Worried About A Zonancistrus

[Steve-Murphy-1968]

Hi,

I'm worried about a Zonancistrus I have recently put in my community tank along with 5 Pim Pictus. I don't see the Zonancistrus eating at all and it seems all the Pleco Wafers I put in are getting munched by the Pims until their stomachs look like they will explode. Z looks like he is losing a bit of weight and I am quite concerned about him. I've tried a piece of cucumber weighted down which he likes. Is there anything else I can try ? Should I take the Pims back to the store ? Or do you think I am worrying unneccessarily ?

Very grateful for any replies !

Thanks

Steve

 

[WILDER]

Fish will lose wait if they are not eating, how long have you had him as it quite normal for a fish not to eat for a few days due to the stress of the move.
I would research the fish you have and find there diet needs as some fish need veg in there diet.
Get some frozen daphnia that is very good for digesting a fish food.

 

[Steve-Murphy-1968]

I've tried filling the Pims up with frozen daphnia and/or frozen bloodworms hoping they will leave the algae wafers alone but they just keep eating til they look ready to pop. I'll keep trying the cucumber and see how he gets on !! |

 

[Steve-Murphy-1968]

Seems I was right to worry and also seems I caught the problem too late. When I eventually found him hiding behind a rock yesterday he was no longer. I will take 4 of the Pims back to the store today as they are eating everything in sight and leaving nothing for anyone else.

Lesson learnt there the hard way

 

[WILDER]

Sorry we have all made misakes it how you learn. R.I.P.

 

[pica_nuttalli]

a quick note: most plecs, especially fancy plecs, are wild-caught specimens and as such, do not always transition into captivity well. (otos are notorious for not surviving their first few weeks in the store.) my point is that your plec may have already had one foot in the grave when you got him. i always recommend waiting a couple of weeks for any recently delivered fish to settle in at the LFS. make certain that the plec doesn't have a sunken in belly; a sunken stomache signals starvation or parasites. and, of course, quarantine any new purchases for at least 2 weeks before moving them to your main tank. quarantine is vital for protecting against the introduction of disease and it also gives new fish time more to adjust without having to compete for food/territory/etc.