Bout to give up on Green Terrors!

[Aquanero]

A 130gal (I assume 72X18 footprint) is not overstocked for an 8" GT and two 4" Jags (although it would be in the future).

Yes ^ that is what I was refering to, I always look at the long term arrangement unless it's indecated other wise.

I really hope your GT pulls through this after investing a year in it. If you can I would seperate him and watch him for a while to see what happens. Like I said earlier if he is sick the new Jags are at risk too now. Good luck keep us posted.

 

[fishbum]

If he's trying to eat and spitting out the food it would lead me to think it's an intestinal issue. GT's don't do so well on a very high protein diet and can develop Hexamita intestinalis pretty easily. A big factor for it is stress, which adding more fish can definitely do. Did you by chance see what sort of feces he was passing a week ago or so? White and stringy are signs of an out of control infection. I've had fish act very hungry and beg at the glass and then spit the food out due to infection.

Metronidazole and Epsom salts are a good treatment. Most people say the fish has to ingest the metro, but I've had success with just treating the water and Epsom salts when the fish is so far gone to not be eating.

I actually have the same issue right now as my little male GT was gorging on the very small high protein pellets I put in for the convicts.

^^I agree^^

Try treating with Metro.Mine did something similar.I was not sure what was wrong.He did this for weeks.I keep looking for the white stringy poop,but never saw any.
After a few weeks of him shaking his head,coughing,and spitting out food,one night I saw some white stringy poop. I treated with Metro for 5 days,just added it to his tank,and he has been fine ever since.

 

[yeroc1982]

^^I agree^^

Try treating with Metro.Mine did something similar.I was not sure what was wrong.He did this for weeks.I keep looking for the white stringy poop,but never saw any.
After a few weeks of him shaking his head,coughing,and spitting out food,one night I saw some white stringy poop. I treated with Metro for 5 days,just added it to his tank,and he has been fine every since.

Im trying to spot some poo, cant see any white poo yet. I hope he can get better. Does the Metro dye the tank a stupid color?

 

[Modest_Man]

No. But it would be better to isolate the fish and treat than to treat 130 gallons of water. Also, since he hasn't been eating for a while you'll probably not see any feces as he's not producing any anymore. The white stringy feces are an early indicator, then the fish stop eating and stop producing feces.

 

[yeroc1982]

I only have 2 20 gallon tanks. Will that be ok for a week or so?

 

[Aquanero]

I think it will be ok as a hispital tank. It's a lot easier to treat 20 gals than 130.

 

[Modest_Man]

Substrate or bare bottom? Cycled? Filtration?

For treating an infection, yes. If the tank is cycled and properly filtered. I like a bare bottom approach for a hospital tank, makes daily cleanings easier.

Ideally I'd have a bare bottom cycled set up with water from the main tank to minimize stress.

 

[yeroc1982]

one tank has sand, canopy and aquaclear 70. the other has sponge filter,black gravel, no canopy. Both are cycled

 

[Modest_Man]

That should be fine. I'd do a big water change on the 20 gallon and put water from the 130 into the 20 and then transfer the GT. Then treat with Metro and Epsom salts. Trying to feed occasionally food soaked in meto, pulling it out as soon as it's obviously not going to be eaten.

 

[marauders30]

ive had a gt for a while now who just isnt growing either. ive heard they are slow, but still. i got a jag at the same time, actually on the same day and they were the same size. now the jag is 4 times the gt's size. i pretty much give up on them too haha