Adopted Big RTC not eating well, any Ideas ???

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B

Bgonz

Feeder Fish
MFK Member
Nov 25, 2006
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Monroe twp NJ
I adopted a 30" RTC a little over a month ago and some bizarre reason he's still not eating. Actually he has eaten a few goldfish, but certainly not enough to maintain his body weight. The women I got him from raised him in a 150 and fed him only goldfish for 2 years. I now have him in a 300 gallon rubbermaid and he's just not eating. I've tried smelts,trout,worms,shrimp,hotdogs,mice,goldfish,rosies, and am gonna try some squid later today but he shows no interest in food ??? He is still healthy as a horse looking and doesnt even look overly skinny. My water quality is as good as it gets with nothing out of wack. ANY IDEAS ???? I'm actually thinking he's still pissed from being moved as I've had many fish not eat for a long time after being moved but never a month !!!! Is he homesick ??? Doesnt like black walls???? Another interesting tidbid is he loves to play. If I stick my hands in the water he comes running and swims back and forth as I rub his head as sides but when I grab his fins he acts a little aggressive. He tries to bite my hand/fingers as if its food, not fun. I was thinking of going and buying some expensive fish to throw in because murphys law says he WILL eat them. He's currently swimming around with about 35 large goldfish like their buddy's :screwy: Any Ideas ??? I really would hate to lose this guys due to starvation. You dont grow 30" in two years without eating good, What am I mising ????

Thanks.....




bob
 
chances are he will NOT starve himself to death. nature simply will not allow it unless he is in fact sick. a change in environment will often cause fish to starve but for 1 month! thats highly unusual for a RTC. maybe ure water perimeters are fine but are very different from his old home. he probably needs to get used to his new surroundings and new water conditions given ure sure he is not sick. best of luck hope it all comes thru :)
 
I agree, and catfish this size when stressed will fast sometimes for months. Longest my 3' hybrid fasted after a move was 3 months. He was rather skinny after that, but he started eating like a horse again after that. Also had to redo the plumbing in his pond recently and he fasted for another month. I just keep offering shrimp until he starts eating again. Large water changes often peak his appetite when he's not taking food to good as well. One thing that I would be affraid of for you is when he does start eating again it might overload your biocapacity for you tank since he hasn't ate in over a month. Happened to my tank. Went through a miny cycle. I was scared for 2 weeks while it completed this small cycle. Your fish should be fine. Try offering small portions of smelly foods too to peak his interests. To bring mine out of a fast one time I fed him a raw chicken liver. Not saying to do it all the time or that it's the healthiest thing in the world, but the bloody taste is something most catfish can't resist. Might try krill too. They seem to put off more scent than a normal shrimp my big guy will still eat them even though it's pointless. He also eats floating cichlid pellets that are about a cm wide. Also almost pointless just funny lol. Good luck!!!
 
Oh also would suggest not stuffing him like a pig right away when he does start to eat. After a fast they tend to get sick more easily than when they are not fasting. So just slowly increase the amount that you are feeding over several weeks.
 
Its possible after being fed exclusively goldfish for two years the fish was exposed to a parasite that was held in check by its immune system until it was stressed by the move. It sounds like it it may want to eat but cant. I have seen this before in large cats. Of course it could be behavioral as others have suggested. Yet you may want to get some Prazipro locally, if it is available or Fosters and Smith has the best price. This is very effective, harmless to the biofilter, and safe with catfish for treating internal and external parasites. Also the fish does not have to be eating for it to work. Its only down side is the cost. I have seen it work overnite. As an added benefit it will treat the 35 goldfish that are swimming around as well if they are harboring parasites. Of course follow the labels directions for duration of use etc. Also necrocanis's points on reintroduction of food and the maturity of the biofilter are important and right on target in my opinion.
 
That's another option as stated above. I would also note that large cats have a much higher resistance to medication than smaller ones. When my fish was in temporary storage in a 50 gal tub he developed cloudy eyes. Took a very long time to medicate and treat it. Most medications are made for small ornamental fish that can easily asorb the medication in small doses. As johnptc found out with his pima, it takes much more than indicated in the directions for large bodied fish. I still use the dosing guide on all meds, just seems to take longer, but increased temps always help. As for feeding the fish as stated slowly bring up the ammount that he eats over a period of time that way your filter doesn't try to cycle as much. Like maybe if he takes a shrimp give him one that day, day after that another, next day 2, wait two days 2 more, wait 2 days 3, ect until you get to where you are feeding him properly no more than every other day. again good luck. Hate to see that magnificient beast go down hill hopefully he'll do fine, and I am positive that he will.
 
Thanks for all the replies and advice. I knew others have dealt with this before. I have treated him and the goldfish a few weeks ago with melafix for the full duration and have been doing 25% water changes every week or so since. I am not too worried yet but just trying to avoid any major problems. He seems so healthy and happy just not hungry. Hopefully he will come around soon.


Thanks again.......



bob
 
Bob, Just my two cents again. The Melafix will not treat internal parasites in goldfish or the RTC. In light of its growth rate under the conditions from which you rescued him, your fish sounds like a robust, tough specimen. Its only symptom may be not eating. Assuming there is an internal parasite, other damage can be occuring that may not be apparant until an advanced stage. Successful parasites are ones that can remain in a symbiotic relationship with its host for the longest possible time until the fish dies from other causes or the parasite overwhelms the fish's immune system. On the other hand, with supportive care your fish may fight off the parasite to the point where it is asymptomatic seemingly having gotten well. That is until another stressor arises. IMO why not treat with the Prazipro now and see what happens. You need approx 3 ounces for one treatment for 300 gallons of water. This dose usually suffices. This stuff is so effective you dont have to increase or repeat the dose to make it work. Again just my opinion.
 
about 10 years ago i moved apair of rtc from a 500 gal tank to 1200 gal plywood pond they didnt eat for three months this is really common with large cat mine were 42 and 38 inches
 
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