I started with a silver arowana and an Oscar in my 300gal. I bought the green terror and a jack dempsey home at the same time. Both were 6inches. All was well for half a year. All 3 cichlids acted like little puppies every time I walked in front of the tank. Green terror established himself as top dog in the tank. Recently my Oscar died. He was a pig and after one night of stealing everyone’s food. He got constipated. Stopped pooing for a week and died. Then last week my 20” aro jumped through a 1 inch opening on my lid. I used to have a HOB there. I found him after work dried up behind my stand. I know my tank will never be good for the life time of a silver aro but lets not talk about that. He’s gone.. So after these two deaths. The green terror seems like it doesn’t trust me anymore. Hides when I am in front of the tank. It’s like he thinks I murdered the other two and he’s next. Won’t eat. But if I watch him from a far, he acts like his normal dominant self. It’s been a little over a week now and I’m getting worried. My JD and my group of geos are all acting normal and eating normally. Ammonia and nitrites at 0. Nitrates are 10-15. PH is around 7. I do 30% weekly water changes. Does anyone have any tips on getting the green terror to eat again?
Green terror acting weird. Help please
- Thread starter Tysonacus
- Start date
Perhaps the gt was more comfortable with the company of his big friends. He might just be readjusting right now.
The only part that would worry me is the not eating. Are there any signs of internal parasites? Stringy poo? Concave stomach?
Pictures?
It’s hard to say for sure what’s going on. First I’d rule out parasites and go from there.
What other tankmates does he have?
The only part that would worry me is the not eating. Are there any signs of internal parasites? Stringy poo? Concave stomach?
Pictures?
It’s hard to say for sure what’s going on. First I’d rule out parasites and go from there.
What other tankmates does he have?
I was just wondering if there was anything else in there.
I went through an episode with my male GT. He got parasites so I pulled him from the tank and put him in a separate one with meds. His condition worsened, so I started trying to treat him by shoving a tube down his throat to ensure that the meds were entering his body.
I felt terrible doing it, but it saved him from certain death. He didn't eat for a good two weeks, barely moving at all.
He still doesn't trust me to this day, although getting better about it, I believe that GTs do better in a community environment. Aside from spawning times they really are not that aggressive. Everyone says they are but I don't think so.
Throw another GT in there so he has a buddy.
I felt terrible doing it, but it saved him from certain death. He didn't eat for a good two weeks, barely moving at all.
He still doesn't trust me to this day, although getting better about it, I believe that GTs do better in a community environment. Aside from spawning times they really are not that aggressive. Everyone says they are but I don't think so.
Throw another GT in there so he has a buddy.
My thoughts are similar. Considering the aro is no longer patrolling the upper part of the tank, might take time for him to adjust. The other thing is if you weren't there you didn't see what might have preceded the aro jumping out, whether there was some sort of commotion that caused it, etc.
Not eating much temporarily can simply be a stress response, natural reaction to stress hormones that affect digestion. I wouldn't jump right into meds, but that's just me. I'd give it time, if he starts losing weight I'd tempt him with a treat of some sort. I don't do frozen, so for me it would be freeze dried blood worms, freeze dried shrimps or the like.
The other thing I do with skittish fish is spend time just sitting near the tank, not staring into the tank all the while, but doing something else, read, use tablet or computer, etc. with an occasional glance to see behavior. Takes patience, sometimes, but I've found at a minimum you become a regular part of the landscape and they tend to 'get on with their lives' over time, if nothing else. At least that's my experience.
tlindsey
The jack dempsey is female and I got lucky. She’s not aggressive or territorial. I can slowly walk up to the tank. The moment I make eye contact, he hides.This morning I went out and got a another Oscar. It’s a long fin one this time. Maybe he misses his Oscar buddy. Been ignoring him so far.
neutrino
I have the tank in my basement living room and the couch next to the tank is where I usually spend my time after my day is done. I noticed in the weeks leading up to the jump. The geos seem to be establishing and reestablishing their top dog within their group. So flaring and small chases(no injuries). But these sudden small chases made the aro jump into my lid. Being 20” it’s pretty loud. I was thinking maybe he was hanging out under the only opening in the tank. When one of these sudden chases happened and jumped straight through. But I’ll never know. I’ve been feeding them shrimp, frozen blood worms and cichlid gold. Sinking for the geos and the GT always ate the floating before.
MrsE88
I haven’t seen any stringy poo. I’m not sure about concave stomache but it’s no more bulge from regular meals like before. I just took some pictures. I’ve seen so many nice pictures on google. I never realized it was so hard to take a picture of a fish.
tlindsey
The jack dempsey is female and I got lucky. She’s not aggressive or territorial. I can slowly walk up to the tank. The moment I make eye contact, he hides. This morning I went out and got a another Oscar. It’s a long fin one this time. Maybe he misses his Oscar buddy. Been ignoring him so far.
neutrino
I have the tank in my basement living room and the couch next to the tank is where I usually spend my time after my day is done. I noticed in the weeks leading up to the jump. The geos seem to be establishing and reestablishing their top dog within their group. So flaring and small chases(no injuries). But these sudden small chases made the aro jump into my lid. Being 20” it’s pretty loud. I was thinking maybe he was hanging out under the only opening in the tank. When one of these sudden chases happened and jumped straight through. But I’ll never know. I’ve been feeding them shrimp, frozen blood worms and cichlid gold. Sinking for the geos and the GT always ate the floating before.
MrsE88
I haven’t seen any stringy poo. I’m not sure about concave stomache but it’s no more bulge from regular meals like before. I just took some pictures. I’ve seen so many nice pictures on google. I never realized it was so hard to take a picture of a fish.