fish won’t eat

[joshc21]

hey guys! i have a wc rostratus that i got imported a week ago along with 14 others however one of the big males won’t eat. i use garlic guard and have even tried raw shrimp instead of pellets and he still doesn’t budge. he swims with the group like a healthy fish however when i go to feed he sometimes goes up to the food and then swims away, other times doesn’t even go up to the food. they’re in a 440gallon tank so they have plenty of room to swim so i have a hard time believing it’s stress. does anyone have any ideas what i should do? i’m thinking i’m going to catch him and put him in a qt tank and treat with metroplex for a few days and try and feed him again. i’ve never experienced this before so i’m not sure what to do to help get this fish to eat. thanks guys

 

[A201]

I think Metroplex is the right course of action. There's a good chance you're dealing with Hexamita.

 

[duanes]

Which rostratus?
The African Fossorochromis rostratus?
The Central American Cribroheros rostratus?

Other?
The term rostratus is kid of like Smith

 

[joshc21]

Which rostratus?
The African Fossorochromis rostratus?
The Central American Cribroheros rostratus?
View attachment 1505702
Other?
The term rostratus is kid of like Smith

fossorochromis rostratus

 

[duanes]

Since Fossorochromis are earth eaters (akin to their far removed cousins in the new world, the Geophagines)
I find they prefer small size foods (small pellets), as opposed to big chunks, or large pellets, just like Geophagines.
When mine spawned, the fry acted as cleaner fish for pan shaped cichlids, eating tiny stuff off their sides.
I also used PF sand as substrate.
In nature they inhabit large open sandy valisneria filled tracts, where they constantly sift thru the sand, for small insect larval edibles, and dive under it when danger threatens.