- Have you tested your water?
- Yes
- If yes, what is your ammonia?
- 0
- If yes, what is your nitrite?
- 0
- If yes, what is your nitrate?
- 5
- If I did not test my water...
- ...I recognize that I will likely be asked to do a test, and that water tests are critical for solving freshwater health problems.
- Do you do water changes?
- Yes
- What percentage of water do you change?
- 71-80%
- How frequently do you change your water?
- Every week
- If I do not change my water...
- ...I recognize that I will likely be recommended to do a water change, and water changes are critical for preventing future freshwater health problems.
I’m not sure what to try next. I have a group of 5 Rio Niltepec amphilophus trimaculatus that were all bought as a group at about 1.5” each. I’ve had the group since December of last year. There are two that have been separated from the rest for about 2 months in a hospital tank as they’ve fallen way behind in growth and haven’t been observed eating much at all if ever. They will mouth food as it comes down into the tank, but I have only seen them actually eat a few times and only a pellet or two at best.
The largest male I have is now close to 7” while these two are less than 3” each. I’ve put them through two separate full API General Cure treatments a month or so apart with no visible improvement. I do see stringy feces very intermittently but otherwise I don’t see much in the way of outward symptoms besides not eating or wanting to eat.
Is there something else I can try that won’t harm them further? Anything I can check other than water parameters (which are checked often and always good, as they were when in the larger 125 gallon tank)? Temps are 80f, nitrates are 5ppm or less, no ammonia etc. This is a fully cycled tank that has been established for over a year. I’m allowing the algae to grow on the back wall on purpose, so please don’t mistake that as an indication that this is an unmaintaned tank.
Short video here showing them as they look right now. I had just put in a frozen bloodworm cube to see if it would stimulate eating, but nothing happened with that. I removed it after a couple of minutes and cleaned up any remnants.
The largest male I have is now close to 7” while these two are less than 3” each. I’ve put them through two separate full API General Cure treatments a month or so apart with no visible improvement. I do see stringy feces very intermittently but otherwise I don’t see much in the way of outward symptoms besides not eating or wanting to eat.
Is there something else I can try that won’t harm them further? Anything I can check other than water parameters (which are checked often and always good, as they were when in the larger 125 gallon tank)? Temps are 80f, nitrates are 5ppm or less, no ammonia etc. This is a fully cycled tank that has been established for over a year. I’m allowing the algae to grow on the back wall on purpose, so please don’t mistake that as an indication that this is an unmaintaned tank.
Short video here showing them as they look right now. I had just put in a frozen bloodworm cube to see if it would stimulate eating, but nothing happened with that. I removed it after a couple of minutes and cleaned up any remnants.
