Ornate Problems

[Darth Scohin]

Okay So I have my Ornate in a 20gal with an AC20 & BioWheel150 temps at 78ish(can't bump up temp) 0 readings on everything an less than 10ppm of Nitrate WC at 50% and He wont eat anything but bloodworms and brine shrimp furthermore he has what looks to be a stone right behind his gular plates....He still eats and he is still breathing. This is my 2nd Ornate as my last one was eaten by my Endli and therefore I cannot put him in the 75gal....
Otherfish in the tank are:
5 Calvus
1 Jewel Cichlid
3 Mollies
1 Butterflyfish

 

[GarNiac]

20 gall is way too small for an ornate, if you can, its better to keep bichirs without tankmates therefore your ornate can get access to food without tankmates bothering him. Try silversides, also, your mollies will be a target practice in the tank soon or later for your ornate.

cheers

 

[Darth Scohin]

This is my only other tank and it is a Growout not Perm I know the mollies will become food that is why when the ornate gets bigger it's out that's the whole point.The point of this is to address it's poor growth/stone, not to tell me what I already know

 

[Burbotman]

Hey Darth, any chance of seeing a pick of the growth? Is it only on one side? I had a ropefish with a tumor on its throat and it was hard to tell what it was untill it got fairly large. Hopefully this is not what it is.

Foodwise, at least it is eating. Have you tried letting it go a few days with out food and then offerring other options (beef heart, prawns, massivoire?)

Good luck with it and keep us posted.

 

[Darth Scohin]

Yup here

 

[moonchild1970]

How long has it had the growth? No way it could be food? How about a rock/gravel?

 

[Burbotman]

Ouch, that is exactly what the tumor on my ropefish looked like.

Hope for the best.

 

[Darth Scohin]

He's had it since...Early March maybe, I had gravel but I changed to sand a couple of weeks back....Is there anything I can put in the tank that won't harm my Calvus or Butterfly? I know there's Aq.Salt but I don't know how much or if it'd affect my Cichlids

 

[Darth Scohin]

Bump the growth is receeding but so is my Ornate he's loosing wieght and wont eat anything but live I feed constantly massivore wont touch it nor Bloodworms only brine shrimp even then it eats about four shrimp and then nill what to do?

 

[moonchild1970]

Glad to hear it is receding. If he is stuck on live then can you feed him earthworms. Less risky than feeders. OR feed him some ghost shrimp Easy to see if they have parasites as you can see right through them.