IS MY FRONTOSA DYING?

Question

I have noticed that my large Frontosa inst doing very well. I bought him about 2 weeks ago at my local pet store he is about 5 inches and very beautiful. I keep his pH any where from 8.4-8.8 he has a constant temperature of 83 Degree's Celsius his alkalinity is high and he has a 1/2 teaspoon of salt every gallon.He receives weekly water changes so that nitrates stay at zero. He is alone in a 55 gallon tank, (I do know that Fronts should be kept in a much larger tank then that and they should be with in a clan of other Fronts) With plenty of hiding spots. The first week i got him i feed him a variety of foods which he did eat the first week or so, I feed him Meat Sticks,Blood worms and high protein meat pellets. But for about 2-3 weeks no he hasn't been eating much, when i feed him the food sinks to the bottom AND HE JUST WATCHES IT fall he doesn't even make any attempt to eat anymore. Every day he eats maybe one or two pellets and a couple bits of a meat stick but he wont eat blood worms. Also a week ago i accidentally over dosed the tank with WAY to much Stress enzyme and Stress coat and ever since he has been shuffling his mouth as if though he is mouth brooding, His mouth stays kinda open and swollen and sometimes he opens, Closes and shuffles his mouth VERY fast for about 10 seconds so i did a 25% water change and it did seem to help a little. Now his stomach is sunken cause he hasn't been eating and he is very shy and he wont stop " Shuffling" his mouth.
Please help i will do everything he is my pride and joy and i paid alot of money for him.
Thanks

? · Accepted Answer

Your Ph is good for a Tanganyikan cichlid, but your temp is too high.  Over heating can cause low oxygen levels.  There are many others things that could cause problems besides the factors you mentioned.  Have you done a large water change since you overdosed?  make sue you change with pre treated water. Are you using activated carbon?  This will help to remove impurities in the water,  You might even try adding an airline for awhile to improve the oxygen content of the water,  If his stomach is drawn it could be too late, but maybe some of these things can help.  Reduce your feedings to no more than he will at in 4 minutes but feed more often and see how he does.

? · Answer

One would hope he is not dying .
but your keeping him in a Temperature that is to hot .
That is high PH .
And you keep your Nitrates at 0 why may ask as Ammonia and nitrite should be at 0 but why are you keeping your Nitrate at 0 .

Now ,i am hoping you mean Nitrite at 0 if not you do have a problem .
But i think you have a water parameter problem ?

Jeroen Wijnands · Answer

Errrr..

This is a freshwater fish. So please do stop faffing about with salt.

It's also a fish that does best in groups.

Just like any fish it needs a cycled tank which you probably didn't provide.

Jag · Answer

Well my child I do not think that he is dying I do think that Francis is lonely and need a lover or something and a bigger tank. Yes I do know that you know that and I have no idea what I am talking about so I will shut up

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IS MY FRONTOSA DYING?

4 Answers