Probably Nothing

[markandhisfish]

cheech and chong just will not eat today . yesterday they were greedy little pigs . i know they can be funny but id just like to check something. i looked at thee thermometer and the temp was up to 28.7 . i thought tha seems a bit high for oscars . my heaters are pretty unaccurate ( they are set at 20!) so ive turned them down a bit and done a waterchange to lower the temp slightly.

any suggestions?

 

[england]

Thats probally the reason, bit like humans, summer i hardly eat, winter iam always stuffing my face

Maybe treat yourself to a new heater?

 

[markandhisfish]

yeah deffo on the list mate . should of ordered them rena smart heaters when i was going to .

 

[star4]

I would say most likely the heat too, It wouldnt be they are full, oscars are never full

 

[markandhisfish]

tank is sat at 25 now , not going to try feeding them yet tho as they are having a post waterchange strop .

maybe until i get new heaters i might take 1 out , as im running 2

jeez i thought vinny used to sulk after a waterchange , these boys take it to the next level!!!

 

[markandhisfish]

still not really got much of an appetite , managed to get em to take 1 mealworm each yesterday , and today 1 of them begrudgingly ate 1 pellet. ive got the temp sorted its now a stable 26 .. i have done some tests to rule out a water quality issue , thats all come back fine. so ive got a few possible theories id like an experienced opinion on .

1 they just need time to settle in ?
2 could they miss the company of the rams , which i removed for their own safety in case they tried to eat them sooner than i expected .
3 could it be that 2 small fish feel insecuree in such a big tank? they do seem a little shy but not massively so .
4 could i just be expecting them to eat more than they actually can at a small size and they are just not hungry

i can deffinately rule out internal parasites , their poo is good healthy normal poop , no other symptoms , like flicking , rubbing heavy breathing , darting etc.

possible sollutions ? withold food for a day or 2 to make sure they are really hungry? keep trying loads of different things ?

or am i just worrying about nothing ?

edit: i have just disconnected 1 of the tubes , so it now just has 1 tube running to soften the lighting in the tank , see if that helps them feel more secure

 

[star4]

It could be down to the fact they are 2 little fish in a big tank, Rusty was in your face from day one, but he has always had company and followed Vinny like a shadow for the first few weeks. I have seen single baby oscars in a tank in shops and they although wag etc, do seem a little more shy. Oscars are well knows for throwing stops when they have been moved and not eating for a few days. The only other suggestion as other fish are a little out of the question is to get some plants (plastic or silk) give them some more cover to make them feel safer.

 

[minxfishy]

They just need time to settle, plus I doubt they got much to eat at the shops, so what they ate when you 1st got them filled their little tummies. Dont be tempted to give in and give them lots of different food or something you know they will like. Stick with the pellets, I would suggest you dont try to feed them again today, let them get hungry, they will soon learn to either eat what is given or go hungrey. Oscars are very good at sulking and getting the owner to give in 1st!

They wont miss the rams, they have each other, I shouldnt think the light bothers them either, new surroundings etc, like I say just give them a few days to settle.

 

[star4]

[quote name='minxfishy' date='06 December 2010 - 03:28 PM' timestamp='1291649310'


Oscars are very good at sulking and getting the owner to give in 1st!

Oh yes indeedy they are very good at that.

 

[markandhisfish]

i did think it could well ne they need time to adjust . but wanted an experienced opinion. since i softened the lighting in the tank they do seem to be a lot calmer , and are venturing out a bit more.

cheers for the help

 

[markandhisfish]

they have now decided to have a little scrap . 1 went into the cave the other wanted to follow , but the 1 that got in 1st decided it didnt want to share its den so it kicked off. they look to of kissed and made up now. god its like having a couple of pre pubescent teenagers

 

[minxfishy]

Thats nothing unusual, even at that size, they will scrap a little, lip lock occassionally, just to decide which is the more dominant.

My female Tinker, is behaving very strangely at the minute, been watching her rubbing her underbelly up and down a plant, wondered what she was doing til I saw her tube is down and thats what shes rubbing Whether its in preparation for something else or it just feels nice, I dont know Dont think fish, whats the expression Im looking for here................. 'flick the bean' but hey, each to their own

 

[star4]

Tinks did that up and down the filter pipe here a couple of times!! She is getting reaaaaaaaaaaaaaaddddyyyyyyyyyy

 

[minxfishy]

Yep, just hope hope tailor is ready with his end of the deal He's just watching her

 

[markandhisfish]

Dont think fish, whats the expression Im looking for here................. 'flick the bean' but hey, each to their own

dont know whos more bonkers you or you fish!!!