The Puffer Forum

My congo is not eating
Not sure what's wrong with her.. she has always been a picky eater.
She eats every other day. Usually won't eat the next day I fed her and come right at the food the 3rd day.
But she has not been eating for 4 days now. 5 days ago she ate. then didn't eat on the second day. took half a bite on the 3rd day. Then hasn't been eating after that.

Here's the water parameter:
ph = 7
ammonia = 0
Nitrite = 0
Nitrate = 5

it's a 30gal tank. Temp is around 78.5F. 50% water change weekly.
the tank is new but everything inside is not. So substrate, filter media, everything is well established.

I tried raw shrimp, red wigglers, cray.. none worked.. Only the cray that she seems to chase a little. But wouldn't attack it when it's right in front of her.

She's getting skinnier. Her belly sunken. And color got darker in some area. Poop is orange color in spherical shape.

Will it be internal parasite? Someone please help. I don't want to lose her

Could be and sounds like IP's. If you cant get her to eat anything then might have to treat the tank. Better then nothing.

What was she eating before? Only live foods? 4 days isn't very long... I bet I only offer food to mine that often.

Thanks for the replies.

Pufferpunk wrote:What was she eating before? Only live foods? 4 days isn't very long... I bet I only offer food to mine that often.

In fact she would only take raw shrimps and nothing else. She seems to be more attracted to raw shrimps than any other live foods.

Should I treat the tank with levamisole? I am really worried about her.

Try soaking the shrimps in garlic. If she eats that, then soak in the meds.

You could also try earthworms. Many fish can't resist worms. You can inject worms with the medicine, too.

Pufferpunk wrote:Try soaking the shrimps in garlic. If she eats that, then soak in the meds.

It worked!!! I just soaked the raw shrimp for an hour and she ate it!! Thanks!!!

What kind of med should I soak the food with now?

My understanding is that levamisole is for treating the tank and not for soaking food. I also heard Jungle Labs and Prazi Pro.. which one is better? Treat the tank or soak the food with med?

Treating the tank does NOT work. You must soak the food. Use Jungle Parasite fizz tabs.

Go with the Jungle product, it contains more than one med.

I agree with soaking the IP med into the food if the puffer will eat. So thats good that you have something to use, the shrimp if that is all she is eatin right now. And Jungle makes the best meds for FW fish, imo.

I went looking for the jungle med yesterday but they only have external parasite guard or the jungle parasite clear.. which is tab to treat the tank not to soak the food? They sold out on the internal parasite guard...

Is it okay to soak with the tab? If so what should the ratio be? And how long should I soak it?

Another stupid question.. can I soak the food with both garlic and med?
I guess she ate yesterday cause the food is full of garlic scent.. but she might not eat if it's only soak in med..?

You want the Jungle Parasite Clear. 1/4 tab & soak with the garlic. Soak an hour or 2.

Pufferpunk wrote:You want the Jungle Parasite Clear. 1/4 tab & soak with the garlic. Soak an hour or 2.

Oh so it's the tab that I need. Thanks Pufferpunk. So should I be giving her food with med everyday?

Anytime you feed her, use the med.

Nuclear_Glitter wrote:Anytime you feed her, use the med.

Cool. Thanks for all the help