Old Silver Dollar no eating for weeks, laying on sand for days, swimming upside down, twitching - now fine?

  • We are currently upgrading MFK. thanks! -neo

DKAudio

Exodon
MFK Member
Feb 4, 2020
34
38
26
40
Have you tested your water?
Yes
If yes, what is your ammonia?
0
If yes, what is your nitrite?
0
If yes, what is your nitrate?
20
If I did not test my water...
  1. ...I recognize that I will likely be asked to do a test, and that water tests are critical for solving freshwater health problems.
Do you do water changes?
Yes
What percentage of water do you change?
11-20%
How frequently do you change your water?
Every week
If I do not change my water...
  1. ...I recognize that I will likely be recommended to do a water change, and water changes are critical for preventing future freshwater health problems.
Hello all, I have two very old Silver Dollars with my Oscars in a 210 with 100 gallon sump. The Silver Dollars have to be 12-14 years old, I took them from my Uncle who passed around 6 years ago and was told they were old when I got them.
Around Christmas 2021, one started hiding in the corner on the bottom and not eating. Every now and then he would just twitch his fins. If he did swim it was very erratic, upside down, hitting things, and eventually nose diving into the sand to lay for another day+. I figured it was his time and was just letting nature take course.
7 or so weeks have gone by with the same behavior. I could not believe he was still alive and sometimes had to use a net to see if he reacted. Now, the point of this thread, early this week he started swimming around! Yesterday he started eating pellets! How is this possible? Any idea what it could have been? He is a lot smaller since he has not eaten for so long but otherwise looks normal again. I would have put money on it that he was naturally passing away but am corrected. All other occupants are healthy with no changes in behavior. Nitrates are tested and religious weekly water changes performed.

Unreal!
 
Hello all, I have two very old Silver Dollars with my Oscars in a 210 with 100 gallon sump. The Silver Dollars have to be 12-14 years old, I took them from my Uncle who passed around 6 years ago and was told they were old when I got them.
Around Christmas 2021, one started hiding in the corner on the bottom and not eating. Every now and then he would just twitch his fins. If he did swim it was very erratic, upside down, hitting things, and eventually nose diving into the sand to lay for another day+. I figured it was his time and was just letting nature take course.
7 or so weeks have gone by with the same behavior. I could not believe he was still alive and sometimes had to use a net to see if he reacted. Now, the point of this thread, early this week he started swimming around! Yesterday he started eating pellets! How is this possible? Any idea what it could have been? He is a lot smaller since he has not eaten for so long but otherwise looks normal again. I would have put money on it that he was naturally passing away but am corrected. All other occupants are healthy with no changes in behavior. Nitrates are tested and religious weekly water changes performed.

Unreal!

Yes unreal. I'm happy I read the whole post because I was going to say it's time. 12-14 years is a great accomplishment ?
 
  • Like
Reactions: Deadeye
Sounds great. I hope it continues to make a full recovery. They can go a long time without eating (weeks). It is not good to do that, but they can. They like good quality water, but are incredibly resilient.
What is the size of the aquarium and setup? Frequency of water changes?
Would you show a picture of the 18 year olds here? Three of my adult silver dollars are ~22 year olds.
 
  • Like
Reactions: tlindsey
:worthlesswithoutpic:
Some of us are dollar addicts and need our fix
 
  • Haha
Reactions: PhishMon84
Sounds great. I hope it continues to make a full recovery. They can go a long time without eating (weeks). It is not good to do that, but they can. They like good quality water, but are incredibly resilient.
What is the size of the aquarium and setup? Frequency of water changes?
Would you show a picture of the 18 year olds here? Three of my adult silver dollars are ~22 year olds.

In the OP

Thanks all, I'll just call it an unexplainable blessing, so glad I didn't euthanize!

Pictures as requested:

IMG_20220224_180237_01.jpg

IMG_20220108_014940_01.jpg

IMG_20211027_185928_01.jpg

IMG_20220108_013514_01.jpg

IMG_20220201_191255.jpg
 
MonsterFishKeepers.com