I think my silver is sick.

[Tizer]

Ive had my silver arowana, Tong Po for about a month now and although he wasn't the biggest eater he would usually eat about 3 crickets or waxworms at a feeding session.
In the last few days he has been hanging around at the spray bar and is lucky if he eats one cricket or mealworm. He used to eat pellets that had been soaked in tank water but now he doesnt even look at them.

He is around 7" long and lives in a six foot tank with a 3" red head cichlid and a few catfish. He was quite thin when I bought him and im now wondering if there is something underlying.
I do regular water changes and maintenance and my readings at present are.

Ammo = 0
Nitrite = 0
pH = 6.8
Nitrate = 10ppm

I was under the impression that they liked to sit in the flow but im wondering if he is hiding there because he is weak and its taking to much out of him to swim in the flow? All my other fish are fine and eating healthily.

Anyone got any ideas?

 

[AnDr3w]

Maybe a parisite?

 

[Miguel]

1) No fish that still eats, albeit les, is dying, ok? So don't stress.

2) Aro's go on hunger strike now and then..and serious hunger strikes.

3) Something may be stressing him. Imo, cichlids ( beyond discus ) and aros don't mix. same goes for big cats.

4) He can be hidding in the current or just enjoying it..I have one who loves it. Anyway, I don't believe that it would saty in the flow if it was too much for it.

5) May have parasites. Should try garlic in his food.

M

 

[ethnics]

baby silvers are very prone to disease and death. its kinda weird but i went thru 3 baby's before i snagged my survivor. some silvers just thrive to survive, and some dont. hopefully yours comes around

 

[Miguel]

Ethnics is perfectly right . Baby silvers are hell on earth to raise.. but yours, at 7", I do not put in that category....she already passed that stage, imo

 

[Tizer]

1) No fish that still eats, albeit les, is dying, ok? So don't stress.

2) Aro's go on hunger strike now and then..and serious hunger strikes.

3) Something may be stressing him. Imo, cichlids ( beyond discus ) and aros don't mix. same goes for big cats.

4) He can be hidding in the current or just enjoying it..I have one who loves it. Anyway, I don't believe that it would saty in the flow if it was too much for it.

5) May have parasites. Should try garlic in his food.

M

On no 4, he is not in the current, he is hiding up behind the spraybar away from the current. I may try dividing off the tank for a while and see if he is more settled alone. If thats the case I have some decisions to make in regards to what stays and goes.


In regards to number 5, how do you give him the garlic and how much? I have never heard of this before. Should I put some in for the crickets to eat before I then feed them to the arow?

 

[Red Devil]

I would add some garlic to the tank.. it gets their appetite going..i hope he comes around..like MIguel said they can go off food for no apparent reason.. although because he is young you want to see him eat ASAP..but like Miguel also said as long as he is eating something it is very good sign, hope he does a change soon..keep us posted and wish you and the Arow baby the best. You can dip crickets in vitamins and garlic.

 

[Miguel]

On no 4, he is not in the current, he is hiding up behind the spraybar away from the current. I may try dividing off the tank for a while and see if he is more settled alone. If thats the case I have some decisions to make in regards to what stays and goes.


In regards to number 5, how do you give him the garlic and how much? I have never heard of this before.

Aro's ( allthough mostly blacks ) also hide and the spraybars look just like flotsam...mine stey like that for minutes at a time, lurking for prey, on the surface.

garlic you get in LFS. It comes in liquid form. any LFS would have it..just soak food in it prior to giving it..for some fish it even entices apetite and it is a premium anti-parasite...

 

[Tizer]

Ok thanks, i will get some tomorrow morning when the shops open.

 

[Miguel]

crickets are a very god idea..buy small ones, because the aro is too young for tougher crickets.

being on the weakish side, try to take out the crickets 2 hind legs, so it does not hurt the aro's mouth...important that it stays in the surface and swims, anyway, ok?