Nervous 12" Silver aro, dithers?

  • We are currently upgrading MFK. thanks! -neo
* Update *

Thanks Ojest. I bought 3 small Bala sharks (3"+) just so he would see something swimming in the tank. Now they swim on the side of the tank next to me while my silver Aro hides on the opposite side. He hasn't even TRIED to eat one of them. I keep changing my water, and the parameters are great. Temp is right, circulation is good... I'm stumped!

I have not SEEN my aro eat in over 3 weeks now. I used to leave the floating pellets in the tank overnight, but I stopped when I found them still floating there the next day. He has definitely lost some weight, and right as I was getting him back in good shape. He has floating plant clumps on either side of the tank held in place by suction cups.

I'm not sure what to do now. Is he in danger of starving to death soon? He's just at 12" long, and not very thick anymore. I'm wondering if I should just adopt him out before he dies. He's obviously not very happy in my tank, but I can't figure out why.

As always, any help is appreciated.
-John
 
wait so he hasnt eaten now in 3 weeks? And he was eating good before?
 
piranhaman00 said:
wait so he hasnt eaten now in 3 weeks? And he was eating good before?
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Yeah. That's what's so weird. There was no change in his tank, other than the addition of a bio wheel filter to add surface agitation. Just suddenly became über shy and stopped eating.

Like I said, water is clean and temps are held at 80.

I tried stuffing a decent sized silverside with krill and pellets last night and holding it in front of his face, and he still wouldn't take it.

Help?


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Sorry to hear. I have my lights set up so the sides of my tank are dimmer than the middle. My tank is dim in general but I have noticed that my lil 6" aro spends a lot of time in the dimmer areas. He is in a SA com tank. Maybe try soaking his pellets in shrimp or fish water. What I mean by that is when you buy market shrimp try collecting the goo the shrimp leave behind the same goes for if you buy tilapia. That is the method I use to get any of my fish on what I want them to eat.
 
cyberhog05 said:
Sorry to hear. I have my lights set up so the sides of my tank are dimmer than the middle. My tank is dim in general but I have noticed that my lil 6" aro spends a lot of time in the dimmer areas. He is in a SA com tank. Maybe try soaking his pellets in shrimp or fish water. What I mean by that is when you buy market shrimp try collecting the goo the shrimp leave behind the same goes for if you buy tilapia. That is the method I use to get any of my fish on what I want them to eat.
Click to expand...

Thanks Jarred. Couldn't hurt to try making his food extra stinky. I'm sure I can procure some sort of fish slime by this evening. Is this similar to some people using garlic to make the pellets more appealing?

Also, my 6' tank is lit with a 4' T5 fixture, so the sides of my tank are dimmer than the center as well. And he does spend almost 100% of his time in the dim section on the opposite end of the tank that I sit next to.
 
I would not keep hand on food if trying to get him to trust you go slow check ph something that floats steady and try tilapia. I would also treat with jungle parasite guard just because it can't hurt
 
well then! I'm picking up some fresh tilapia on my way home tonight. Even if he doesn't eat it, my e. catfish and bichir will definitely eat it.
 
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