Apisto Feeding Problem

[justjon]

Hi guys,

My little apisto's are doing well, the problem i'm having is that the female is SO tiny and shy that she doesn't seem to be eating due to being to scared... any advice on feeding her?

She's about the length of a penny, and he's about the width of a 2 penny, he even has trouble eating sometimes.

Any tips would be appreciated.

 

[BigIan]

are they in a community tank? if so get some frozen daphnia defrost it in tank water suck up some into a syringe and dump the rest in the tank. All the other fish will be going crazy for that and you can squeeze the syringe out near the two apistos.

 

[kizno1]

Since you have only had them for a few days i wouldnt be to worried for now. Maybe try droping some blood worm just infront of her cave my female goes nutty for them. If she is looking skinny and had clear poo you might want to treat for internal bacteria fire red agassizii are known for having problems and quite a few dont seem to last long so it might be best to get some meds just to be safe.

 

[justjon]

She doesn't seem to have a "cave" in the tank as of yet, I may try burying the coconut shell further into the sand so only the small ones can get in it, oh dear.. I will get some meds incase, what can you recommend?

Apart from the feeding, both seem ok.

I'll get a syringe this evening

 

[kizno1]

For internal bacteria i just use the interpet one because thats what my lfs stock and it works for me. After having fire reds i can honestly say ill never pic them again they just seem really prone to problems. I would pick standard agassizii over them any day they seem alot hardier ive had my male for over 1 year now now problems.

 

[elisew]

Mine were quite similar when i got my first ones, after a couple of days of crushing down flakes and feeding some daphnia (in jelly) they 'found their feet' so to speak and both began to eat properly.
Don`t think the worst yet, give them another day or 2, it could well be down to simple lack of confidence.

 

[justjon]

Well, i've made a bit of a cave for her, whether or not she uses it is another thing! I basically buried the coconut right under the sand, poured sand over it then put a moss-covered bamboo over the entrance...

What do you think?

 

[kizno1]

Looks good. They do seem to prefer a smaller entrance it must be a security thing my female used to pile sand up infront of the entrance of her coconut cave so there was only a small hole.

 

[justjon]

Redone them, cut it in half and now have two smaller ones The shrimp seem to have invaded though!

 

[kizno1]

Redone them, cut it in half and now have two smaller ones The shrimp seem to have invaded though!

Thats alright they will be free food for the apisto haha. seriously though apisto will try to munch on the shrimp and once the male getts fully grown i dont think the shrimp will do to well.