Apisto nutrition

[tillbarnem]

Hi. Just wondering about nutritional requirements. I do not have the ability of using live foods at this time. I have been using various flake foods in combination with frozen bloodworms, enriched brine shrimp, something called freshwater frenzy, and cyclops. It appears that my apistos will stop eating flake and stick strictly to frozen. After this they start to decline. Any ideas? Thanks, Jeff

[dw1305]

Hi Jeff,
It looks like a pretty good diet, so my suspicion would be that the increased "pickiness" and subsequent decline in the fish is not directly attributable to the food.

Can you give us some more symptoms of the decline?

cheers Darrel

[Mike Wise]

My apistos are not particularly fond of any of the many flake foods that I have tried. I would use mostly frozen foods if you can't raise some kind of live food.

[tillbarnem]

My water parameters are good. I have a community tank and whatever the problem is, seems to only affect the cichlids. My black skirt tetras, hatchets, and bottom dwellers are not bothered. I have noticed something similar to a problem I was reading about in another thread on the site. An enlarged anus and a long slimy white substance being emitted. I presume it is some type of parasite. Not currently noted however. Any idea on treatment? Jeff

[dw1305]

Hi all,
I like live food as well, it gives the fish a bit of exercise. Jeff it does sound like internal parasites, although you might expect that it would infect the other fish as well. I'm fortunate in that I've only ever experienced the internal nematode Cammallanus, where levamisole is an effective treatment, but other parasites will require other medication. I think you need metronidazole and praziquantel as well to cover all the possible "worm" options, and others may be able to suggest which medicines contain these.
cheers Darrel

[tillbarnem]

Any idea if these meds will be okay in a planted tank? Should I treat prophylactically? Jeff

[dw1305]

Hi all,
Jeff, levamisole is definitely all right in the planted tank, and doesn't effect invertebrates. Have a look here for description and usage <http://www.loaches.com/Members/shari2/levamisole-hydrochloride-1>.

In the UK, I couldn't find a medication containing levamisole specifically for fish, so I bought a cage bird wormer - "Harka Verm" <http://www.hyperdrug.co.uk/Harka-Verm-100ml/productinfo/HARKAVERM/>.

I don't know about the other treatments. Generally I would be very wary of dosing any medication on a regular basis, without a clear indication that there is a problem, however in this case "enlarged anus and long slimy white" faeces would clearly suggest internal parasites. Best of luck.

cheers Darrel

[Hudson Ensz]

I am sorry for hijacking but i am wondering what i should for my apistos in Brazil. I have tried all kinds of processed fish foods but nothing will spark their interest. I will try tubifex cubes when i get back but i know that too much isnt good for them. Someone offered to send me fish food everyonce in a while but he cant send live and i am not sure about frozen. What will make my finicky wild apistos to eat and stay healthy?
Hudson

[Mike Wise]

I would try hatching brine shrimp. Brazil produces quality brine shrimp eggs if you can find who sells them. Otherwise I would buy cans from the US. There are several online sellers. Mosquito larvae are ideal for these fish if you are willing to collect/raise them.

[bigbird]

Hello Hudson,

Good to have you back. What I do in Sydney, is place about 10 buckets of water out in the garden. About 2 weeks later, you will have sufficient mosquito larvae and other aquatic live foods. free and works well. cheers jk :biggrin:

[dw1305]

Hi all,
I do the same as "bigbird", unfortunately it's a bit colder here (-10oC this morning) than in Sydney or Brazil, and it doesn't work through the winter.
Grindal worms are good, any chance of getting a culture?
cheers Darrel

[a.d.wood]

I'm with Mike on this one, baby brine shrimp.

I hatch this every day and all tanks containg dwarves (whether it be adults or youngsters) receive a daily feed of bbs. This is supplemented with frozen foods (daphnia, artemia) and through the summer some live foods (daphnia).

Andrew