Harlequins will not eat.

My Harlequin rasboras have been in my tank for approx 4 days now, and they barely eat. When I observe them at feeding time they totally ignore large flakes, will go after medium flakes but not eat them, and will only eat the tinyest of tiny crumbs. I have to grind the food into a powder to get them to eat, and even then they only eat a little bit, if any. Would some more fish help get them eating again?

 

How many Harlies do you have? They'll eat once they get hungry enough. Try to break the flakes into smaller pieces if you can but don't turn it into powder.

 

I had 5, but two of them died pretty fast, the remaining 3 swim around and play in the bubble wall, so they aren't sick, they just won't eat.

 

You need a couple more to fill out the school. Is the tank cycled?

 

Last night I think another died because I can't find him, this isn't a surprise to me considering his shredded tailfin. So, again, today they do not eat.

 

What all do you have in the tank?? Sorry to hear your harlies are dying off . That's horrible.

 

Well, I'm down to one rasbora. 2 died, one disappeared (jumped?), and I found one had mouth rot, so I took him back to the pet store where he was treated with several other rasboras who also had mouth rot. So now I'm down to one, he seems pretty healthy though, swimming and playing in the bubble wall from time to time. I got some shrimps to take care of the food he doesn't eat, so we'll see what happens if I keep trying to feed him. Hopefully he'll come out on top. I feel bad for him though, all of his buddies are gone. I'll get some more if he lives.

 

Yeah, I would do what you are planning to do. Keep the one you have for a week or so and see if it survives. If it does then get a couple more. Preferably from a different store.

 

Yeah I've been meaning to go to the place that deals specifically in fish, but I've just been putting it off since the local pet store was a bit closer. When I'm ready to get more fish I plan to go there.

Well, I think I know why he wasn't eating today. I found the missing harlie dead and stuck to the back of the filter, he's probably been nibbling off of the carcass all day.

My lone harlie still isn't eating. You think some more of his own kind might encourage him to eat?

 

I wouldn't risk it. Let him be for now. If you have frozen blood worms try feeding him a couple of those. Also chopping up a blanched pea would do him some good.

 

I'm going to get a honey gourami tomorrow, would this addition stress him out?

 

What all do you have in the tank with him and how big is the tank?

 

Well, my harlie just died. But my tank is a 29 gallon, now it's only inhabitants are two amano shrimp.

 

I'm sorry! It sounds like your LFS has weak stock. At least when it comes to harlies. Do you know what all your parameters are?? I'd do a large waterchange before adding anymore fish.

 

I'm sorry! It sounds like your LFS has weak stock. At least when it comes to harlies. Do you know what all your parameters are?? I'd do a large waterchange before adding anymore fish.

Yeah, I think it was weak stock because when I went to the more specialized store the guy said he's never seen weak harlies. I got some hardier rosy whitefin tetra, they're in the bag right now, a little spooked from the trip, but they seem healthy, I'll update when they're out of the bag

20 minutes after the trio got out of the bag they began happily swimming around and exploring their new home, in direct contrast to what happened when I put my rasboras in, things are looking good!

Family picture!

 

Nice looking tetras!! Make sure you get them some more buddies because they are schooling fish. I almost bought a group to go with my BleedingHeart Tetras lol.

 

Nice looking tetras!! Make sure you get them some more buddies because they are schooling fish. I almost bought a group to go with my BleedingHeart Tetras lol.

Down the road I probably will. They've been in about an hour now and they already seem at home! The Amano shrimp aren't very fond of their new tank mates though, they've gone into hiding. xD

 

Hahaa Amanos are grumpy little inverts lol.

 

These guys look a little less red than they did at the store, is that just moving-related stress?

 

Yeah they are probably slightly stressed. Check your params just in case.

 

This morning all 3 are still alive, their colours have returned, and they even ate a little bit. So all is well.

 

I started my tank this past Friday (it is wed) and my betta can't be better...he's 3 and it's like he's got a new life...loving the tank. I got 4 raspbora because the clerk said no more than 4 to start to condition the tank. At first they were spritely and darting all over. Ate like piranhas. 2 days later they hardly move from the corner of the tank and just stare out ...actually one goes to the other side and stares out in the opposite direction. Yesterday they ate and even stole food meant for the betta(poor betta didn't know whether to chase them away from his meal or try to eat it.)

They aren't eating now. they don't look sick but my tank has the lowest hardness (0) and high ph 8.2...the other levels of ammonia nitrate and nitrite are non existent as one would expect from a new tank. They were perfect for 2 days straight and then started this strange trancelike behavior last night. I read that one needs more than 4 in a school, but I didn't want to overload the tank at first. Do they not eat when not schooling? Do I need more? I didn't want to get too many since we plan on getting a few bottom feeders and another 1-2 middle tank swimmers. I want a minimum of 10 fish for the 16 gallon tank.
thanks,AnnI [/URL]

 

I'd get two more, they really need to be in groups of 6. As for them not eating, it could be shock or stress. annizoe, I'm not sure if they are good cycle fish, but I know they have low bioloads.

 

I just lost one to a betta...actually he's still alive and in a net. I'm surprised since the betta is very passive and ignored them for 2 days. I knew this "could" happen and am glad I was there to see it before he got more. Sadly the raspbora no longer has pectoral fins. I need to euthanize him but have no idea how! Old school was to flush, which they say is not good...but to cut it's head off? I can't do that!

