Texas Not Eating (Force Feeding)

[theone]

Hello,

I've bought a nice size Texas cichlid. Big problem though. My new friend does NOT eat. To be honest, he has some deformations. One eye is more in his skull than the other. His entire head is not symmetric. But, for the rest of it, he's a real nice boy.

I've had him for about 1 month now. I read a topic on force finding fish My link

I've been doing this for the past weeks. He seems fine with it. His colors are very nice. From time to time, I shove some solids down (shrimp, squid, worms...etc). I don't want to be force finding him mooched down pellets all his life. I'd like for him to get back to his normal fish eating habits.

I've tried all possible foods. From dead to alive. From pellets to pepperoni... 0% success. I don’t know what the other owner was feeding him. And I guess that he had this fish exchanged exactly because of him refusing to eat. Before finding him dead, he took a chance and the fish shop took the fish in and I’m now the one having the problem.

Could someone give me a hint on what my fish could have like problem?

I presume that he'd be around 2 years old.


Thank You!

 

[star4]

I dont think he is a texas, he lookd more like a Jack Dempsey to me!. Have you noticed him poo? if it is stringy he could possibly have internal parasites, this can sometimes stop them eating. You could try a course of Sterazine or other med for internal parasites see if that helps. Does he flick or rub at all, this could also mean a parasite. Hope you manage to sort him out he is a really gorgous fish.

 

[theone]

I dont think he is a texas, he lookd more like a Jack Dempsey to me!. Have you noticed him poo? if it is stringy he could possibly have internal parasites, this can sometimes stop them eating. You could try a course of Sterazine or other med for internal parasites see if that helps. Does he flick or rub at all, this could also mean a parasite. Hope you manage to sort him out he is a really gorgous fish.

Thank you Star4,

Jack Dempsey you think? Maybe you are right?

I've seen poo only once. About 10 hours after a ''force feed'', it seemed ok to me?!

No flicks or robs at all. The Only strange thing he does, is a weird think with his mouth. Like a mouvement to expel something he would have in his mouth. But not something that would be down nere the stomac. Something that would be on or nere the lips...? No other sign of what so ever...

 

[minxfishy]

Alot of fish, especially cichlids do the stretching almost like yawning with their mouths.

If he is so used to be being force fed, then he isnt getting a chance to 'learn' how to feed normally. I would try not feeding for a good few days, dont worry, fish can go 2 or more weeks without eating, then try something you know he likes, but dont force feed him, just place a small amount in the water, try doing this with the lights out so he feels more secure. Its going to be a case of training him to eat normally, it may take some time, try not to worry to much in the meantime, cichlids especially can be awkward eaters but its rare for them to starve themselves.

And yes star4 is correct, that is a Jack Dempsey.

 

[star4]

Fish do "yawn" to wash out any particles in their gills, however excessive yawning could indicate a problem with his gills, do they look inflamed or swollen at all? he may possibly have a bacterial infection in his gills from poor water quality (before you got him). I would advice a course of an antibacterial med just to be safe if he is yawning lots and seems lathargic or has rapid gill movement. Or he could be yawning from being force fed, not sure on that one. Try some pest snails, he may just be a little shy and like to pick, I have a blue acara like it, he never seems to eat but all the snails have dissapeared (ramshorns) and I see him pick at bits off plants, but he doesnt come to the surface to feed.

 

[star4]

Another thought, you could leave food in the tank he could pick at, cucumber other veg etc or even a prawn. The veg you could get away with over night, the prawn will start to go off, you could leave on in over night but remove in the morning and do a water change. My lot get prawn on water change days.

I keep popping back to look at the picture he is a really nice looking fish, got me wanting one now lol

 

[WILDER]

Is the eye sunken in.
Any pitting in the head region or pimples.
What does it look like when he goes to the toilet.

Also need tank size.
How many fish and which type.
Water stats.

 

[theone]

Is the eye sunken in.
Any pitting in the head region or pimples.
What does it look like when he goes to the toilet.

