Bredohri stopped eating!

[FluffySackson]

Hello, my little 3" breidohri has stopped eating...he used to eat everything and even nipped my hand sometimes. But now, he completely ignores food. Whether it'd be pellets, bloodworms or brine shrimp he acts like it isn't there. My water parameters are fine 0 ammonia 0 nitrite and 20 nitrate, so I can't find out what is the problem. The same happened to my electric blue jack dempsey, he stopped eating as well. Why? I'm really attached to these little guys and I don't want to see them die at such a small size.

 

[fug202]

Does his belly seem bloated at all? Breidohri are largely vegetarian, so high quality pellets with spirulina are better than meaty foods like bloodworms and brine shrimp. Reserve those meaty foods as an occasional treat or avoid entirely. I wouldn't worry too much in the short term if your fish looks healthy (i.e., not bloated or emaciated, fins erect, color normal). Hold off feeding for a few days and then add a small amount of pellets, or perhaps veggie flakes. Frequent water changes may also help, just in case your measurements are off a bit (check the shelf life of your water parameter test kit). Once you coax him back onto food you could try soaking the food in epsom salts to help clear up any issues in his gut.

 

[FluffySackson]

Thanks, I'll try that

 

[FluffySackson]

He's eating! He's eating! *phew* that little bud scared me.

 

[fug202]

Good to hear. You can breathe easy now.

 

[ragin_cajun]

Put some romaine lettuce leaves under a rock. Get him eating that. Zucchini, too.