lilmingo

I have three cherry barbs; two of them came from a fantastic dealer, and the third is the only one left (of an original three) that came in sick from a not-so-fantastic dealer. My question is about the eating habits of the sickly fish: I've had her for close to three weeks, and about three days after getting her home, she stopped eating, clamped her fins, started pooping white string-like things, and became really dark. I kept the tank water really clean and gave her a salt bath, and the past few days she's been acting more like her healthier tank-mates--and it seems like she's gotten her appetite back. At least, she comes to the top of the tank for food, but every mouthful she takes in, she spits right back out again! I'm feeding tropical flake food (which the other two seem to love). My question is, do you think this is related to her recent illness, or is she just a picky fish? If she's just picky, will she eventually learn to like the flake food? After close to 10 days of not eating, I'd imagine she'd be hungry enough to eat just about anything...? Any insight/advice is welcome!

susitna-flower

Sounds like the sickly fish probably has internal parasites, I would treat the whole tank since you put them in together, they all likely have them now.

angelfish220

watch her really closely. is she eating/spitting or is she tearing bits off? I have a honey gourami that eats like that and I thought she wasnt eating but really she is tearing off little bits.

Susitna-flower is right though, parisites are a bugger (pun intended ) You need to treat the whole tank.

Faye Rod

What is the recommended treatment for these parasites? I'm afraid I might have the same problem after the gourami I introduced to the tank last week died - and now one of the platys is acting like lilmingo's picky eater. I've looked up the fish diseases and they recommend salt in a quarantine tank? Any other treatments since it seems to be in the main tank?

COBettaCouple

I would recommend against the salt. Parasite Clear or Clout would be good for treating the internal parasites.

tkfury

I see a lot of people soak food in garlic for picky eaters (I've used the garlic a few times for my fishies and they all love it so its more a treat for them). Is that something lilmingo might beable to try ontop of medication?