Force feeding or live feeding a starving cichlid?

[Poseidon2.0]

Have you tested your water?

Yes

If yes, what is your ammonia?

0

If yes, what is your nitrite?

0

If yes, what is your nitrate?

0.5

If I did not test my water...

...I recognize that I will likely be asked to do a test, and that water tests are critical for solving freshwater health problems.

Do you do water changes?

Yes

What percentage of water do you change?

61-70%

How frequently do you change your water?

Every week

If I do not change my water...

...I recognize that I will likely be recommended to do a water change, and water changes are critical for preventing future freshwater health problems.

My wife’s Flowerhorn (2 years old and 8” long) got ich about three weeks ago and while we cured her of that with a strong salt treatment (3 lbs per 100 gals per Duane’s suggestion from an old post) she has stopped eating altogether. She probably hasn’t eaten in about three weeks or more.

We have started to reduce the salt content of the tank with water changes. It is probably now at half strength of what it was and will do another change tonight or tomorrow (last one was two days ago).

I have thought of possibly trying to force feed her but have no experience doing it so would welcome advice.

She refuses all kind of food I put in the tank (various pellets, krill, raw fish).

I have also thought of possibly trying live fish from my tetra tank (gold tetras and black neons) which I have plenty of - possibly as a way to get her interested in eating but at am at a loss.

She swims around her solo 90 gallon tank and seems mostly fine, if kind of skinny. Zero interest in eating.

Any suggestions welcome. Thanks.

 

[tlindsey]

probably hasn’t eaten in about three weeks or more.

Sorry to hear that.

possibly trying to force feed

I suggest not to do that.

trying live fish from my tetra tank (gold tetras and black neons) which I have plenty of - possibly as a way to get her interested in eating

I say give that a try hopefully it triggers the Flowerhorn to want to eat.

 

[dr exum]

lights are off - lots of water changes?

blood worms or larger worms?

 

[Poseidon2.0]

Sorry to hear that.

I suggest not to do that.

I say give that a try hopefully it triggers the Flowerhorn to want to eat.

Thanks! I will definitely give this a try.

 

[Poseidon2.0]

lights are off - lots of water changes?

blood worms or larger worms?

Thanks for the suggestions. We tried bloodworms which she ignored. I will try some earthworms from the garden. In the past she loved those.

 

[Travisjaso9]

Have you tried starving for a few days my gt attacked his pellets after like 1 day he gave up on not eating

 

[duanes]

Just curious. (and this is "not" a suggestion.
Along with the salt, did you raise temp?

 

[Poseidon2.0]

Just curious. (and this is "not" a suggestion.
Along with the salt, did you raise temp?

I didn’t. The temp is normally around 79-80 degrees and during the hot summer here was raising on its own a degree or so above that.

 

[Poseidon2.0]

Have you tried starving for a few days my gt attacked his pellets after like 1 day he gave up on not eating

Well, she’s been starving and not eating anything for three weeks, which is the heart of the issue right now.

 

[Travisjaso9]

Well, she’s been starving and not eating anything for three weeks, which is the heart of the issue right now.

Oh dang that is bad do I would say try taking her to the exotic vet but idk if they would know or not