whetu Posted September 15, 2008 Report Share Posted September 15, 2008 I've had my biggest three clown loaches since about 2001, and another two since 2004. They have always been piggies when it comes to food, and will eat anything. In June this year I got a new little loach (named Trigger) to join the gang. Trigger never seems to join in the feeding frenzy with the rest of the fish in the tank, and even when a flake floats right past his nose he just ignores it. He doesn't have a go at peas etc sitting on the bottom of the tank, even when there are no other fish around and he has a clear run at it. I noticed this behaviour as soon as he was introduced to the tank, but it didn't bother me because his tummy always looked full and I thought he would catch on soon enough by watching the other fish. But just recently I have noticed he's looking very skinny and I've started to worry. It's a heavily planted community tank with the clown loaches already mentioned, gold barbs, cherry barbs, neons and a couple of bristlenoses. Trigger is bigger than the neons but smaller than the barbs. I feed a variety of dried food including flakes, spirulina discs, JBL novo tabs, Nutrafin sinking tabs & micro granules. I also feed veges like spinach leaves, peas, corn & courgette. Apart from not eating, Trigger's behaviour seems normal. He is active and inquisitive, and does spend time foraging around in the gravel and plants. Any idea how I can get him to eat? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Simian Posted September 15, 2008 Report Share Posted September 15, 2008 I had the same thing Whetu, I wormed him and everything, in the end he moved on to the great aquarium in the sky, sorry no good news Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dixon1990 Posted September 15, 2008 Report Share Posted September 15, 2008 Seperate him fir a while in a 2footish tank and feed him heaps with heaps of waterchanges? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lmsmith Posted September 16, 2008 Report Share Posted September 16, 2008 Try feeding something different, like shrimp pellets, or live food. I've found microworms great for fish who won't eat; they're high in protein, and live in the tank for a while to let them have a go. Good luck! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FreedingFrenzy Posted September 16, 2008 Report Share Posted September 16, 2008 Just thought I'd share that my old fighter was called Trigger (lol) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
whetu Posted September 17, 2008 Author Report Share Posted September 17, 2008 Thanks everyone for your suggestions. I might try putting him in a separate tank for a while so there's nobody competing with him for food. Although I don't know that competition is really the issue because even when the food's right there in front of him he just doesn't eat it. I've been reluctant to move him from the main tank because I feel like the other loaches with their big appetites might be a good example for him. I was kind of hoping he would learn from them, and with loaches being such a social fish I didn't want to stress him by keeping him on his own. Hmmm... perhaps live food like microworms are the answer, at least until I can get some condition back on him. Thanks again. Any other ideas will be gratefully received. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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