Well I have had 3 flowers together for about 4 months now. Yes, I have had all of them for longer, it is just that they have been together for 4 months in a 7' x 2' x 2' (210g) that has another 200 gallons in sump tank. There are 2 females and 1 male. All had been strong eaters up to about 2 wks ago. I noticed that the male was looking thin. I observed him over the next couple of days and saw that he would pounce, chew, but not eat. I have since tried an isolation tank for about 4 days, he was too stressed so I moved him back to the main tank. The iso tank was on the same system, same water, etc. Back in the main tank again he was still not eating so I inserted a divider. This did not stress him at all, but still after 7 days, not eating.
So today, he was put into an iso tank that was filled off of his system and filter from his system was put on the tank. The temp will be 83-84F (system was 76-79F). I will begin treating with Metrodonizole (sp.?) tonight for 7 consecutive nights (1/4 tsp per 20 gallons, 1/2 volume water change daily before dose).
He used to eat clam, smelt, worms, shrimp. Now he only passively investigates food and moves on, sometimes chewing, sometimes not.
I am dosing with Metro b/c it worked well with him and the others when I first imported them. After days of not eating and depressed behavior, I started the regimen and within days they were all eating.
There are no live food items used on the system. I am thinking that either the recent cold spell up here and my late action to add extra heaters caused stress for him. This coupled with his bothersome female tank mates was/is perhaps too much stress for him? The larger female is a real bully and the smaller one is following suit. Their is also a small marbled motoro and a tigrinus in the tank.
Wish him luck, he is looking slim, and I am loosing sleep!
A shot from the first week that they were together.
So today, he was put into an iso tank that was filled off of his system and filter from his system was put on the tank. The temp will be 83-84F (system was 76-79F). I will begin treating with Metrodonizole (sp.?) tonight for 7 consecutive nights (1/4 tsp per 20 gallons, 1/2 volume water change daily before dose).
He used to eat clam, smelt, worms, shrimp. Now he only passively investigates food and moves on, sometimes chewing, sometimes not.
I am dosing with Metro b/c it worked well with him and the others when I first imported them. After days of not eating and depressed behavior, I started the regimen and within days they were all eating.
There are no live food items used on the system. I am thinking that either the recent cold spell up here and my late action to add extra heaters caused stress for him. This coupled with his bothersome female tank mates was/is perhaps too much stress for him? The larger female is a real bully and the smaller one is following suit. Their is also a small marbled motoro and a tigrinus in the tank.
Wish him luck, he is looking slim, and I am loosing sleep!
A shot from the first week that they were together.
sorry i just hope it doesnt have the same fate as my friends... maybe add a polyfilter or chemipure or both incase there is something in the water... cant hurt to try...