Apisto Female Not Eating?

[justjon]

Can anyone give any advice on why my female apisto is not eating? I've syringed some food literally STRAIGHT infront of her when she's on her own in a small cave, and she just hovers there.. seemingly uninterested..

Is this normal for a new apisto? I'm getting a bit concerned, as i've had her 5 days now and not seen her eat, I got the syringe today specially so that I could put some bloodworm right infront of her...

Health wise she seems fine, no markings, not thin by the looks of it..

 

[justjon]

Bump! Help please

 

[Gilli]

What are your water stats? How long has your tank been running?

 

[justjon]

This tank has been running since April, and the filter media since over a year before that.

My tests are all OK from my API M Test Kit,
Ammonia was at 0
Nitrite was at 0
Nitrate was around 40.

All other fish are perfect in health and eating normally, the male who was added at the same time is also fine, it's just the tiny female having problems.

 

[kizno1]

This tank has been running since April, and the filter media since over a year before that.

My tests are all OK from my API M Test Kit,
Ammonia was at 0
Nitrite was at 0
Nitrate was around 40.

All other fish are perfect in health and eating normally, the male who was added at the same time is also fine, it's just the tiny female having problems.

40 sounds a little high. What does it come out your tap at?

 

[justjon]

I'll re-test when I get back.

Would this cause one fish to stop eating, however?

 

[scotty]

apistos like the nitrates to be quite low,i never have mine above 10

 

[kizno1]

I'll re-test when I get back.

Would this cause one fish to stop eating, however?

Im not sure if im honest but i doubt that and being new to the tank will be doing the fish any good.

 

[Ryan_W]

What's your pH? I looked into getting these but I'm pretty sure they need some silly low pH to do well... Think they prefer around 5 - 5.5pH?

Hope she's okay, they're beautiful fish!

 

[kizno1]

What's your pH? I looked into getting these but I'm pretty sure they need some silly low pH to do well... Think they prefer around 5 - 5.5pH?

Hope she's okay, they're beautiful fish!

Anything below 7 is fine but around the 5.5-6.5 is perfect. They can adapt to above 7 but i wouldnt try anything over 7.5.

 

[justjon]

Well - My pH seems high, just tested and it's 7.6 (top of the chart)...

Just waiting the 5 minutes for Nitrate results.

 

[BethK]

it is normal, my female does that.

I feed twice a day, I assume she eats at night when all lights are off. She is shy, my friend's female apisto does this too.

btw, my ph is 8 and they thrive in the tank x

 

[justjon]

Thanks beth, that's relieved me a lot, i'm just so concerned as she is very small aswell, and all the shrimp etc like to nab all the scraps of food that do hit the bottom.

She is about 1inch I would say (less than a tetra), maybe a bit smaller, yet the male is more or less double her size.

Just checked the nitrate test, definitely in the "40" zone I'd say, red came up.

 

[BethK]

tiny like that. she will me shy My 2 girls were like that, unfortunately the smallest never grew any bigger than she was when i got her and she died. But the bigger girl doubled her size in 3 weeks, she sits under the filter alot, doesn't seem to eat, pecks every now and then but lights out, she'll venture out and have a nibble.

 

[justjon]

So I should see growth within the next 2 weeks, if not then theres likely an issue?