Please help...my FM is acting strange???

[Lady G]

When I saw the title for this thread I imagined a FM smoking weed, lol.

IMO i think he's stressed

LOL!!! OMG, that made me laugh out loud...thanks for that I had to go back and see what I wrote for the title, cause well I couldn't remember!! Don't think you want what he smoked!!!

Anyway, seriously..I lost him guys I feel so bad it sucks Even in death he is awsome looking IMO (hope that doesn't sound morbid)LOL! I thought I'd post a pic and see if you see anything I missed?

 

[Headrush]

Wow sorry for your loss...

but he looked pretty good, I see no signs of him being bullied

How old was he? doesn't look full grown yet IMO

Are the rest of your fish in good shape?

 

[Lady G]

I only had him about 2 months. No he wasn't full grown only about 3", still pretty young. Yes, all the other fish are fine, I've been keeping an eye on that tank and watching for any signs of anything but nothing is wrong with anyone else *knocks on wood* thank goodness!!

 

[japes]

Hey LadyG, did you find out what happened to your Firemouth?

My pair has come down with the same symptons as yours, heavy breathing/not eating so I'm treating with Pima Fix for fungus but it doesn't seem to be having any effect.

Almost the same symptons that my previous Firemouth died of, all other fish in the tank are fine.

 

[Headrush]

this is why I just set up a quarantine tank. Smaller tank to put them in for treatment. This will require less medication that treating them in a big tank with other fish.

Do youhave a separate tank to QT, it may help. I'm using a 29 x 11 inch tank 11 inches high, so around 17.5 gallons or so. Just a suggestion...good luck!

 

[japes]

Received this via PM on ACEforums.com.au.

I also have lost 3 firemouths lately with similar symptoms, ie lethagy followed by heavy breathing and ultimately death. One of the deaths was my large male directly after breeding. All other fish in the tanks are fine. I feed my fish a home made food also containing some sea food ie muscles. I am suspicious that this food is to rich for the firemouths and have stopped feeding this food to the reaining fish (including 3 firemouths ). So far no more deaths and all is fine, I must admit when I first read your post I was 90% sure you would experience deaths and your other fish will also die. The good news is that it does not seem to affect the other fish.Hope this has been of some help, and I wil never feed my firemouths this rich sort of food again, all the best.

Pat

I lost my female Firemouth last night and the male looks to be following suit shortly. Same symptons as yours, as well as my previous Firemouth death about 2 months ago, and Pat's (who sent me the above quote).

Also be aware that my batch of custom food has had no negative effects on my other fish, Severums/Blue Acara, and the same batch is being fed into a friends tank with Centrals and South American Cichlids with no effects.

Perhaps Firemouth have a seafood intolerance or something along those lines. I won't be feeding my fish this food anymore, at all.

Cheers.