Fish Spitting Food Out

[rust81]

I have a well established 130L tank that seems to have had a few problems since the beginning of the year. Current stocking is 5 guppies, 4 neons, 5 zebra danios, 4 glowligh tetras, 3 angels and 6 Bns

I personally think all of my problems have been down to the guppies and I have decided that I will no longer stock liverbearers anymore.

The current problem is that some of the fish seem to be spitting food out when they eat - the angels are definitely doing this. Water stats are fine: Ammonia and Nitrite both 0, Nitrate 30ppm, pH 7.5. I use 50/50 tap water and RO water and have a tetratec ex700 external filer & a Fluval 2+.

Fish not exhibitng any other conditions. Lost a few guppies and 1 glowlight over the past 2 weeks. Am waiting for some Myxazin to be delivered so i can treat for bacterial.

Any one got any ideas please?

 

[backtotropical]

Hi Rust,

It is very common for fish to spit out their food and then take it back into their mouths again, especially if it is too big. Is that what is happening? If so, its not a problem, it's just normal.

I don't understand why you think the problems are due to the guppies or why you are going to treat with Myxazin? From what you said, everything sounds quite normal.

Cheers

BTT

P.S. I don't know what size your Angels are, but theres a good chance they will eat the Neons once they reach adult size. You may wish to consider re-homing one or the other before the Neons become Angel food?

 

[WILDER]

Is the food to big.
Spitting food out can be also a number of things from internal parasites to gill flukes.

 

[rust81]

Yes, the fish are spitting some food out. It's not the 2 bigger angels (approx 2"), it's the smaller angel. He has been hanging near the top of the tank recently but seems to be better today.

The reason that I say I will not buy guppies anymore is that I believe that they have been too inbred over the years and they are now very weak. They are susceptible to illness and then pass it on to other fish in the tank. For that reason they are no longer for me

BTT - re my neons. I did have some larger angels that grew up with the neons and then were ok. These angels are still pretty small and are leaving the neons to themselves, so will keep an eye on them.

The reason for treating with Myxazin is to ensure that there is no internal bacterial problem in the tank that is contributing to the spitting food out problem.

A bit off topic, but Wilder mentioned that flukes could be to blame. Does levacide take flukes out at all?

 

[WILDER]

Not sure about levacide not a med i'm familar with.
What does it say it treats.

 

[rust81]

Levacide is the active ingredient in levimasole - used to treat camellanus worms. Wasnt sure if this would also take out any flukes

 

[WILDER]

Ok that more for internal parsites though you can get internal flukes.
Wormer plus treats gill flukes.
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