silver-tips

Question
Hello!  I have a question for you.  I have a 55 gallon tank, and had the water tested after it had set for four days, and everything was in a good range (pH was a little on the low side, but just barely!). I added the appropriate amt of aquarium salt, and tested the salinity, which was .21.  Within the past week stocked it with two silver-tipped sharks, one red tail shark, 3 blue paradise gouramis, and two kissers.  I had done rather extensive research and found that most people say the silver tips rarely grow past 8-12in in captivity, so I went on that and stuck to the "inch per gallon" rule, with a few gallons to spare.  However...  both of my silver tips don't seem to be eating.  The swim up and down the corners of the tank, dart around for a few seconds, and go right back to swimming up and down.  Apparently this means they are hungry (from what I've read), but when I put the flakes in, they ignore them!  I've tried frozen blood worms, and they ignore those too.  What's going on?

Answer
Hi Carolyn,
  I don't understand why you would add any aquarium salt. I see no value in putting it in a fish tank.  

  Adding all those fish at once is a bit of a bump for the system.  It takes a tank time to build up a certain amount of "good" bacteria to handle the fish waste.  Putting in so many fish at once makes it a challenge.  It is very possible that your tank will go cloudy in a week or so.  

  As for the up and down behavior, that is nothing to worry about. It can mean that they are hungry but it more likely means that they are still a little bit perplexed about having been moved to a new world and they are trying to figure it all out.  It is very normal for fish not to eat for even a week or more when moved to a new tank.

  Most importantly, do not let uneaten food accumulate in the tank.  Never put food in the tank for the fish to "eat later".  Only put in food for them to eat right away.

-- Ron
  rcoleman@cichlidresearch.com
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