Firemouth Aint doing so good

P

PPOHolbrook

AC Members
Nov 26, 2006
163
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High Point, NC
Just got a call from the wife. I got a Firemouth today and she states that he is on the bottom of the tank. She says he is flapping his fin, but doesnt look so good. Is he doomed??
My tank parameters are good.
Ammonia 0.0
Nitrite 0.0
Nitrate 5.0
PH 6.8
Temp 78

he looked ok when i left this afternoon hiding under driftwood. nothing in the tank would have gotten him.

Brian
 
JM

I put the Firemouth, Blue Acara, 2 Pitbull Plecos and 2 fake plants(rinsed very well in hot water), in the tank today. All are doing fine except the FM. The Sev is about 1/4 of the size of the Fm and the Acara is about the same. I watched them for an hour- they both were new to the tank and resigned themselves to staying under the driftwood.

Brian
 
Firemouths are mass bred w/out any considerations for size and colors.
It is very possible that you recieved a weak fish that is not acclimating to your system. If you bought him from an LFS I would return the fish and possibly purchase one of better health.

I did not see how big your tank is. I would recommend no less than a 36" long tank.

I have been breeding these fish for over 20 years and line breeding since 1999. Try to find healthy fish that look like these guys when shopping...

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firemouths00722.jpg
 
JM and Mr.

I acclimated them for about 20 minutes. Like I said all three other fish are doing well. My tank is 75 gallon, a nice home for a Firemouth I would think :) Thats the weird thing also. his color was excellent and he was active in the store, i have a feelingMr. is right and the stress just got to him!!!!!! I hate it he was an incredible looking fish, so much so that I had not planned on purchasing a FM, btu when I saw him I had to get him-knowing he would fit with Sev and Blue Acara that is.

UPDATE------ My lil fish is gone!!! Laying on bottom when i got home with a lil cory just sitting there looking at him.

Brian

P/S/ Mr. those are gorgeous FM by the way!!
 
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Not another one!!!!!!!!!

Well i returend the FM and purchased another that was a gorgeous specimen. Nice maile w/ great colors, swiimming, healthry looking. Had him 4 days and this afternoon i came home and another FM dead. ALL other fish in tank are fine. Parameters are perfect accroding to my liquid tests and LFS saidd same thing when I took water in. Could it be the batch of FM's they got in?? I can tell u only thing i saw was he was deep breathing sometimes.

I think i wil pass next time and wait on something. Maybe God is telling me FM aint the answer for the tank.

Brian
 
sounds like there could be health issues or the FM's are not acclimating well.

I use drip acclimation and it can take over an hour . might try that.
 
wild caught is the best way to go if your are tryin to get color! Then breed them with some store bought fish...bammo...fresh blood.
 
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