Aro not eating - seems like its chewing... hunry but not eating Help

  • We are currently upgrading MFK. thanks! -neo

henward

Feeder Fish
MFK Member
Jan 25, 2008
1,260
1
0
Auckland, New Zealand
50cm Rtg
usually eats 1 maybe 2 prawns max now per feed.
Average 1 prawn per day.

about 1 or 1.5 months ago, it ate a clown loach, after swallowing, it was hesitant to eat, would chase food but cannot bite or swallow and spits it out.

after 3 days it started eating FD Shrimp, after 5 it ate shrimps again.
still chewing and takes ages to swallow. then after about 2 weeks, it would eat perfectly fine, as normal, hungry etc.

Then 3 to 4 days ago, after a feed of shrimps,i feed it shrimp. it swallows the first like a monster. Then the second, it keeps in its mouth, this is commoni found, its deshelled and it tends to chew them. but usually swallows the the second or last piece it goes for with in a couple hours max after chewing.

The nextd ay, come feeding time, it ignores food.
It seems like its stillc hewing, weird.
So i left it.
Then the next day, still ignores food.
fast forward to 4 days now, today, i try dangling a shelled prawn no head - it loves them, really notices it has the shell.... it darts from the end of the tank to the prawn like it wants to eat it, but cannot seem to grab the shrimp, it just sits there, circling the food, wanting to go for it, smelling it... literally will stay there for 1 min as it is hungry.
But it seems like there is something in its mouth to chew.
No other fish in the tank has been eaten - I cannot see in its mouth.

What do i do?
Its clearly and visibly hungry for food. But something is stopping it.

Any ideas :cry:
 
My 40cm RTG is going through the same thing, damn thing chews and spits it out, makes a mess of the tank.
A couple of weeks ago it was eating at least 3 full sized prawns a night. I know it's hungry because when he sees me come in with the bowl he darts around like crazy, smashes the prawn, chew, chew then spits it out.
I think he might be bored of the prawns so i tried feeding it some whiting fillets the other night, he ate until his belly was full and kept wanting to eat.
Didnt want him getting addicted to the fillets cos they are pretty pricey.

Try switching it's diet to fish fillets or scallops
 
fish pellets he wont take.
scallops, that will cost way too much

its more the fact i think he still has food in his mouth from 4 days ago :S
he wants the shrimp with a shell - he jsut hangs there wanting to take it, but cos he has something in his mouth or cant open it to take it as what ever it is as if it will fall out...
weird.
 
henward;4544537; said:
fish pellets he wont take.
scallops, that will cost way too much

its more the fact i think he still has food in his mouth from 4 days ago :S
he wants the shrimp with a shell - he jsut hangs there wanting to take it, but cos he has something in his mouth or cant open it to take it as what ever it is as if it will fall out...
weird.

I meant fresh fish fillets from the fish markets bro.

Wack in some big crickets and see if he eats, if he does it means he is probably bored with prawns, i go through this at least twice a year when it gives up on a particular food.
I find it's hard to give aros a varied diet because once they like something they dont want to eat anything else.
 
As long as it eats something and looks healthy, don't be too concerned. Aros can go through weird behavioral changes during their life cycle.
 
its active and looks healthy.
havsnt eaten in 6 to 7 days now.
when i put food, it wants to take it, really wants to, but it seems like its 'chewing' something.
its interested in food. wants anythign i put in there.

i hope and im sure it will be ok. but concerned, its not easy to come by in New zealand and its expensive!
 
11 days now
still not eating! wants to eat but cant seem to grab food
i can tell its getting slightly more stressed. sometimes swimmign low and now swimming as fast and active.

any ideas?
 
MonsterFishKeepers.com