Help! Fish Acting Normal, But Not Eating.

I have a 36G tank with African cichlids, all about 2-4inches: 4 interruptus, 2 auratus, 5 electric yellows, and 1 kribensis cichlid. they've been in the tank for over a month now and all the parameters should be fine. ph is 7.8+, there is no chlorine, and I have been treating the tank with salt and Epsom salts, but it seems now that it has no effect on what is bothering them.

Most of the yellow cichlids are eating flakes, brine shrimp, and tubifex worms, except for one of them: the main male. he just spits out the food or just shows no interest at all. some of the yellow ones eat pellets too. the thing is, none of them seem to be gaining weight after they eat. they're extremely deflated, but they act as if nothing is wrong all day. One of the auratus eatsjust fine and get really fat, the other one doesn't get as much food because it gets bullied; they're pretty new, the male interruptus doesn't show any interest in food, he is my dominant male and is focused on breeding and chasing, but used to eat all the time.

could it be my light? I have a dual light with a daylight bulb and a blue light bulb, it was given to me and was used for a saltwater tank before. should I get a new bulb? should I use general cure? help is appreciated!

 

What do you mean by

"all the parameters should be fine"? You can't assume that....

Have you tested the ammonia, nitrites and nitrates to confirm they are "fine"?

How long has the tank been running? The fish have been in there a month you said...how was the tank cycled before adding them?

 

The tank cycled for about 2 weeks before the fish went in, I added the filter cartridge from their old filter to the tank and added small amounts of flakes to the tank. I haven’t tested the nitrates etc., but I know the water is fine because I recently got new fish and they’re doing just fine; eating, gaining weight, and acting like a cichlid.

 

The tank cycled for about 2 weeks before the fish went in, I added the filter cartridge from their old filter to the tank and added small amounts of flakes to the tank. I haven’t tested the nitrates etc., but I know the water is fine because I recently got new fish and they’re doing just fine; eating, gaining weight, and acting like a cichlid.

You can't know it's cycled unless you test, even adding established subrate, you still have to test unfortunately. Adding too many fish at once will deplete the bioload as well.

 

The tank cycled for about 2 weeks before the fish went in, I added the filter cartridge from their old filter to the tank and added small amounts of flakes to the tank. I haven’t tested the nitrates etc., but I know the water is fine because I recently got new fish and they’re doing just fine; eating, gaining weight, and acting like a cichlid.

So all that the beneficial bacteria had for 2 weeks was flake food?

That would not produce enough ammonia during those 2 weeks to keep the beneficial bacteria going. Most of the BB surely died off during that time and you lost your cycle.

For future reference, When you use a filter from a previous tank....you should be moving the fish with the filter immediately. Its the equivalent of a 100% water change. If the filter was well established you would not have lost your cycle if you moved the fish with the filter.

So like I said, leaving the tank fishless for 2 weeks, you likely lost your cycle. And I am sure that had an effect on the fish you had. By the time you added new fish, the cycle was much further along and the water not quality not as poor. (that could be one explanation as to why the new fish are doing well) All the fish you already had though...they had to live through the cycle. A spike of toxic ammonia and a spike of toxic nitrites before finally settling down. This could have weakened them and they may have gotten sick as a result.

No offense AT ALL, but I really don't trust your water quality is on point unless you test it. If I am understanding everything correctly...This was a very new tank, with several fish added at once and more fish added a month later? Cycles can take a month or more.

I am not saying any of this to criticize or make you feel bad or judge or any of that. I am just voicing my opinion as to what may have happened. And it is a mistake we have all made at one time or another.

Even if your water parameters are fine now, I still believe all of your fish lived through a cycling process that weakened them. (except for the newer ones)

I highly recommend you test your water for ammonia and nitrites and nitrates. You might be surprised at the results. Just because your new fish are doing well does not mean your water is fine. Sometimes poor water quality can take a while to have an effect on the fish.

If I were you, I would want to rule out water quality before resorting to adding things like salt. Its the very first thing I do if I see fish not looking well.

Good luck with everything!