African Cichlids: General Discussion => fish won't eat

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fish won't eat [message #9590]

Tue, 22 April 2008 18:46

thewall17

Messages: 20
Registered: March 2008
Location: NJ

Junior Member

I had fish in my exiting tank that is a yellowish/greenish/brown with green spots on it. My wife likes the way he looked so I bought another one (along with a couple other fish, including an electric blue). The existing fish is about 2-3 inches big, the new one is about 1.5 inches or so. The existing fish up today was fine, in fact was chasing around the new fish on day one a lot. Now today, 3 days later the exiting fish isn't eating. He swims fine and is not being attacked. Other than not eating is acting the same.

I know one day of not eating is not a big deal, but curious if he/she is pregnant, or something else can be wrong. I feed the fish a mixture of flakes and pellets two times a day, and put romaine lettuce in the tank once or twice a week. So any ideas on why the fish may not me eating? My only idea was the fish maybe pregnant.

[Updated on: Fri, 25 April 2008 15:32]

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Re: fish won't eat [message #9592]

Wed, 23 April 2008 06:24

Malawi Mother

Messages: 1209
Registered: February 2007
Location: Phoenix AZ

Senior Member

it's possible but wont say for sure until you see say it has a double chin. When they first start carrying eggs, sometimes it's hard to see that they are carrying. When the eggs hatch and the babies become larger then you really start to see the double chin effect. Give it a couple more days and watch the behaviors of the fish. African cichlids can go quite a long time without eating.

http://members.cox.net/rpagan2/cichlid%20signiture.JPG

Please come visit me at www.atozthatsme.com

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Re: fish won't eat [message #9595]

Wed, 23 April 2008 20:06

thewall17

Messages: 20
Registered: March 2008
Location: NJ

Junior Member

I will try and take a picture tonight or thursday night and post it. And a follow-up question if the fish is pregannt is there a link to post or a website on what to do with a pregnant fish?

THank You

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Re: fish won't eat [message #9596]

Wed, 23 April 2008 21:00

thewall17

Messages: 20
Registered: March 2008
Location: NJ

Junior Member

Well I think the fish may be sick, not pregnant. He is kinda of lyaing in my fake plants. 20 minutes ago he was laying on the bottom of the tank hiding in rocks. He keeps moving his moth a lot like it is having trouble breating. Any ideas?

Also found out it is a giraffe cichlid.

[Updated on: Wed, 23 April 2008 21:01]

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Re: fish won't eat [message #9602]

Thu, 24 April 2008 09:53

Malawi Mother

Messages: 1209
Registered: February 2007
Location: Phoenix AZ

Senior Member

Is it a Venustus or a Livingstonii? It does depend on it's behavior. Livingstonii's lay on their sides to pray apon smaller fish.

Do you have enough oxygen in the water, you may need a bubbler.
Are you water parameters ok? Ammonia is 0ppm Nitrites are 0 ppm amd Nitrates are below 15?

Do a water change if you are not sure. Do like 1/3 of the tank and see if your fish starts to come around.

Please come visit me at www.atozthatsme.com

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Re: fish won't eat [message #9603]

Thu, 24 April 2008 12:57

thewall17

Messages: 20
Registered: March 2008
Location: NJ

Junior Member

I had my water tested this past Saturday, and he said everything was fine, I do not know the levels. I do about 20% water change weekly, and about every 6-8 weeks I do a vacuum of about 50% of the gravel. I use a power head with the hose thing connected to pull in air and adds bubbles to the water. SHould I also use a bubbler? The rest of my fish are fine as far as I know. One fish is more pale looking than latley, but other than that all are fine.

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Re: fish won't eat [message #9608]

Fri, 25 April 2008 15:31

thewall17

Messages: 20
Registered: March 2008
Location: NJ

Junior Member

Well sad news, the fish passed away. I tried to find him the other night and move him to a hospital tank, but had no luck. The next day most of the rocks and still no luck on finding him, was really puzzled, but this morning my wife discovered him floating on the surface. I think maybe he had the bloat, since he looked a little bit bloated.

I feed my fish cichlid flakes that are 40% protein, and the solid food is like 44% protein. I also put lettuce in the tank once a week, and feed 1-2 algea chips a day as well.

Should I switch to lower protein food, and feed more vegetables like, peas and squash to help prevent the bloat?

Thanks,

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Re: fish won't eat [message #9609]

Sat, 26 April 2008 08:15

Malawi Mother

Messages: 1209
Registered: February 2007
Location: Phoenix AZ

Senior Member

I give my fish a good flake in the morning, a pellet for lunch and a flake for dinner. I give them veggies 2-3 times a week. This has proved to be enough vegetable to keep Malawi Bloat at bay. Stay away from live food as much as possible. A treat a couple times a month is fine like plankton or brine shrimp. Your fish have to have protein for growth and veggie for digestion just like humans. Too much protein causes 'bloat' but yet they have to have it so just be careful how much you give. Sorry to hear about your fish. Those fish get really big.

Please come visit me at www.atozthatsme.com

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