Also need tank size.
How many fish and which type.
Water stats.

Thanks all, but for the moment none of this is helping.

About the yawning, well I know what you guys are talking about. But that's not what he's doing. To give you the best example possible: Tap your lips togheter and make a fish sound...Well, thats eactly what he does. From time to time.

About not feeding him. Well he went 2 weeks befor I starded the force feed. I started it because he was really starting to look Ill. His stomac was caving in. No fat on the side's. He was probably not eating for a wile befor I even bought him.

I've tried all the the above as feeding solutions proposed...

About the tank and friends, I'm really not sur It will help. Because the fish was not eating befor I even got it.

But there's a Oscar, with whom he gets along fine. They each have there on ''territory'' in the aquarium. They chase around from time to time. But nothing nasty.

There's a small snakehead, that lives in the Oscars territory. And is practaly always in his cave.

There's a small gar, thats also not in his territory. The gar has no enemies. He gets along with every one.

There's a Bichir (Senegalus) that's every bodies friend.

There's the Pleco, and also a small cat fish.

The tank is 4 feet and 77 gallons.

About the water stats, I've honestly never checked them. I've never done tests in any aquarium I have had. Ok, some will say it's the basics. But from my point of view, I pass in front of the aquarium all the time. Always checking it. Whater changes each week, and more if necessary... Would have the fish shop analys it if I thought there would be a problem.

About the Texas/Jack Dempsey's eye, Yes it is sunken in. The right side one. But still functionnal I guess, because I see it mouve.

The head seems fine, but like I said the fish is not perfectly semetric. His skull is kind of ''cruked''.

About going to the toilet..well I've only seen it once. It was light brown, and fresh!!??!!

Thanks all for the help!!

 

[star4]

I gather you have tried live food, ie brine shrimp etc. I am wondering if its the deformity on his head that is causing the problem. I had a koi with a deformed head, it was lots smaller than its body and he couldnt open his mouth fully, he was fine when he was smaller but soon as he hit 6" he started to have problems, I sadly lost him. Silly suggestion but have you tried him in a tank on his own? you mention the others dont bother him, maybe with the deformity he has trouble seeing the food?? and the others get it before him. (not much help I really am guessing here). I dont think the sunken eye would cause a problem I have a totally blind goldfish and he is first up for food. Sorry I am not much help.

 

[WILDER]

Sunken eyes can be bacterial, to internal parasites. Even dropsy can cause sunken in eyes.
He dosn't sound right to me.

 

[theone]

Sunken eyes can be bacterial, to internal parasites. Even dropsy can cause sunken in eyes.
He dosn't sound right to me.

So, what should I do??

And can this affect the rest of the fish?

Cab someone give me a real hint or refer me to somewhere else?

 

[WILDER]

It's always best to isolate sick fish.
I think I would add an internal bacterial med for now.
Keep an eye out for internal parasites.
Is his spine bending.

Do some research on sunken eyes.
As it can also mean the fish has been undwell for a while.

Eyes

The eyes should be bright and clear and normally set in the head. Internal bacterial infections are often first seen as a gray cloudy film or light misty appearance in the eyes. A fish with sunken eyes, ones that seem to be too small for their sockets, is not a good sign, especially when the fish displays shallow breathing and little activity. This condition may be a result of exposure to a poison, such as cyanide, and its future probably does not have a sunny outlook.

 

[WILDER]

Scroll down to sunken in eyes.
http/www.koicrisis.com/symptoms/eye.html

 

[theone]

Scroll down to sunken in eyes.
http/www.koicrisis.com/symptoms/eye.html

Thanks!

So I should put him in his own tank. And what type of med do I administrate? Since I have know Idea the exact problem...?

 

[theone]

Scroll down to sunken in eyes.
http/www.koicrisis.com/symptoms/eye.html

Thanks!

So I should put him in his own tank. And what type of med do I administrate? Since I have know Idea the exact problem...?

Thing is: The fish looks fine.Great colors. He swims ok (a bit slow), but not like a sick fish you know will die..