Dwarf Gourami not eating

[Kevin Wu]

Hi,

I have a 10-gallon aquarium, fully cycled via fishless
cycling, ammonia = 0, nitrites = 0, nitrates = 20 ppm,
pH = 7.2, some live and artificial plants, a big rock
with holes, and a ceramic piece with holes. Last week,
I added the first fish: 5 Neon Tetras, 2 Cory Cats, and
a Dwarf Gourami.

My concern is that the Dwarf Gourami is not eating. He
swims energetically at the back wall behind the plants
and rock/ceramic pieces all day including at feeding
time. He eats nothing or very little compared to the
Tetras. He's about two inches in length. The food is a
balanced flake.

Should I be worried? Should I try live food? Should I
turn off the room lights at night while feeding?

Thanks,
Kevin

[nuchumYussel]

First off, I would definitly watch him. But is it possible that he is
eating while you are not looking? I have two Serpae Tetras, who are
about 1 year old, I have never seen them eat. But they must be. As for
live foods, You could give them a shot and see what happens. Good
Luck!!

Evan

[Happy'Cam'per]

Kevin

Not to sound like a Doomsayer but Dwarf Gouramis are a hit and miss as far
as survival goes. I hear they like a well established tank, they don't seem
to do so well in new setups IME. I had 2 that passed on when I first started
out, they got lumps on their heads and died within days. Apparently the
breeding lines are not as strong as they used to be rendering them quite
frail!!! Don't stress if he's not eating yet, he will when he's hungry, I
would avoid the live foods at this stage as they muck up your water, and
your Nitrates (20ppm) are already rising. Hope the little guy makes it!
--
**So long, and thanks for all the fish!**

"Kevin Wu" > wrote in message
om...
> Hi,
>
> I have a 10-gallon aquarium, fully cycled via fishless
> cycling, ammonia = 0, nitrites = 0, nitrates = 20 ppm,
> pH = 7.2, some live and artificial plants, a big rock
> with holes, and a ceramic piece with holes. Last week,
> I added the first fish: 5 Neon Tetras, 2 Cory Cats, and
> a Dwarf Gourami.
>
> My concern is that the Dwarf Gourami is not eating. He
> swims energetically at the back wall behind the plants
> and rock/ceramic pieces all day including at feeding
> time. He eats nothing or very little compared to the
> Tetras. He's about two inches in length. The food is a
> balanced flake.
>
> Should I be worried? Should I try live food? Should I
> turn off the room lights at night while feeding?
>
> Thanks,
> Kevin

[Kevin Wu]

Here's an update: The Dwarf Gourami is starting to come to the front
of the aquarium. He still spends much of the time swimming to and fro,
but now he does it at the left end, which faces a high traffic
entrance to our kitchen. I stopped the filter during feeding time, and
he eats a few flakes from the calm surface. When he's done, I turn on
the filter. The flakes fall and the Tetras eat. Some flakes get to the
bottom for the Cory Cats.

BTW, what's the difference between a tank fully cycled via fishless
cycling and a well-established tank? The fishless method took 14 days
after I added live plants for seeding good bacteria. During the first
few days, I maintained ammonia at 4 ppm until nitrites started
appearing and ammonia started declining. Then nitrites peaked at 3
ppm. I added 3 ml of 2% household ammonia each night until ammonia and
nitrites were zero after 24 hours. At that point, nitrates reached 120
ppm, and I changed 90% of the water to bring nitrates down to under 20
ppm.

Kevin

"Happy'Cam'per" > wrote in message >...
> Kevin
>
> Not to sound like a Doomsayer but Dwarf Gouramis are a hit and miss as far
> as survival goes. I hear they like a well established tank, they don't seem
> to do so well in new setups IME. I had 2 that passed on when I first started
> out, they got lumps on their heads and died within days. Apparently the
> breeding lines are not as strong as they used to be rendering them quite
> frail!!! Don't stress if he's not eating yet, he will when he's hungry, I
> would avoid the live foods at this stage as they muck up your water, and
> your Nitrates (20ppm) are already rising. Hope the little guy makes it!
>

[NetMax]

"Kevin Wu" > wrote in message
om...
> Here's an update: The Dwarf Gourami is starting to come to the front
> of the aquarium. He still spends much of the time swimming to and fro,
> but now he does it at the left end, which faces a high traffic
> entrance to our kitchen. I stopped the filter during feeding time, and
> he eats a few flakes from the calm surface. When he's done, I turn on
> the filter. The flakes fall and the Tetras eat. Some flakes get to the
> bottom for the Cory Cats.
>
> BTW, what's the difference between a tank fully cycled via fishless
> cycling and a well-established tank? The fishless method took 14 days
> after I added live plants for seeding good bacteria. During the first
> few days, I maintained ammonia at 4 ppm until nitrites started
> appearing and ammonia started declining. Then nitrites peaked at 3
> ppm. I added 3 ml of 2% household ammonia each night until ammonia and
> nitrites were zero after 24 hours. At that point, nitrates reached 120
> ppm, and I changed 90% of the water to bring nitrates down to under 20
> ppm.

Generally a fishless cycle will yield a much higher biological capacity,
enabling you to go to a well stocked tank instantly. You current fish
load cannot supply enough ammonia to result in 3ppm each day.
--
www.NetMax.tk

> Kevin
>
> "Happy'Cam'per" > wrote in message
>...
> > Kevin
> >
> > Not to sound like a Doomsayer but Dwarf Gouramis are a hit and miss
as far
> > as survival goes. I hear they like a well established tank, they
don't seem
> > to do so well in new setups IME. I had 2 that passed on when I first
started
> > out, they got lumps on their heads and died within days. Apparently
the
> > breeding lines are not as strong as they used to be rendering them
quite
> > frail!!! Don't stress if he's not eating yet, he will when he's
hungry, I
> > would avoid the live foods at this stage as they muck up your water,
and
> > your Nitrates (20ppm) are already rising. Hope the little guy makes
it!
> >