then what?

[Hybridfish7]

so I got a pair of wild caught usisya tanzania peacocks, have been doing waterchanges and I buffered the tank up from my already high 7.8 ph tap. The female is mildly slim so I am gonna try feeding the tank frozen for a bit. I'm pretty sure that's the problem, I've had them for about a month now, but if it isn't, then what is? they're in a 40.

 

[deeda]

What are you feeding? How often? Are they both eating?

Are you seeing any aggression between the 2 at all? Female hiding at the top of the tank?

 

[Stephen St.Clair]

As long as the pair are eating and otherwise acting normally likely no reason for concern.
Wild caught fish have a long hard ride from the rift lakes to their new homes. A wild caught cichlid being a little under weight shouldn't be surprising.

 

[Red Cichlids]

Agreed with Deeda and Stephen St. Clair. From my experience, wild fish can take a year or more to adjust to captivity to the point of spawning. Do you have other fish with them? I would recommend some juvenile labidochromis or other non-peacocks that aren't aggressive. Otherwise, the constant pacing of giant danios, roseline sharks, or rainbows can help make them more comfortable.

 

[DJRansome]

Agree with the others. Malawi breed better in harems with 4 or more females. But you have them in a 40 breeder so careful how many fish you have. I have never had luck with peacocks in 36" tanks or breeding with a pair or even a trio or quad.

 

[Hybridfish7]

The male eats rather voraciously, the female not as much but she eats. I have however noticed her scratching, and her stomach looks sunken but I feel like that's just how her body shape is. No aggression between the two. There are swordtails in the tank too. I'll get pictures of the female in a bit.

 

[Hybridfish7]

Male and female pictured
I've been feeding bloodworms for a little under a week, spirulina and earthworm flakes before that

 

[Stephen St.Clair]

Nice looking male. The female's fins do look somewhat clamped & the tail fin looks a bit cloudy, with a few nick's.
Male aggression might be part of the problem. You might build up the hardscape, giving the female a place to retreat.

 

[Hybridfish7]

aggression shouldn't be an issue, I've never seen the male chase the female or vice versa any time other than feeding, but that's all fish. even if there was there is in fact rockwork and as you can see in the back there, a big cloud of hornwort. hence my confusion
hopefully it's just the stress from being in captivity but morphologically I can tell she isn't the most well formed peacock in the first place.

 

[Stephen St.Clair]

I hope things get better soon. Btw, The male has outstanding potential.