I have a 53g breeder tank with a group of 4 rope fish, 1 sen bichir, and a pair of small bushy plecos. It is moderately planted with both aquatic plants and pothos ivy. The lighting is subdued. The temp is normal. The water perams should be fine.
Nothing major has changed over the last couple weeks except that my rope fish seem to be getting lethargic. Showing less energy and interest in food until tonight they altogether aren't swimming around and show no intention of going after their floating shrimp (a favorite). I've noticed over the last several days that a couple of them seem to be breathing slightly deeper and faster than usual, the other two are normal. I don't think it's the same two always doing this, I think they're taking turns or something. Also they seem to be communally hiding more, two or three at a time to a small cave occassionally.
The only abnormalities I can think of really in the last couple weeks have been:
-I've had to skip two water changes recently, so the last two changes have been two weeks apart. Considering the stock, that shouldn't be a problem and hasn't in the past. My other tanks aren't affected like this and are much heavier stocked.
-I've added a skull decoration. I think the behaviour was a good few days before that though. I've taken the skull out.(2 days)
-I've done a recent water change. (4 days ago)
-I've removed a swatch of rotten roots from the pothos that had been trapped in the nets I used for them. (yesterday)
Does anyone have any ideas? Should I do another water change? What should I be looking for?
Please help... these are my babies here.
Nothing major has changed over the last couple weeks except that my rope fish seem to be getting lethargic. Showing less energy and interest in food until tonight they altogether aren't swimming around and show no intention of going after their floating shrimp (a favorite). I've noticed over the last several days that a couple of them seem to be breathing slightly deeper and faster than usual, the other two are normal. I don't think it's the same two always doing this, I think they're taking turns or something. Also they seem to be communally hiding more, two or three at a time to a small cave occassionally.
The only abnormalities I can think of really in the last couple weeks have been:
-I've had to skip two water changes recently, so the last two changes have been two weeks apart. Considering the stock, that shouldn't be a problem and hasn't in the past. My other tanks aren't affected like this and are much heavier stocked.
-I've added a skull decoration. I think the behaviour was a good few days before that though. I've taken the skull out.(2 days)
-I've done a recent water change. (4 days ago)
-I've removed a swatch of rotten roots from the pothos that had been trapped in the nets I used for them. (yesterday)
Does anyone have any ideas? Should I do another water change? What should I be looking for?
Please help... these are my babies here.
