My beloved Red Devil Odoyel id about 9 years old. Lately he has been hanging out in the corner of the tank staring at the wall just chillen and doesn't come to me when he sees me like he used to. He still cruises the tank but way less often than normal. In the 9 years I've had him we've had our battles with black ick and even bloat or a tummy parasite (couldn't figure out which it was but we beat it). So this staring at the wall thing is new and if course very concerning for me. Can this be a sign of him getting old?
Old Age or Sick?
- Thread starter reester251
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What size tank? What are you nitrate readings? Anything else in the tank with him? How large and how often is your water change? Any pictures of him
Could be age but I've seen them live longer.
Could be age but I've seen them live longer.
I'm sorry to hear your Red Devil isn't acting like himself At 9 years old he is definitely entering his senior years (they usually live 10-12 years) It could be old age but staring at the wall and lethargy can also point to a drop in water quality or a late-stage swim bladder issue Have you checked your Nitrate levels lately? Sometimes older fish become much more sensitive to water parameters that they used to handle fine
My tank is 100 gal. I do a 25% water change every two to three weeks. Nitrates are about 120. When he had tummy troubles before he was nose down not up. And normally he comes to me when Im by the tank but even when I wave my hand or stick my face next to his he doesn't even move or see I'm there most of the time. His appetite has grown a little. More eager to eat pellets instead of being stingy trying to wait me out for some night crawlers. (A treat once in a while. Not very often). I have a peacock and a red jewel and a medium size pleco and that have lived in the same tank together for years. Over all scales and find are very healthy. See pics for current behavior. He just stares at the wall.
Consistent nitrates of 120 will be very stressful for him, and have a big impact on his immune system & overall health. That’s VERY high. I notice my fish become lethargic and go off their food when nitrates climb above 80.
I don’t know if his current condition is reversible at this point, but I recommend doing a 90% water change, adding 1tbsp/5gal salt. With bioload of your tank I recommend adjusting your WC schedule to 75% weekly to keep your nitrates <20.
I believe
RD.
has a 15yr old Midas that is going strong. Check out his thread here;
I don’t know if his current condition is reversible at this point, but I recommend doing a 90% water change, adding 1tbsp/5gal salt. With bioload of your tank I recommend adjusting your WC schedule to 75% weekly to keep your nitrates <20.
I believe
RD.
has a 15yr old Midas that is going strong. Check out his thread here;Not quite in the same league as some of Buddy's brutes, but I've had a few people ask me lately for a pic so I thought this might be easiest.
I just relocated this male back into the 125 where he started out close to 7 yrs ago. Still deciding on what or if substrate is going in. I may just let the bottom get covered in algae, it makes it easier for him to pick up small pellets, and I like to make him work for his meals once in a while. The grandkids always comment about how large his brain is. lol
I just relocated this male back into the 125 where he started out close to 7 yrs ago. Still deciding on what or if substrate is going in. I may just let the bottom get covered in algae, it makes it easier for him to pick up small pellets, and I like to make him work for his meals once in a while. The grandkids always comment about how large his brain is. lol
My tank is 100 gal. I do a 25% water change every two to three weeks.
Wouldn't his tank mates be affected in the same way? My red jewel is the brightest red she's been in a while...
These fish come from 0 nitrate environments in their natural habitat. Nitrates of 120 is CRAZY high. You voiced concern for the red devil. He’s sick. Unnecessarily so IMO. The color of the jewel is irrelevant in this situation.
If you want to save the RD and see his health have a chance to improve you need to change more water. Much more water. Target nitrates 10-20 at there peak before water changes.
If you want to save the RD and see his health have a chance to improve you need to change more water. Much more water. Target nitrates 10-20 at there peak before water changes.
I would slowly up those water changes to bare minimum 50% a week and then either two 50% a week or a large 80% weekly water change. High nitrates will stress out an older fish such as yours.