- Have you tested your water?
- No
- If I did not test my water...
- ...I recognize that I will likely be asked to do a test, and that water tests are critical for solving freshwater health problems.
- Do you do water changes?
- Yes
- What percentage of water do you change?
- 21-30%
- How frequently do you change your water?
- Every week
- If I do not change my water...
- ...I recognize that I will likely be recommended to do a water change, and water changes are critical for preventing future freshwater health problems.
I have two African Butterfly Fish, one male and one female.
other fish: 6 glass catfish, 1 elephant nose, 1 rope fish, 1 leopard bush, 3 pearl gourami, 3 rabbit snails (it was two, they had a baby), 3-5 amano shrimp (some may have been eaten, or are hiding extremely well).
I have had the ABFs for a while. The female was purchased first, I think in June of last year. The male was purchased maybe a month or two later. I started feeding them crickets and they both would cruise the top when I opened the lid and were very active eaters. I then experimented with different flake and pellet foods. The female would eat these betta pellets I just happened to have from when I owned a betta. The female would also accept some flake food (although I could tell she wasn’t really into it). I also tried freeze dried mysis shrimp from Hikari. Again, the female would nibble but spit it right out. The male didn’t seem interested in anything but crickets. Then one day they both seemed completely disinterested in food, it was about 5 days that I had not witnessed them eating. The male has not been interested in crickets, I seen one climbing on his head and no reaction. I was worried because of the disinterest in food. The female has bounced back and I have watched her eat crickets. I also purchased some sort of Hikari floating carnivore stick (it appears arrowana fish like them). The female will eat these floating sticks, but not my male. I have-no problem continuing to buy crickets, especially since now my leopardfish has taken a liking to them. That’s part of what made me try pellets and flake food, the leopard was eating the crickets before the ABF had a chance for them to float by. Both fish appear healthy with no visible marks or signs of disease. They are not breathing heavily or gasping for air. There is plenty of floating plants to ensure they feel safe (although I do trim it often so the plants below get light). There’s even frogbit that has made it’s way into the tank by hitchhiking on some plants I ordered. The female hangs out near the output of the filter. Sometimes they hang out together in the plants, but the male way very aggressive when I first got him.
I am wondering what other people are feeding their African Butterfly Fish? And has anyone experienced this no eating behavior and what was the outcome?
other fish: 6 glass catfish, 1 elephant nose, 1 rope fish, 1 leopard bush, 3 pearl gourami, 3 rabbit snails (it was two, they had a baby), 3-5 amano shrimp (some may have been eaten, or are hiding extremely well).
I have had the ABFs for a while. The female was purchased first, I think in June of last year. The male was purchased maybe a month or two later. I started feeding them crickets and they both would cruise the top when I opened the lid and were very active eaters. I then experimented with different flake and pellet foods. The female would eat these betta pellets I just happened to have from when I owned a betta. The female would also accept some flake food (although I could tell she wasn’t really into it). I also tried freeze dried mysis shrimp from Hikari. Again, the female would nibble but spit it right out. The male didn’t seem interested in anything but crickets. Then one day they both seemed completely disinterested in food, it was about 5 days that I had not witnessed them eating. The male has not been interested in crickets, I seen one climbing on his head and no reaction. I was worried because of the disinterest in food. The female has bounced back and I have watched her eat crickets. I also purchased some sort of Hikari floating carnivore stick (it appears arrowana fish like them). The female will eat these floating sticks, but not my male. I have-no problem continuing to buy crickets, especially since now my leopardfish has taken a liking to them. That’s part of what made me try pellets and flake food, the leopard was eating the crickets before the ABF had a chance for them to float by. Both fish appear healthy with no visible marks or signs of disease. They are not breathing heavily or gasping for air. There is plenty of floating plants to ensure they feel safe (although I do trim it often so the plants below get light). There’s even frogbit that has made it’s way into the tank by hitchhiking on some plants I ordered. The female hangs out near the output of the filter. Sometimes they hang out together in the plants, but the male way very aggressive when I first got him.
I am wondering what other people are feeding their African Butterfly Fish? And has anyone experienced this no eating behavior and what was the outcome?
