Lima Shovelnose behavior?

[annamarie92]

So I'm trying to decide if I should be worried or not. My Lima is acting strange and not eating. I'm new to catfish so this is different.
Her usual routine is when the lights come on in the morning, she will go and "rest" vertically on the driftwood in her usual spot and then swims around when lights go out at night. In the evening right before lights out, I feed her. I just drop the food above her and she grabs it. She sticks to this schedule pretty regularly.
So Sunday I did my weekly water change (about 30%) and since then she has been swimming around constantly. She hasn't gotten into her usual position on the driftwood. She shed her slime coat last night. She also hasn't eaten since Monday. She ate a large meal of massivore and silversides Monday night, nothing since then. She's not interested in food. Also on Tuesday I rearranged some of the driftwood. Water parameters are perfect: Ammonia-0 nitrite-0 nitrate-10. No major changes except moving a few pieces of driftwood. She looks healthy, brightly colored.
Does this sound like a stressed out Lima or is it normal? Should I move the driftwood back to the original spots? She's went off food for a day or so before, but never this long. Will she eat less as she grows? She's at about 5 1/2 inches right now.
Thanks for any help! There's not a ton of info on these fish that I can find.

 

[tlindsey]

I know that the shedding of slime coat of lima shovel nose catfish is common, maybe give a day or two then see if it will eat.

 

[catfishacr]

I would guess moving around the driftwood stressed your lima, especially if you moved its normal resting spot. It should adjust in a few days and be back to normal. They can go awhile with out eating but if it continues not to eat try soaking the silversides in some garlic guard that should get your lima lit up!

 

[annamarie92]

I know that the shedding of slime coat of lima shovel nose catfish is common, maybe give a day or two then see if it will eat.

I have read the shedding of slime coat is normal. Some people said it's because of water params, but since mine are good I didn't think that was the issue with her. She ate tonight, I feel so relieved now.

 

[annamarie92]

I would guess moving around the driftwood stressed your lima, especially if you moved its normal resting spot. It should adjust in a few days and be back to normal. They can go awhile with out eating but if it continues not to eat try soaking the silversides in some garlic guard that should get your lima lit up!

I moved things around without even thinking. I'll never do that again lol she ate tonight so I'm feeling a lot better about it. I know they can go a while without eating, and like I said she's went a day or two before but never this many. I'm guessing I stressed her out, but who knows. I'm just happy she ate tonight. I almost resorted to the garlic! Thanks for the advice!! I'm just a paranoid fish mom lol

 

[tlindsey]

Great to hear she is eating

 

[thebiggerthebetter]

It may or may not have to do with the dw move (I find this possible but unlikely - easy to check, move it again, don't be afraid as a few days fast is nothing to worry about) or the wc (perhaps you forgot or on the opposite overdosed the dechlorinator or something else found its way into the water or the temp or pH were too different, etc. - many things can go wrong in a wc).

In general though, it is not uncommon for fish to take a break in their feeding routine for days, weeks large fish may fast for months for unclear reasons, which could be benign or malicious - we usually don't know.

 

[annamarie92]

It may or may not have to do with the dw move (I find this possible but unlikely - easy to check, move it again, don't be afraid as a few days fast is nothing to worry about) or the wc (perhaps you forgot or on the opposite overdosed the dechlorinator or something else found its way into the water or the temp or pH were too different, etc. - many things can go wrong in a wc).

In general though, it is not uncommon for fish to take a break in their feeding routine for days, weeks large fish may fast for months for unclear reasons, which could be benign or malicious - we usually don't know.

That's what ive been learning. Especially these larger fish. They will go off food for reasons that I don't understand. What I've found to be true for the Lima atleast, is that switching the diet up has helped her be constant in her feedings. I got in a rut as far as feeding her silversides and massivore everyday. I believe she just got tired of it. All it took was a simple switch in what I was feeding, and she was back to eating consistently and ravenously.

 

[thebiggerthebetter]

Yes, I've read that in your other concurrent thread. I like logical thinking but one has to reserve a room for coincidence and other alternative explanations. Silverside + massivore is an excellent diet (but you are right, variety is important). Plus fish, as almost all (all?) animals don't get bored with food types. At least, it does not appear so to me (it's the luxury of rotten-spoiled humans plus we tend to anthropomorphize our pets). Once you present a few more occurrences of the same or similar phenomenon, your case will gain more significant strength. Are the silversides fatty? If yes, the fish may have sensed a need for leaner food.