Day 4: Red & Stumpy

He's still pretty rough looking, but his colour is improving and he has his appetite back. Stumpy.

Happy Halloween!

This morning I did another 100% water change, stopping them in a salt bath while I cleaned their bowls (2 minutes). I have been leaving bowls of water out overnight in preparation for the water changes so I can be sure that the water temps are roughly the same. The last few mornings I have noticed that their water had become super cloudy over night (Stumpy more than Red), but this morning both bowls were crystal clear aside from the poop (glorious poop!) at the bottom of both bowls. I am continuing to treat water with 1tsp/1gal aquarium salt in addition to the 2-3 minute salt bath (quarter-tsp/Walmart cup).

Stumpy's Bloated Belly and Shiny brightness!!

Food-wise we've been doing ok. Stumpy eats like there's no tomorrow I fight the urge to give him more than 2-3 bites. (Even though he is pretty emaciated... can he have more than this?) What I was super concerned about is last night after 2 q-tip heads (I cut the fluff off and make sure it's dander free) of shrimp brine his little belly swells up so much I fear he may burst, but in about an hour it goes back down to normal. I've attached a pic after his breakfast this morning two tiny pellets rehydrated in melted shrimp brine did this.

Closer pic of Red, you can see he's not as bloated as Stumpy.

Red will not eat pellets no matter how small I make them. This morning I tried soaking them in Shrimp Brine to rehydrate them and he was not fooled. Refuses to take food from me, and waits till it falls to the bottom of his bowl where he sucks it in and spits out the pellet. He's pooping though, not as much as Stumpy, but he must be getting something in, if something is coming out right? He also bloats a little after feeding, but not even close to as much as Stumpy.

Red flaring at me this morning after his water change and breakfast.

Red has lost a few strands of tail as you could see yesterday pieces were breaking off. He still looks pretty ratty today, but flares constantly... it seems any time he sees something red nearby... this morning it was a coke can... His right gill is still slightly open today, no improvement since yesterday.

Stumpy is quite active, swims around most of the day resting only briefly at the bottom of his bowl. He doesn't flare much, but I did give him a couple of minutes of mirror time last night and he flared up a storm with what little fin and tail he has. What I am so happy about is that today for the first time I can see a pupil in his eye in photos... They have been pitch black since I brought him home so I feel encouraged by this!