Apistogramma Borellii Won't Eat? ***HELP***

Optimus

Optimus

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Aug 23, 2010
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My stats are double zero. They have been since cycling and I just tested about 10 minutes ago, before posting.

My female Borellii stays at the surface for long spells. Vertically, with her mouth touching the surface but she's not gulping for air? They swim around and don't have visable signs of disease?

Note: My filter is an ehiem 2215 and the spray bar creates good surface tension + none of my other fish show signs of the water lacking oxygen.

Both her and the male will not eat? I've added frozen blood worm, daphnia and flakes since getting the pair on monday but they don't seem interested.

And after researching the species, reading and then going on a long search to find them, I can't understand what the problem is.

Please help!
 
How long have you had them? You say stats are double zero, does this mean you also have no Nitrates?
 
My nitrates get to between 10-20ppm in a week
 
when i got my bolivians they didn't eat untill they finally felt comfortable in the tank. it took a week and i was getting worried, but they're fine. maybe it's just stress in a new tank?
I'm not that experienced but I'm sure someone here will be able to help you.
 
New fish normally don't eat very well. (I just caught that you got them on Monday, oops.) Not sure what to say about the female sticking to the top though.

Since they are new then internal parasites are always a possibility. Sorry I'm not much help otherwise.
 
Since you just got them monday, stop feeding till Friday. I'd give them a day lights off, then a day part lights... and work up. Are they wild caught or do you know? Wild caught are particularly susceptible to parasites. Using medicated food or medicating frozen food can help with this... but obviously they have to eat first!.

Did you buy locally or from online? Find out what they were fed prior to shipping if online. Not offering foods for a few days will help them and will slow down pollution in the tank while waiting. Fish can go weeks without eating. When you do feed, offer very small portions at a time. Frozen bloodworms and mysis shrimp usually get my picky eaters going.
 
The most obvious question is --how did you acclimate them to the tank?

Before blaming parasites, it's best to search for the most likely explanation. It sounds to me like the fish are in shock after not being properly acclimated. There may be plenty of oxygen in the water, but if their gills are damaged, it won't exactly help.

A sudden change in pH can burn a fish's gills and damage internal organs.
 
Over_Stocked said:
Since you just got them monday, stop feeding till Friday. I'd give them a day lights off, then a day part lights... and work up. Are they wild caught or do you know? Wild caught are particularly susceptible to parasites. Using medicated food or medicating frozen food can help with this... but obviously they have to eat first!.

Did you buy locally or from online? Find out what they were fed prior to shipping if online. Not offering foods for a few days will help them and will slow down pollution in the tank while waiting. Fish can go weeks without eating. When you do feed, offer very small portions at a time. Frozen bloodworms and mysis shrimp usually get my picky eaters going.
Click to expand...

I have other stock in the 38gal and plants so having the lights off isn't an option for me. They are not wild caught but they are very small. 1"/1.2 at the max. Smaller than the baby diamond tetras I bred and added to my main aquarium recently and roughly the same size as my adult green neon tetras.

They were shipped to me from a reputable store that came highly recommended to me via another forum. But with that said I will give them a bell and find out what they were fed prior.

They were in transit for exactly 21 hours...

RustyRay said:
The most obvious question is --how did you acclimate them to the tank?

Before blaming parasites, it's best to search for the most likely explanation. It sounds to me like the fish are in shock after not being properly acclimated. There may be plenty of oxygen in the water, but if their gills are damaged, it won't exactly help.

A sudden change in pH can burn a fish's gills and damage internal organs.
Click to expand...

I accliminated them the same way I did all my other fish. 20mins in to adjust to the temp (which was 24.4 at the time) Then one cup of water in each bag every 20 minutes for an hour. Total time 1 hour and 20 minutes.

I had no idea that ph could burn gills though. Is there any signs I could look out for to confirm this?

Thanks!
 
Optimus said:
I have other stock in the 38gal and plants so having the lights off isn't an option for me. They are not wild caught but they are very small. 1"/1.2 at the max. Smaller than the baby diamond tetras I bred and added to my main aquarium recently and roughly the same size as my adult green neon tetras.

They were shipped to me from a reputable store that came highly recommended to me via another forum. But with that said I will give them a bell and find out what they were fed prior.

They were in transit for exactly 21 hours...



I accliminated them the same way I did all my other fish. 20mins in to adjust to the temp (which was 24.4 at the time) Then one cup of water in each bag every 20 minutes for an hour. Total time 1 hour and 20 minutes.

I had no idea that ph could burn gills though. Is there any signs I could look out for to confirm this?

Thanks!
Click to expand...
I call that a fast acclimation. Acclimating for temperature is not as important as people think. pH is far more important. The best method to acclimate fish is too slowly siphon drip tank water through air tubing into the container holding the fish (a clean bucket or bowl). Use a clip to restrict the flow. Only after two or three hours should you add the fish to the tank. I routinely acclimate for about 8 hours (or overnight), and I've never lost a fish with this method. Being in bag for 2 or 3 days isn't going to kill them.

If temperature is a concern, you can float the bag in the tank and tape it to the edge of the glass, so no tank water enters. Then you can drip water from a container on top of the tank.

Another variation on the method is to poke dozens of pin-sized holes in the bag and to let it float in the tank for a few hours.

Apistogramma are small fish, so it'll be hard to see their gills even when they 'yawn'. Healthy gills are bright red.

All you can do at this point is keep the tank parameters stable, and wait and see.
 
I would think its just them adjusting to the tank. I would try some frozen baby brine if they have not eaten by tomorrow (or live baby brine).
 
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