Datnoid not eating frequently from NZ

[EN1AL8]

Hows it all MFK members. Can some one please share some light to me as my dat has been quit temperamental in the last few weeks and not eating as much as it normally is, but eats every now and then when it feels like it. And he normally has a feeding time, but now it just eats when it feels like but its eating average onece every 3-4 days instead of every day. which worries me. I hope some one experience with Datnoid keeping can share some suggestions or opinion would be appreciated.

My dat is about 7 -7.5 inches and feeds on frozen prawns.

Iv'e got a few smaller fish living with it, could it be teasing it to put it off eating?

 

[luohanfan]

What are your water params?
Is it's belly sunken or bloated at all ?

 

[EN1AL8]

belly was kinda puffy 3 weeks ago when it hasn't eaten for a week and half, but since then, its eaten 2-3 times last week, but stoped eating again 5 days ago and counting. The stomach looks normal this time i guess from not eating for a few days.

 

[EN1AL8]

Im just wondering if smaller fishes can affect its appetite by intimidating the Dat?
I ask because the Dat had always been hand fed by him self since ive had it and always gets to eat first. But since then, ive added 4 loaches and 3 geophagus surinamensis and those things just screams for food every time i feed and the Dat just sits in its corner and watches them eat.

If i can get closure, it would be really appreciated as the Dat is my favorite fish and i dont want it to get sick.

 

[EN1AL8]

My tanks 6 feet, 500 ltrs, medium hardness, 7.4 ph, water temp 28-29c and water is very clean with no ammonia or nitrate problems. 30-35% water change per week.
And plenty of space in the tank.

 

[luohanfan]

It could quite possibly see the geo's as a threat, therefore staying out of the way, but i would expect it to come out and eat if its hungry.
Is there any chance it is constipated?
Thats my only other thought, you could try treating it with an epsom salt bath to clean its guts out.. Epsom works like a laxative..
Half a bucket of tank water and about 2 tablespoons of epsom, let him sit there for half hour or so..
if he was doing this before you got the geo's, i would suspect stomach probs and try this treatment to give him releif..