Stessed GT

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MonsterFishCreeper

MonsterFishCreeper

Candiru
MFK Member
Sep 30, 2015
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I picked up an awesome looking male GT a local fish event friday night and he doesn't seem to be doing very well. He is solo in his 55g tank and has been totally hidden all weekend and when I catch a glimpse of him his color is totally gone. Water parameters are Ammonia 0-0.25 (some where in between but low), nitrite 0, nitrate around 5ppm. I know you want 0 ammonia but the tank should be cycled properly as I got some well established filters from a local club member at the event. The fish also won't eat at all so I have to remove the food a little while after feeding. Is this just normal acclimation? Anything I can do to help him along?
 
Just an update I lowered his water temp to 73ish from 78 on the suggestion on someone from the fish club. His ph is 7.4 and I think the ammonia reading is a false positive from adding Prime. My tap water has no nitrates detectable and since there are some in the tank with no nitrite I have to assume the cycle is up and going.
 
Once he is settled in I wonder if I should add some dithers? I was planning on having him solo in the 55 until I have a larger SA community tank set up. Think 6 giant danios would help him out for a while? He's probably in the 6-7 inch range ATM
 
New fish will stress... some more than others... some fish are always a little skittish... the dithers may bring him out of it... it's worth a try
 
Can anyone give a solid temperature recommendation for these guys. I'm seeing sites recommend them to be kept cool 70-72 but I see other folks keeping them in the upper 70s. Which do they prefer? I have him just under 74 at the moment.
 
Low to mid 70's is about right.Your fish should be quite comfortable at 74.
Try some cover in the form of floating plants.It may help him settle.Hoplo catfish make good tank mates.Their outgoing nature may also help your rivulatus settle in.
 
Feed light a couple days and he will come out more and more as he recognizes the food giver. Personally my gt sticks to himself more than other fish I have. The South American guys are real chill.
 
He came out and looked at me a little bit. I added a small dose 4tbsp of api aquarium salt and 10mg of melafix to help his tail fin heal which is a little battered from keeping himself behind the log all day. He seems to be taking large mouthfuls of sand and mounding it up near the log so I guess he is making himself at home.
 
Sadly I came home to find this guy has a hole in his tail fin the size of a dime. I don't know what he did to himself but if I could guess it's from banging it on the driftwood he hids behind all day. Not sure if I should give more melafix or just change the water frequently and hope he heals ok. I hope his tail isn't permanently scarred up because it was very nice looking.

I should add that he keeps turning sideways and rubbing his body on the substrate and driftwood. Doesn't this mean that something is making him uncomfortable or is it just a stress symptom.
 
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