Weird behavior

[AlexLbk]

Hello everyone,
I have a female hystrix that has been behaving in a pretty weird fashion over the past few days. She's completely inactive unless there is food in the tank, then she reluctantly goes for it. This has been going on for the last 3 days, however she did everyday. Today she tried to eat her favorite nightcrawler, chewed it all up and spit it out.
Other fish in the tank including her little boyfriend are behaving normally. I have checked the water every possible way and everything is stable:
Ammonia 0
Nitrite 0
Nitrate 10
Kh 5
Gh 7
copper 0
She looks absolutely normal, breathing normally, if anything her breathing is a bit shallow, as if she's relaxing.
Has anyone experienced this?

 

[johno27]

Hmmm... If she is not eating there has to be something up. Is anyone bullying her? Is she pooping normal?

 

[AlexLbk]

She's the largest thing in the tank, no one touches her. Interestingly you mentioned poop. She didn't poop in the same 3 days even though he stomach looks full.

 

[sikoko]

it could be a blockage or bowel obstruction

 

[johno27]

Could just be constipated, I would keep a close eye on water parameters until she passes it or starts feeding normal again. Water changes & keeping stress low couldn't hurt either

 

[AlexLbk]

Thanks for the feedback. Just never seen her behave this way and a bit concerned.

 

[swedeboy78]

My female Motoro had a blockage and George Fear at Shark Aquarium recommended putting her in a sick tank and adding epsom salt. This was years ago and I can't recall the dosage, perhaps someone else here can shed some light on that.

I just did it to my 3 yr old angel fish and it worked, dosed her at 1 teaspoon (I think) per 10 gallons a day for 3 days.