Dwarf doesn't seem to want to eat :?

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grubbster
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Dwarf doesn't seem to want to eat :?

Post by grubbster »

We have 4 DPs (1 male and 3 female) who have been happily living together in a well cycled 15 gallon tank since we got them soon after christmas. The growth rates are quite different - the male and one of the females are really much bigger than the other 2 females - much rounder, at least 2 - 3 times the size of the others! Of the small ones, 1 does eat reasonably well, but lately the other 1 barely has a nibble and now looks very skinny and with a sunken tummy :pout: She isn't being bullied off the food, but she swims up to it and then just ignores it. We have tried frozen bloodworm and cockle, live brine shrimp, snails and daphnia even a tiny bit of flake but nothing seems to interest her. Do I assume the worst and she won't be with us much longer or is there something I could try to help her improve?

Water stats are all fine and she doesn't seem stressed at all.
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grubbster
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Re: Dwarf doesn't seem to want to eat :?

Post by grubbster »

Maybe this should have gone in the hospital forum. After doing some more research on this site I realise it could be a problem with IPs, I think I had better explore options to resolve this first.
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plurmaster
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Re: Dwarf doesn't seem to want to eat :?

Post by plurmaster »

I think you should quarantine her just incase and feed her in the seprate tank see how that goes. Maybe she been bullied when you arnt watching. Some puffers can be picky eaters. Try reading the puffer libary about feeding see that helps.
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grubbster
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Re: Dwarf doesn't seem to want to eat :?

Post by grubbster »

Well sadly she didn't make it, :( I'll look into treating the other small one for IP's just in case. 2 are doing really well but I fear that the other tiny one is heading the same way :(
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plurmaster
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Re: Dwarf doesn't seem to want to eat :?

Post by plurmaster »

Did you check for nitrates,nitrites,ammonia and ph? Is there any other tankmates in there? Please describe what you have in the tank?
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StormySkiez
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Re: Dwarf doesn't seem to want to eat :?

Post by StormySkiez »

Sorry to hear your puff didnt make it. From the sounds of it she may have had ip's. Have you read the article in the library on how to treat for ip's? I think I would treat all of the puffers.
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grubbster
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Re: Dwarf doesn't seem to want to eat :?

Post by grubbster »

I doubt it is anything to do with water quality, I just checked the stats (prior to weekly maintenance):

PH = 7.5
Ammonia = 0
Nitrite = 0
Nitrate = <5

Its a 60 litre tank (I think that makes it about 15 US Gall), 4 DPs (well 3 now) and 3 Ottos.

Pretty certain it will be an IP problem.
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