My female 14cm and 3 year old Bristlenose is behaving very differently to usual. She is completely disinterested in her food and has not eaten any of the food I have added to the tank in the past week. She usually heads straight for any food I add.
She is the only fish in a 12 gallon tank. I changed her tank 3 months ago and she has been very happy in it up to last week.
I have checked the tank parameters daily and they are:
ammonia -0
nitrites & nitrates - 0
temp - 23 degrees C
pH - 6.8
There is good filtration and a good water flow from the filter. It is an Eheim pickup 60 canister filter.
We noticed that our water tasted funny 1 week ago over a few days. During this time, without thinking, I did my usual weekly 25% water change. 3 days after the water change I noticed that two algae wafers were still in the tank and realized the Bristlenose was not eating. She was staying in one place on the side of the tank - in exactly the same place at 11pm and 7am. Although parameters were fine I did a 50% water change.
I wondered if she was constipated so followed online advice and fed her shelled peas - these were untouched. The following day I added 100% pure Epsom salt (12 teaspoons). She appeared to perk up a bit moving more and swam over to the driftwood. After 24 hours I did another 50% water change. Since, she has left peas, cucumber and zucchini untouched. She remains in one place underneath the driftwood - occasionally moving slightly.
I feel there must have been something in the water when I changed it a week ago. She does look slightly better as she is at least staying on the driftwood moving on it a little bit. Prior to the Epsom salt addition she was inactive and squashed in the corner of the tank on the glass.
Any advice would be much appreciated. Should I add Epsom salt again as this did seem to help? Or is it best to leave her alone now she is on the driftwood?
Thank you.
She is the only fish in a 12 gallon tank. I changed her tank 3 months ago and she has been very happy in it up to last week.
I have checked the tank parameters daily and they are:
ammonia -0
nitrites & nitrates - 0
temp - 23 degrees C
pH - 6.8
There is good filtration and a good water flow from the filter. It is an Eheim pickup 60 canister filter.
We noticed that our water tasted funny 1 week ago over a few days. During this time, without thinking, I did my usual weekly 25% water change. 3 days after the water change I noticed that two algae wafers were still in the tank and realized the Bristlenose was not eating. She was staying in one place on the side of the tank - in exactly the same place at 11pm and 7am. Although parameters were fine I did a 50% water change.
I wondered if she was constipated so followed online advice and fed her shelled peas - these were untouched. The following day I added 100% pure Epsom salt (12 teaspoons). She appeared to perk up a bit moving more and swam over to the driftwood. After 24 hours I did another 50% water change. Since, she has left peas, cucumber and zucchini untouched. She remains in one place underneath the driftwood - occasionally moving slightly.
I feel there must have been something in the water when I changed it a week ago. She does look slightly better as she is at least staying on the driftwood moving on it a little bit. Prior to the Epsom salt addition she was inactive and squashed in the corner of the tank on the glass.
Any advice would be much appreciated. Should I add Epsom salt again as this did seem to help? Or is it best to leave her alone now she is on the driftwood?
Thank you.