I'm getting sort of frustrated because my Kel "Luther" hasn't eaten for about 1.5 weeks. I see no discernible symptoms of disease.
He appears to have no interest in food.
I moved him into a 58X17X30 tank in June. He went straight in with the other fish. Tank fairly crowded with oscars and another kel. 2 oscars were moved out. All during this he ate like a horse. Freeze dried minnows, sticks (preferred Tetra jumbo) and krill. He was about 10". In September/ October the female kel "Theo" started getting picky on food. She would not eat sticks and it was difficult to even try to stuff them in the krill. I usually put a little vita chem on the krill but it she started spitting those out. She is a notoriously picky fish.
Luther, not at all. Heck he would even hit peas. Late October he started only eating krill. He would eat the Tetra sticks sometimes. Sometimes spit them out.
The 2 red oscars are also liking the krill and don't care much for pellets anymore. Will eat meal worms and love FD blackworm cubes (with VitaChem).
In November I got a bigger tank. 72X24X31. The fish were moved into a plastic trash can for about 4-5 hours until the new tank was set up. Media moved over to new filter.
About 5 days later I made adjustments on the pump plumbing (sort of traumatic on the fish). But they were not moved.
All the fish have adjusted. All are fine. All ate except Theo. Luther just a bit and just Krill and sometimes a stick. Now Luther has quit eating. Last week I put some Tilapia in (first time) and he ate one piece. That is it. He looked at a red wiggler I put in but nothing happened. 1.5 weeks have passed. Theo has started eating. She gobbles up the krill.
I have read all about starving fish, especially pbass to get them to convert. And I have read about fish, notably pbass being traumatized from moves and not eating.
But there is another thing, Luther scratches himself against the edge of the overflow box sometimes. I am not sure if it's nerves, the trauma or what. He will swim around in the tank but usually just sets at one end or the other looking out. This fish used to great me and get crazy when it was feeding time. Not anymore. The oscars and Theo do come up for the feeding time.
So due to the frustration I am reaching out to others who may have experienced something similar with pbass.
Added note - sometimes his dorsal fin is clenched but other times not (if he sees something or other fish swim by his fin is erect). Back in the day his dorsal fin was usually erect.
2nd added note- I have a 5" jurupari in the tank that Luther tried to eat back in October. (Usually theo would get him excited by chasing this fish) I readjusted cave and all is well.
Lately Luther has no interest in this fish. Theo will chase it a bit but really she just hangs near Luther most of the time. Almost like she is worried about him.
Tank is 79 degrees.
PH is 7.8.
0 nitrites and NH3.
Nitrates about 10-20 (just measured).
Last tank cleaning/ water change was Sunday. About a 60% + water change. Tank is only about 4 weeks old.
He appears to have no interest in food.
I moved him into a 58X17X30 tank in June. He went straight in with the other fish. Tank fairly crowded with oscars and another kel. 2 oscars were moved out. All during this he ate like a horse. Freeze dried minnows, sticks (preferred Tetra jumbo) and krill. He was about 10". In September/ October the female kel "Theo" started getting picky on food. She would not eat sticks and it was difficult to even try to stuff them in the krill. I usually put a little vita chem on the krill but it she started spitting those out. She is a notoriously picky fish.
Luther, not at all. Heck he would even hit peas. Late October he started only eating krill. He would eat the Tetra sticks sometimes. Sometimes spit them out.
The 2 red oscars are also liking the krill and don't care much for pellets anymore. Will eat meal worms and love FD blackworm cubes (with VitaChem).
In November I got a bigger tank. 72X24X31. The fish were moved into a plastic trash can for about 4-5 hours until the new tank was set up. Media moved over to new filter.
About 5 days later I made adjustments on the pump plumbing (sort of traumatic on the fish). But they were not moved.
All the fish have adjusted. All are fine. All ate except Theo. Luther just a bit and just Krill and sometimes a stick. Now Luther has quit eating. Last week I put some Tilapia in (first time) and he ate one piece. That is it. He looked at a red wiggler I put in but nothing happened. 1.5 weeks have passed. Theo has started eating. She gobbles up the krill.
I have read all about starving fish, especially pbass to get them to convert. And I have read about fish, notably pbass being traumatized from moves and not eating.
But there is another thing, Luther scratches himself against the edge of the overflow box sometimes. I am not sure if it's nerves, the trauma or what. He will swim around in the tank but usually just sets at one end or the other looking out. This fish used to great me and get crazy when it was feeding time. Not anymore. The oscars and Theo do come up for the feeding time.
So due to the frustration I am reaching out to others who may have experienced something similar with pbass.
Added note - sometimes his dorsal fin is clenched but other times not (if he sees something or other fish swim by his fin is erect). Back in the day his dorsal fin was usually erect.
2nd added note- I have a 5" jurupari in the tank that Luther tried to eat back in October. (Usually theo would get him excited by chasing this fish) I readjusted cave and all is well.
Lately Luther has no interest in this fish. Theo will chase it a bit but really she just hangs near Luther most of the time. Almost like she is worried about him.
Tank is 79 degrees.
PH is 7.8.
0 nitrites and NH3.
Nitrates about 10-20 (just measured).
Last tank cleaning/ water change was Sunday. About a 60% + water change. Tank is only about 4 weeks old.