 

Bettas really are best kept alone, if you have another tank I'd remove the rasboras.
Flushing is not only a slow painful death it's quite possibly illegal, it is over here.
This thread may help you on methods of euthanasia

 

Put it in clove oil, which will knock him out, then euthanize him.

 

betta ate raspbora's pectoral fins!!! Others look "sick"

I am shocked to find that my very passive betta has anger issues. He just ripped off the pectoral fins from one of my raspboras! It is still alive and in a net and I am beside myself as to what to do! The betta has been moved to his old home, and the three remaining raspbora's look lost and are at the net. I need to euthanize this poor suffering creature but I can't cut off it's head as suggested (plus he's so small!) Old school was to flush but I've never thought about doing this with a live fish.
Actually my kids called me over...as I sit here typing...they notice that the others are extremely lethargic and one looks to be dying (swimming erratically.) They did so well for 2 days! I don't know if the betta attacked them or maybe he attacked because they aren't well?

the other raspboras are dying now...they weren't attacked. I think he attacked it cause it was sickly. Ammonia, Nitrate and Nitrite all 0ppm...ph 8.2

unfortunately I do not keep clove oil on hand...the others are dying now.

 

No, he attacked it because he is a Siamese Fighting Fish....the active word being "fighting".

This is a good case study for why you don't keep Betta's in community tanks


As for your parameters, do you have many plants? If not that would indicate you haven't cycled your tank, and you have some serious work ahead of you.

 

unfortunately I do not keep clove oil on hand...the others are dying now.

That's sad.... I can't be of much help.

 

I'm so sorry things didn't work out.
Hope you other fish are feeling better soon.

 

I am shocked to find that my very passive betta has anger issues. He just ripped off the pectoral fins from one of my raspboras! It is still alive and in a net and I am beside myself as to what to do! The betta has been moved to his old home

So you put a "male" betta in the tank? "He just ripped off the pectoral fins from one of my raspboras!" "He"

 

I wouldn't be too quick to euthanize. Fins will grow back and he/she may make a full recovery.

Edit: I merged your two threads.

 

What's the tank temp? Double check.
At the beginning of winter, I had my heater go out, light still came on but water was freezing, fish started acting weird, and didn't realize it till I touched the water.

 

PS- the betta will NOT be returning to the tank. He is responsible for the one death but the others? Perhaps he had nipped at them or perhaps they were shocked somehow. Perhaps the betta sensed that they were sickly? I would like an experienced point of view. Yes my mistake was trusting my betta (who is afraid of his own shadow.) That I get...but what would cause the last raspbora to act fine for another 2 hours and then suddenly...start dying? I feel horrible. Petco will take them back and they said that they recommend just a few "trial" mollies/guppies since the betta won't be there.

 

Well, some bettas are peaceful for a long time, then snap, it kills all the rest of the fish.

 

the kit did not come with a thermometer and forgot to buy one! It is an automatic set heater. Water is warm (that is not a very good answer.) but when I return the dead fish I am going to buy a better one with an adjustable thermostat...kinda annoyed with the kit I thought all heaters had an adjusting dial...jokes on me.

 

Don't trust a thermostat, get a separate thermometer.

 

that will be top on my list of priorities tomorrow! BTW I was backwards about cycling. I was told that since my betta was in the tank and thriving that it was cycled...can't be...even though I used old fishbowl water there was no way the bacteria could have been established. Going to buy a few cycling fish tomorrow with my dead fish refund...any recommendations? (soft water high ph) Mollies? Guppies?

 

that will be top on my list of priorities tomorrow! BTW I was backwards about cycling. I was told that since my betta was in the tank and thriving that it was cycled...can't be...even though I used old fishbowl water there was no way the bacteria could have been established. Going to buy a few cycling fish tomorrow with my dead fish refund...any recommendations? (soft water high ph) Mollies? Guppies?

I'd say do a fish less cycle. Let the tank sit for a month, keep the filters,heater,etc on, just like if u had fish in their. A cycle using fish is just very inhumane.

 

Did you actually SEE the betta attack the rasbora? I have a hard time believing that a slow-moving, generally clumsy fish like a betta could out-maneuver a much smaller and more agile cyprinid enough to rip off not one but both of its pectoral fins.. Not to mention, they tend not to be aggressive toward fish that don't resemble themselves in any way. I have kept bettas with small-passive fish like tetras and never had any problems with aggression. If anything, the tetras would occasionally nip at the betta then swim quickly away.

More likely than not your rasbora lost his fins from the shock of a massive ammonia spike. I have seen this happen before and it is one of the dangers of fish-in cycling. Your betta is probably used to water with ammonia in it, having been in a bowl for three years, and that's why he wasn't showing adverse signs in response to the toxicity.

I'd say do a fish less cycle. Let the tank sit for a month, keep the filters,heater,etc on, just like if u had fish in their. A cycle using fish is just very inhumane.

That wouldn't cycle the tank. You need a source of ammonia. Fishless cycling requires either manually adding pure ammonia, or fish food or some other organic matter that will decompose and produce ammonia.