shovelnoses

[pollock701]

i have 2 shovelnoeses in a 55 gal. tank
1 3" tiger
1 5" striped

my problem is i dont think the tiger is eating. he seems really active as far as moving around in the tank but i worry i have about 10 very small gaost shimp in the bottom and all of them seem to be there. my striped eats mysis he loves it its the only thing i can get him to eat. neather one seem to be shedding so i dont think thay are streesed please get back to me


thanks Dustin

 

[Stephen]

First what are you water parameters? Have any chemicals at all been added to the tank?

Have you tried to feed it anything else besides the shrimp? I've got a tiger that's around 8 inches now. It's not been accepting anything except live goldfish, guppies, rosey reds, and recently got it to taste a chunk of beef heart. Unfortunately a upside down cat ended up with it.

Try feeding it something else. Like feeders that you've kept for a week or so. Be very careful feeding feeders just purchased from a LFS. They are nutritionally equal to a rock and usually carry disease. I keep them for at least a week before they are fed to my tiger. Also feed the feeders well while you hold them. This helps the fish get more out of them when they become dinner.

Another thing. Do you have adequate hiding places inside your tank for your fish? I see them in LFS's out in the open in display tanks, simply because you can't buy what you can't see. My tiger however stays in a pile of rocks almost every second there's light entering the tank. Your fish my be not eating because it's feeling "out in the open". Try adding some sort of rock type cave big enough for the fish to enter and turn around in. For the bigger fish try a pcv pipe so that it can find some darkness and safety inside. Make sure you add a few since both fish will more than likely take advantage of them. Give them a choice and it will keep teritorial disputes down.

And last of all I'm not sure which fish grows the fastest. But if one's not eating and the other is, the size difference will increase rapidly with young fish. Make sure one doesn't end up on the others dinner menu.

If you need anything else just ask.