, which was why I ordered a cover...still waiting, but in that tank my L128's never venture behind the heater, they love their caves. ..still gonna get it.

I will let ya know how the bn is doing after the 7 day treatment, will be doing some re-scaping after that too! want him to be healthy and happy ...thanks for all your help and concern !
Georgie

calico is doing good now, the meds are finished, and his skin has healed up nicely. thanks everyone !
Georgie

Silvashadow wrote:

20g is definitely more than enough space for him. Have you tested the water parameters in the bigger tank?
The pink spot on the back of his head is not unusual, some males tend to have quite a bright spot and some females have it also, though not as noticeable.
I'd keep a close eye on him. Maybe compare the parameters and temp between the 2 tanks, might be a clue there on what what he reacted to? Hope he gets better soon.

~Tegan

silva, thanks for the heads up about the pink on the male head ,I have him in a tank with covered rena heater so knew could not be burned again... ....now that I have re-scaped, medicated for the singed/swollen cheek, he is doing so excellent !! all healed up and I have added a few fake plants( prefer live but need to buy more ) and a few live plants , switched things around and he no longer hangs on side glass in the 20US g tank...he has his fav spot and i have put some pics on family members computer of the bn and his tank, I need to through the pics and post them ...thanks to everyone here for all your help ..with this new guy :o he is so different compared to my common or my phantoms !! I still need to change the substrate, as this was a q-tank previously .. so plan switch to natural substrate soon..and will post pics when I do that...but will get recent pics up soon .
Georgie