P. senegalus is pale and nervous?

[Mei long]

Hi there! I'd like to get some advice from people who know about bichir behaviour.

I recently changed to a bigger tank (from 83 to 138 gallons). After the change, my Senegal Bichir gradually turned so pale it looks almost like an albino (which it definitely isn't) and started swimming back and forth the glass. It just swims and swims, day and night, and is so pale the blood veins in its fins are clearly visible. He looks very stressed and doesn't eat much.

What's wrong with him and how can I make it stop?

The other fish are doing fine and acting normally, including my other Senegal bichir and a ropefish. The decorations, sand, water quality etc. haven't changed significantly, and the fish companions are same as before (Synodontis, Gymnallabes, jewel cichlids etc., nobody's teasing him).

I'm out of ideas here.
Any quesses or advice?

 

[FlacosWorld]

hm i have a senegalus as well for about 2 months now, How are the water conditions in ur tank, He also mayb just getting used to this new tank and becoming more comfortable with it.....as for him being pale...im not 2 sure it may b sumthin internal. But sumtimes my senegalus (gyarados) would shoot around my 75 gallon really quick and it looks like sumthin is up but hes just playing.

 

[Mei long]

Thanks for the answer!

I'll have to check the exact water parameters, but they should be around pH 7-7,5, gH 2-3 dH and nitrate below 30 mg/l. Everything ok, that is. One possibility might be that some of the bacteria died during tank change and there's nitrite, but I'd think the other fish were reacting too in that case.

The fish has had these swimming spurts before, but just once in a while. That I considered normal play, exercise or whatever. Now he hasn't basically done anything else for more than a week, and I'm getting worried.

 

[lix.ma14]

do U have ur new tank cycled?? If not, you have a HUGE problem.

 

[Mei long]

It is cycled.

That is, I transferred everything (sand, filters, plants, decoration, part of the water) uncleaned from the old tank that had been running for ~10 years. It's essentially the same tank, just moved to a slightly larger box of glass.

The bichir looks a bit more relaxed now. Maybe he just is more sensitive to stress than the others. And his appetite is back - he almost bit a piece off my finger today. Gotta love that fish.