Cardinals Refuse to eat- Help!!!!!!!

[tslim889]

Dear all readers

Recently, I had setup a 4 feet (Volume is 300 liters) planted tank and start to put 60 cardinals into the tank 2 days age. Sad to say that they refuse to eat, when I feed them with dried food.

The following are the water condition.

- PH : 6.9

- Temp : 27 degree C

- CO2 : 3 bubbles per second

- Type of Food : Very fine dried food about S$6/ bottle (Bottle in red color)

Would be greatly appreciated, if any readers could share with their experiences.

Regards

[Goondoo]

Dear all readers

Recently, I had setup a 4 feet (Volume is 300 liters) planted tank and start to put 60 cardinals into the tank 2 days age. Sad to say that they refuse to eat, when I feed them with dried food.

The following are the water condition.

- PH : 6.9

- Temp : 27 degree C

- CO2 : 3 bubbles per second

- Type of Food : Very fine dried food about S$6/ bottle (Bottle in red color)

Would be greatly appreciated, if any readers could share with their experiences.

Regards

They could be under stress due to the ammonia spike. I had never add more than 20 fishes at any one time into my 4 footer.
If they stayed alive, they should start feeding in the next few days.

[ThevinQ]

Being in a new environment, your cardinals are scared/shy/feeling lost so eating is the last thing on their minds. Once they get over this initial phase, they will be fine. You don't need to worry about your fishes not eating.. fishes can do without food for a week or more. Once they have settled down, they will start thinking of food and they will eat.

However, I do have issues about the tank being just 2 days old. Assuming it is a newly set-up tank, 2 days of cycling is not enough! 1 week of cycling is the bare minimum, in fact 2 weeks and above is ideal.

[michael lai]

Hi TsLim889,
Welcome to Aquatic Quotient, as for your question give your fishes a day or two to settle down. I'm quite confident that they will feed then. Do not continue to feed if they are not responding. Stop for 2 days and attempt again, if they are still not feeding something is wrong somewhere. Check your water parameters and observe your fishes, they should be alert and darting around. Clip fins, pale colours are sure signs of trouble. Hope the info helps.

[tslim889]

Dear all

Thank for your useful advise and information sharing. I will monitor the condition further.

Dear ThevinQ

Sorry that I forget to inform that my tank had been setup for 3 weeks (Date :26/1/2006) and I only introducing the fishes 2 days ago.

Regards

[zeotz]

i have a similar situation. 4ft tank. 3week cycle. 48 cardinals in tank for 3 days, not eating very well on day 1 & 2 given powder food. but i can see half of them starting to take some food on day 3 when i fed frozen brine shrimps this morning. I should add that they only eat when I move away from the tank... maybe still shy and anxious. hopefully it'll work out for us.

[lwm999]

If they are shy, maybe can try to feed them when the light is off

[mickthefish]

a sure fire way to get thier appetites back is try feeding live bbs, all fish got daft for them no matter what size they are.
mick

[tslim889]

Dear all

For everyone update, my cardinals have not been eating my food for 40 days and they all look heathy. Let me further moniter them and feedback to all of you.

Regards

TSlim889

[zeotz]

TS, you mean none of the 60 cardinals eat? 40 days is a long time. Mine only eat when I move away fromthe tank... I hide and spy on them and sometimes I see a few take a peck at the food.

looking forward to your update.

[eddyq]

Your cardinals must be eating behind your back he..he.

[lwm999]

Maybe your cardinals hide some food that you don't know