Black Aro problem....

[flamenco-t]

I just got this guy less than a week ago. Currently he's in a 240 gallon tank.

In the past 2 days I have notice pretty bad scaring around his body and scales. I noticed some scales were on the sand bed and his body looks to be pretty bruised up. No torn fins other than the 2 tears when I first had him.

He also had some loose torn skin around one side of the gill cover.

My first instinct was other fish in the tank, but it doesn't seem like the other care too much about him. No sign of aggression whatsoever.

So my second thought is that he might've freaked out at some point and started to jump, I have a light egg crate to cover the tank, he might have damaged his own scales against the egg crate.

Second problem,

He finally ate thawed out krill soaked in garlic for the first time a few days ago. I tried to feed him some cut off market shrimp, he refused it. Tried kril, he refused it this time...finally was able to swallow a few pellets of food stix soaked in garlic.

Is it normal for him to be this finicky eater ? Another problem is that everytime he tries to go for a food that I put litteraly 1/4" in front of him, the moment other fish started to swim towards the food, he backed out and swam away. My old aro would've snagged the food then run away..

I put some indian almond leaves to make him fell at ease for now..I am worry about his injuries..

Should I put him separetly in his own tank and let him get trained on food first ? The problem is that my other fish are quick when it comes to feeding.. the Aro doesn't seem to stand a chance in competing for food.

I am open to all suggestion please.

Thanks in advance..

stan

 

[Tongue33]

OK Problem one looks like aggression to me... Of course they don't do it infront of you OR likely whent he lights are on...

Problem two..

Feed the other fish first.. When they are done make sure you have some crickets and some super worms around.. After teh others have had their fill.. then drop one at a time crickets or super worms.. And see how that goes..

Also to heal.. melafix the tank .. If you are going to leave him in there just deal with it costing alittle more to melafix the 240.. Arows heal fast so you should notice that it gets better as soon as he isn't being badgered..

Also Try leaving the lights on all night and see if anymore damge is in the morning. I strongly suggest this .

 

[Tongue33]

Oh And what are the mates?

 

[flamenco-t]

More pics of th bruises..

One outlined in yellow shows the torn skin on his gill cover..

 

[flamenco-t]

OK Problem one looks like aggression to me... Of course they don't do it infront of you OR likely whent he lights are on...

I think so too !! after taking more pics and analyze the bruises, they are caused by other fish. Not by him slamming his body against the egg crate.

Problem two..

Feed the other fish first.. When they are done make sure you have some crickets and some super worms around.. After teh others have had their fill.. then drop one at a time crickets or super worms.. And see how that goes..

Also to heal.. melafix the tank .. If you are going to leave him in there just deal with it costing alittle more to melafix the 240.. Arows heal fast so you should notice that it gets better as soon as he isn't being badgered..

Also Try leaving the lights on all night and see if anymore damge is in the morning. I strongly suggest this .

Wether I try or not, other fish is going to eat first. The aro's problem is that he got spooked so easily. Traumatic behaviour maybe ?

Say I dropped a pice of krill right in front of him. He would swim towards it showing interest, but as soon as one of the parrott cichlid which can be 2 feet away started to swim towards the krill, he took off...eventhough the krill is 1/4" in front of him touching his barbel.

On Melafix, any downside to other fish or biological bacteria ? other than the cost to treat a large tank of course...

My thought was by separating him, I can focus on treatment, get him adjusted to food and selfishness towards food..

I have left the light on at night...and the damage is happening more each night.

Tankmates:

CK
TSN
2 Blood Parrotts
Severum
Jade Goby
Florida Spotted Gar
Stripped raphael
M. Irwini

 

[deR]

We already told you the TSN was going to be a problem, might be taking cheap shots at the aro at night. It's either him or the aro, can't keep both when the black is that small. Silver and black aros are docile and if they are getting picked at or stressed they will refuse to eat/ better called Hunger Strikes. Better get that TSN out before he kills it, I wouldn't recommend moving the aro since that would stress him out even more. Last time i read Melafix doesn't affect the bio filter so i would use it on the tank, adding salt would also help add a little bit less than recommended dosage so it doesn't hurt his wounds to much.

I also wouldn't recommend feeding it Crickets/Superworms right now, you just got him get him on krill/shrimp right now then later on Insects, if he simple refuses to eat prepared foods then you have to go with the crickets.

 

[flamenco-t]

We already told you the TSN was going to be a problem, might be taking cheap shots at the aro at night. It's either him or the aro. Silver and black aros are docile and if they are getting picked at or stressed they will refuse to eat/ better called Hunger Strikes. Better get that TSN out before he kills it, I wouldn't recommend moving the aro since that would stress him out even more.

I know I know...I have had the TSN since he is 2" long.. I am very attached to him like I am to all my fish...

Gosh..I am stucked

 

[Tongue33]

Feed Crickets and Superworms.

It is 10 times more likely that your Gar did it than your cat.

 

[deR]

I don't mean get rid of him completely, how big is he? If he fits in the 20g then put him there not permanent but until the Black is able to hold his ground. If he can't try to find a place for him for a while, or get a tank divider for your aro. You can always DIY a divider oout of PVC and Egg Crates.

 

[flamenco-t]

Feed Crickets and Superworms.

It is 10 times more likely that your Gar did it than your cat.

I am setting up a video cam to run all night...

I will move the cause of the problem, but I have to be sure first since I relaly don;t want to take any other fish from the tank. I'll move whicever is trully have to go.

The gar usually chills at the bottom at night. My tank is 33" tall, so there are plenty of room from the very bottom to the very top..

stan