HELP, big frontosa spitting all food

[aquacichlids]

hello eveyone,

I purchased this adult 5 inch frontosa a few days ago. After a few days of
settling in, he is now less skittish with less hiding and more showing and
playing around the QT tank. Color is also showing more blue in head and fins
after being black when I just bot him.

Things worry me are that he keeps spitting whatever food I gave him. I gave him
spirulina which he had least interest, almost no nibble and spits right out.
Then I tried NLS pellets, he spits right out. Then bloodworms, he sucks a bunch
in, chews a few times and then spits this whole cloud of bloodworms out. He then
would pick up a few bloodworms and give it another try but would eventually spit
out.

Also since they are meat eaters, I tried giving him grocery stored bot white
shrimp that are sliced into thin pieces. ( I'm not supposed to give him this).
He showed immediate interest, chews it hard for about a minutes then SPITS RIGHT
NOW. He then would gave it another TEN TRIES, but he spit it out after all.
Seems like he really wants to eat it but for some reason just not swallowing it.

Also I did notice he's belly was sunken a bit when I bot him. Seller just told
me it was due to hunger.

SO, what's the cause of this, is this due to internal parasite problem? Is it
possible he just swallowed a piece of gravel that got stuck in his intestine? Is
he just testing the food? He was REALLY trying to eat that shrimp I can tell.

add'l info -- he's alone in his 20G QT tank. A/N/N are all at zero level. good
filtration, aeration, hiding places. Also, I've treated him with METRO for two
days with 4 dosages. This method usually works for me. But his still not
eating/swallowing.

I really need your help on what's going on with him.
How should I get him to eat, and how to train him to eat NLS pellets?

Any inputs are appreciated.

 

[Fish madness]

I know mine love brine shrimp. I also use peas and squash. Hoping he gets better i live Frontosa's

 

[HUKIT]

I'd force feed a 3% epsom salt/distilled water solution orally, this can be administered to a fish via a pipette. Just make sure to use a flexible tip so as not to damage the fishes esophagus when squirting the solution down the fishes throat. These pipettes are cheap and are used to squirt medication down a infants throat. Only a small amount is required, but repeat daily until the fish is accepting pre-soaked pellets, and continue treatment for 5 days.

 

[Paxlerod]

Hukit, the treatment you are suggesting is that to be done before attempting to fast the fish as suggested in an earlier post. Is the Epsom salt in case the front has parasites or a blockage? I have had a small colony of Mpimwe now for two years. They don't care to much for pelletized food but will take it when I fast them a few days. They tend to hold out, for the days I give them worms or shrimp. Then they turn into piranhas. The OP did say he spits out the worms though could it be there still frozen.
I have also noticed that less active fish need less food.

 

[Paxlerod]

BTW PEACE sir.

 

[HUKIT]

I'm thinking it is more of a digestive issue honestly, between the spitting of the food along with the sunken stomach I'm leaning towards internal parasites. The other treatment beside the Epsom salt solution is Clout by Mardel, this is like nuking ants but I don't think it's ever failed me. These are the best methods for a fish who's refusing food, if any fish is showing digestive issues but still eating then ingestion is by far the best approach. Angels plus is by the best food on the market for a variety of diseases. I feed every new fish these flakes for 10-14 days exclusively then transition to NLS.

http://www.angelsplus.com/FlakeMedicated.htm

BTW PEACE sir.

No worries.

 

[kay-bee19]

(I'm not addressing the dietary ailment).

...I tried giving him grocery stored bot white
shrimp that are sliced into thin pieces. ( I'm not supposed to give him this)......

Frontosa's (with healthy appetites and not suffering from internal ailments) CAN eat raw shrimp from the grocery or supermarket. My frontosa's wolf down diced-size raw shrimp chunks regularly.

Would you happen to know what food your frontosa was being fed previously and was it eating fine prior to you purchasing it?

Give PE Mysis shrimp a try, my fronts go into a frenzy the instant its introduced into the tank.

 

[Paxlerod]

Msysis shrimp do bring out the appetite.

 

[Paxlerod]

hello eveyone,

I purchased this adult 5 inch frontosa a few days ago. After a few days of
settling in, he is now less skittish with less hiding and more showing and
playing around the QT tank. Color is also showing more blue in head and fins
after being black when I just bot him.

Things worry me are that he keeps spitting whatever food I gave him. I gave him
spirulina which he had least interest, almost no nibble and spits right out.
Then I tried NLS pellets, he spits right out. Then bloodworms, he sucks a bunch
in, chews a few times and then spits this whole cloud of bloodworms out. He then
would pick up a few bloodworms and give it another try but would eventually spit
out.

Also since they are meat eaters, I tried giving him grocery stored bot white
shrimp that are sliced into thin pieces. ( I'm not supposed to give him this).
He showed immediate interest, chews it hard for about a minutes then SPITS RIGHT
NOW. He then would gave it another TEN TRIES, but he spit it out after all.
Seems like he really wants to eat it but for some reason just not swallowing it.

Also I did notice he's belly was sunken a bit when I bot him. Seller just told
me it was due to hunger.

SO, what's the cause of this, is this due to internal parasite problem? Is it
possible he just swallowed a piece of gravel that got stuck in his intestine? Is
he just testing the food? He was REALLY trying to eat that shrimp I can tell.

add'l info -- he's alone in his 20G QT tank. A/N/N are all at zero level. good
filtration, aeration, hiding places. Also, I've treated him with METRO for two
days with 4 dosages. This method usually works for me. But his still not
eating/swallowing.

I really need your help on what's going on with him.
How should I get him to eat, and how to train him to eat NLS pellets?

Any inputs are appreciated.

Soooo where you at with the Frontosa. Is he better? BTW your in COAST right? There's a few members there that can help also.