new Ropefish not eating/lethargic HELP!!!

[TerribleJakes]

I just got a ropefish on wednesday. He was fresh out of the bag from Africa and he doesnt seem to be doing so good. I have yet to see him eat and he looks dead all the time... He tries to cuddle with my weather loaches too (lonely??). Should I order 1 or 2 more so he has friends?? Any good feeding tips for a fresh from africa fish?? help!!

He's in a 55gal at the moment (waiting for my 180gal to finish cycling) he's only a foot long at the moment so would 3 be ok in the 55 for 2 more weeks?

 

[BettaFishMommy]

when having issues with your current fish it is never a good idea to add more fish. being freshly imported, your rope may have internal parasites. or it may still be recovering from the long journey.

i would have quarantined it by itself in a different tank for a minimum 4 weeks. you put your other fish at risk by putting a new fish in with them (parasites and infections spread easily and quickly!).

and as far as feeding, it would be best to research what the best food for a rope fish are, and not a 'fresh out of africa' fish, since there are so many different species that come from africa and their care requirements can vary greatly.

he'll be fine in the 55 as long as you have adequate filtration and are doing water changes at least once a week.

and make sure your lid is snug all the way around the top of the tank! rope fish are notorious for escaping.

 

[Dieprophezeiung]

I feed mine frozen brine shrimp and hikari wafers. If you have any small fish in there (small enough to fit in his mouth) they will start disappearing. also, they only come out and eat after lights out (or at least mine dose). But you should qt him if you can. that way you know if he is eating the food you put in and some other fish isnt eating it.

 

[TerribleJakes]

thanks! He's staring to be more active. He's been nibling at the frozen blood worms and tubifex worms, no luck on the algae wafers tho... ill keep at it

 

[Dieprophezeiung]

Anything to help! and I was accualy talking about the hikari bottom feeder tabs. They have shrimp and other meaty stuff in them. Altho i have seen him try and eat algae wafers before. If he is eating, he should be fine. Mine did the same thing when I brought him home, but I knew he was eating because my tetras all disappeared one by one.

 

[magomi_21573]

i currently have two in my tank. if your having problems with feeding thay will eat little bits of worms aswell as sinking any sinking pellets. Aswell my fish also dine upon dried krill. i recently had to go out and get a second one because they will do better in larger numbers. two is pretty much the minimum you should have when dealing with them.