Red Zebra Not Eating!

[nukeonekitty]

My red zebra has not eaten hardly anything in the past three feedings... he has been tunneling and he seems to be more fasinated by moving gravel than eating... he looks fine, he just isn't eating anything that I can see... HELP!

 

[dthoffsett]

Probably preparing a breeding site. They can sometimes get preoccupied when in the breeding mood. As long as he stays active, and doesn't show any signs of illness, I wouldn't worry.

Or, it's possible "he's" a holding female, are you 100% on the sex? Some females will stop eating before you notice that telltale bulge in their throats.

 

[nukeonekitty]

I am not sure about the sex, but I only have one in the tank... and if it was holding, wouldn't it not be able to pick up the rocks? He is still active, but is hanging out in his cave a lot as well as working on it.

 

[dthoffsett]

Depending on the size of your substrate a female might be able to pick it up and move it around, however that is more of a male trait. I'd just keep an eye on him, short of some disease he isn't going to starve himself to death. He may also be eating any leftover food in the gravel, and any algae in the tank when you aren't looking.