Silver arowana on hunger strike

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FishRfine

Feeder Fish
MFK Member
Jun 3, 2007
495
1
0
Clarksville, MD
My silver arowana is typically so ravenous that I need to feed him quickly just to dodge him when he goes after the food! But over the past three days, I have gotten him to eat almost nothing. He turns down shrimp (usually his favorite food!) he only ate like two pellets, and ate only one, tiny cricket, despite eyeballing the others. My water tests came back fine, nitrates are low, ammonia and nitrite are nonexistant. He looks a little beaten up, but that is normal for him, he typiclly has managed to cut himself up trying to jump, and it doesn't normally impact his appetite. He is acting slightly more lethargic than usual, but is still swimming around the tank, and apparently jumped during the night (he knocked a heater off its bracket,) so he still has his strength. Any ideas what this may be? He's my baby and I'm worried sick :(

thanks guys.


Edit: some things to rule out:

He has not been moved recently, he has lived there for over a year.
He has no tankmates to make him ill or injure him.
He is a little over 2 years old, and approximately 2 feet, 3 inches long. I've kept him since he was about 2 inches.
 
Aros will do this sometimes. It is not uncommon at all. He may go a month without eating anything maybe longer. I had one well over 2 feet who went 2 months without eating, then one day just got hungry and ate everything in site again. Just keep doing your water changes and regular maintenance. When he is hungry, he wil eat.
 
Good to hear :) I can sleep a little more soundly.
 
Sometimes you can coax them out of their hunger strike by not offering them any food. Try going 4-5 days without offering any food at all.
 
jsodwi;3859747; said:
Aros will do this sometimes. It is not uncommon at all. He may go a month without eating anything maybe longer. I had one well over 2 feet who went 2 months without eating, then one day just got hungry and ate everything in site again. Just keep doing your water changes and regular maintenance. When he is hungry, he wil eat.
Wow thats so cool. Sorry it's a little off topic but does anyone know if this is affected by seasons and whatnot?
 
jr monster fish;3861056; said:
Wow thats so cool. Sorry it's a little off topic but does anyone know if this is affected by seasons and whatnot?

LOL thats funny - I just read this and was thinking the same thing!
 
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