One perc still not...

[shoreliner11]

EATING! as far as I can see. I posted a week or so ago about my percs not eating. The larger perc (female I think) eats like crazy now but the smaller still has not eaten while I watch. Although I do see him poop a little, though its pretty clear and looks to lack substance in it(I know...I'm talking about the consistency of fish poo..lol). Anyway, being the smart person that I am , I thought that in order for him to poop he must be eating something. Is it possible hes eating pods? or even algae of the lr? He seems to be subordinate to the larger female, so he won't go after food she goes after...which is everything. When she gets full...he just doesn't seem in the mood to go after things. I have tried mysis, flake, marine S formula, seaweed sheets, and the only thing the larger one will eat thus far is brine shrimp. I have tried garlic as well with no real noticeable difference in their behavior. Any suggestions. Thanks and sorry for the long post.

 

[bdhough]

Does he eat at all? Its good the female eats it may encourage him to eat since he sees her eating. Fish will cruise the system and pick food out of the water column as well. Mine do it all the time but its certainly not enough to sustain them. I give him another week or so before he either dies from starvation or figures out he needs to eat to live Dumb fish..... Maybe he's anorexic..... If thats possible

 

[shoreliner11]

As I said I have never actually seen him eat so I don't think he eats. You'd think he would figure out that he needs to eat to get the hunger pain out of his gut...but like you said maybe hes just dumb. I would prefer him to live...not too attached yet but I don't want to wake up in the morning and see all my hermits and cleaner shrimp having a $15 feast.

 

[jonthefb]

he could also have an internal parasite that is causing him to not eat......just keep you eye on him, hopefully he will perk up!
good luck
jon

 

[slofish]

you said he wont go after food the female is eating. Did you have a QT tank. Maybe you could put him in a separte tank so he doesnt have to fight for food. When he starts eating normally, reintroduce him to your display.

 

[balashark21]

i second what slofish just said. if you dont have a qt tank, either get one or feed the tank, then spotfeed the perc(might work)
or you could just take him back to the lfs and tell them he wont eat and you want a new one(if your not too attached)

 

[overanalyzer]

or get a breeding net and put him in breeder or put the female in there - she could have him beaten down so much that he is afraid to go after food.

 

[shoreliner11]

I don't think he is beaten down too much. They do the little mating dance but thats about the brunt of it. He just always follows her... no matter where she goes in the tank. My brother informed me that he ate a couple pieces this morning...so hopefully everythings looking up. To add to this, they are both looking a little darker than most percs I've seen. They seem to have some darker splotches on some of their fins. It really looks just like they have gained a little dark coloring but I was wondering if this could have happened because they really didn't eat for the good part of a week?