flowerhorn cichlid

Question
We were gifted an approx. 6" flowerhorn cichlid, he is young.  We've had him for 3 wks.  Up until Fri. he was very active, regularly ate pellets and pooped. Very attentive- coming alive when anyone entered the room and coming right up to our hands.  Fri. morn. he had 4 pellets.  Since then he has not eaten, stays up against the heater and is not attentive like he was.  We changed the water, tested for all things possible.  The nitrite was high so we changed approx. 40% of the water.  All seem at acceptable levels now.  But, although he is moving a bit more, he's still not eating, still not as attentive as he had been (a little better but not back to normal).  We are so sad and don't know what to do.  We checked the temp. and it's been steady at approx. 85 degrees.  Fri. night he was red on his sides but that went away after the water change.  Today is Sun. and he is still not eating.  He will not take pellets and doesn't come over to us like he had been doing.  There is nothing physically changed on the outside (now that the red went away).  2 pellets are floating in the tank and he doesn't want them.  He seems sick and we are sad. Any thoughts?  Can't think of anything else...please help!  -Susan

Answer
Hi Susan,
 First, 85 is too warm.  The temperature should be around 80oF.  
 If he does not eat his food right away, it is important to take it out.  Do not leave it in there for him to eat later. It will rot, fouling the water and that is what often makes a fish sick.  I suggest you do a 25% water change today, then do it again tomorrow and then again the next day.   This is NOT the same as changing more water at once.   

-- Ron C.
  rcoleman@cichlidresearch.com
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