Fish not eating

[ROLLIN]

About 3 weeks to a month ago I moved my lace synodontis to a new tank of its own (for now), with a mature filter. In the past 2 weeks or so it doesnt seem very interested in eating. Ammonia and nitrites are 0, I dont know about nitrates because I cant find all the pieces to the kit. The tank is 23 gallons, temperature is 80 (Im treating it), ph about 7.6. Ive been treating him/her with quickcure and salt, as thats all I have at the moment. Im thinking it might have internal parasites or an internal bacterial infection. What are some good meds for internal parasites, and other internal problems? I want one that wont knock out the biofilter.


*Edit: Fish is showing no other signs of disease, its fins are all out etc. Acting like normal, just not eating.

[wetmanNY]

Medication is helping to suppress its appetite. Many fish respond to a good big water change, at a slightly cooler temperature. Blackworms are pretty tempting.

Fish often don't have much of anything to eat in the dry season.

[ROLLIN]

Just did a 45 - 50% water change that brought it down to 76. Theres no where around here to get blackworms that I know of.

*Edit: The closest I can get to blackworms is freeze dried tubifex. Maybe I'll try soaking some food in garlic.

[wetmanNY]

Can you get mealworms and slice them in sections with a single-edge razor blade?

[ROLLIN]

The only live food Ive ever saw around here is feeder fish. I got some parasite clear tank buddies today. If the fish doesnt eat with the next few days, Im going to use them.

[Cloud-9]

Is that temperature acceptable for that species? Are you treating because it stopped eating, or are you treating for suspected parasites and then the fish stopped eating? Follow the instructions that came with the medication. Did it say to raise the temperature to 80 and add salt? If not, then perhaps you might want to lower the temp to normal.

I'm not familiar with the medications you're using. I can only suggests that generally, you would prefer not to combine medications. Remove the previous medication before you add the tank buddies, unless it says on the package that it is compatible with your quick cure.

[ROLLIN]

Originally posted by Cloud-9
Is that temperature acceptable for that species? Are you treating because it stopped eating, or are you treating for suspected parasites and then the fish stopped eating? Follow the instructions that came with the medication. Did it say to raise the temperature to 80 and add salt? If not, then perhaps you might want to lower the temp to normal.

I'm not familiar with the medications you're using. I can only suggests that generally, you would prefer not to combine medications. Remove the previous medication before you add the tank buddies, unless it says on the package that it is compatible with your quick cure.


The temperature is now 78. Yes I am treating because it stopped eating. No it doesnt say on quickcure to raise the temperature and to add salt, but those 3 things are a wonderful combination. I know not to combine meds, I'll do a few big water changes before using the parasite clear tank buddies.

[wetmanNY]

Treatment for external parasites is different from treatment for internal parasites, which is more diificult, I'd say.

[ROLLIN]

This supposedly treats both.

[DarthV]

Have you tried fresh shrimp? My new Green Terror was a little fussy at first...but loves that stuff.

BTW I responded to your PM.

[ROLLIN]

Nope havent tried fresh shrimp. There is some fish here I could try though, I used to feed him/her pieces of fish sometimes, I'll see if it will eat it again.