Shovelnose Catfish - Picky eater or sick?

[keninpcfl]

def need to know if it's a lima or tsn or spotted or what. but either way make sure to test u'r water. he may be stressing and not wanting to eat much or it may just be like my lima and just not want to eat ever.

I'm really not sure what kind of shovelnose I've got. He's got a white underbelly, a dark grey/black stripe down his side, and lighter grey color across the top of his back.

The water is crystal clear...no ammonia, no nitrites, and 30ppm nitrates. It's a 120 gallon tank with a 30 gallon sump. Magnum 350 cannister, aquaclear 110, and a Home Depot pond filter in the sump!

Thanks alot for all the info and help!

 

[keninpcfl]

def need to know if it's a lima or tsn or spotted or what. but either way make sure to test u'r water. he may be stressing and not wanting to eat much or it may just be like my lima and just not want to eat ever.

I did some checking and my shovelnose is a Lima.

Tried worms and sinking pellets today...and he's still turning up his "shovel" nose. It was actually pretty funny, when I dropped in the pellets one floated down and landed on his head. He just shook it off and swam away....strange fish.

 

[Skoomakilla]

try shimp it should eat that

 

[malawi haps]

If all else fails you can try ghost shrimp mabye a little live prey will help to create an appetite.

 

[keninpcfl]

Well...today for no apparent reason he decided to start eating again. He's not chowing down like he used to but he took a couple feeder goldfish. Thanks for all the help and advice guys!

 

[keninpcfl]

Today he ate like a horse (like he used to) and he's got the bulging belly to prove it!

I've thought long and hard about what could have changed in his environment to cause the change in his eating pattern but I can't come up with a thing.

Thanks again to all for all the help and advice!

 

[TLkmDN]

tigers are not as voracious as RTCs. its pretty normal that it took him a long time to settle down. im glad things are going well. theres nothing better than watching a perfect fish in a perfect fish tank with no problems in the world. ENJOY IT while it lasts! much is life that trouble is waiting around the next corner :s