Lima Shovelnose Issues

[jrance4585]

My newish (had about 3-4 weeks) Lima Shovelnose has recently stopped eating. He is about 6" long and a few days ago I introduced a 5" ID shark into my 75 gallon grow out along with a large piece of driftwood. The ID shark then received a few lacerations from a Delhizi so I added about 1.5 tablespoons of salt to the 75 gallon tank (well below the advised amount i believe).

Question is: Do you think 1.5 tablespoons of salt is enough in a 75 gallon tank to upset the shovelnose's eating habits, or could it be the addition of the large driftwood? I know wood changes the chemistry a bit. He hasn't eaten for about a week now and I'm starting to worry. He used to get such a full stomach when I fed him, now he wont touch the pellets, or frozen krill.

Any help would be great, he is such an awesome fish. He is still active when we turn the light off but again, i have held krill in front of his mouth and he just wont eat!

-J

 

[greenbud]

Earth woorms. or haddock cut in strips

 

[Ponddigger]

First I would test the water to see if it is the right pH. If its good and it is still not looking good try some small tetras or earthworms and see if he wants to eat some of that.

 

[mikehagan]

My shovel nose is about 5 inches. Currently being treated for ich with 2 tablespoons of salt and a heat of 85, and still eats a lot of food.

 

[isde02]

Mine used to go on hunger strikes all the time, he wont starve. I've even seen mine thrash his skin off and eat that when he was on a hunger strike.

 

[peter 808]

I am having the same problem with my lima as well. This has been going on for a month with mine. I also introduced new tank mates (2 peacock bass) and a piece of driftwood. I salted the tank as well as my bass had some open wounds from fighting each other.

Shortly after my lima stopped eating. In addition, instead of pretending to be a stick on the back glass of my tank, my lima now swims against the flow of filter. The lima only eats the day after a water change, so he eats only once a week. I checked my water parameters and all is fine. I was thinking maybe the aggressive manner in which the bass eat could be discouraging it from eating, but when it does feed, it is by far the most aggressive eater in the tank.

Try doing a water change to see if it will eat the next day. Hope someone else will have some answers for us.

 

[Hondacrx2]

Shovelnosr's swim vertical when stressed. And my tig got starved for a month and a half till it ate pellets and was fine so don't worry.