Fish problem - funny/sad

I don't really need advice this time, but I thought I should share my latest
fish problem.

My cats usually hang out next to the fish tanks, watching the fish. Once in
awhile they even jump on top the tanks and drink out of them.

A few days ago I found my 10 inch Oscar dead on the floor. I wondered why ,
the water conditions were fine, and he was by far the largest fish in the
tank.

Then I noticed a clump of gray cat hair in his mouth !!!
Needless to say, the gray cat doesn't go anywhere near the fish anymore.

Keith J. ( the aquarist formerly known as Limnophile )

I've had this guy for two years now, and while he's always been a bit
finicky, lately he's been much worse. Now the only thing he seems
interested in eating are bloodworms. I've tried adding all kinds of
extra things to his diet, with no luck.

Any ideas from any of you out there?

Thanks!

Sconad wrote:
I've had this guy for two years now, and while he's always been a bit
finicky, lately he's been much worse. Now the only thing he seems
interested in eating are bloodworms. I've tried adding all kinds of
extra things to his diet, with no luck.

Any ideas from any of you out there?

Thanks!

Mine have never been the least bit picky. They ate the goldfish flakes
when I had goldfish in the same tank (the severums were babies at the
time, I removed the goldfish when the severums got larger), they eat
tropical flakes on the rare occasion that I throw some in there for the
tiger barbs, they eat freeze dried daphnia, freeze dried krill, the
occasional earthworm from my backyard is attacked with extreme energy,
they even eat the algae wafers I put in for the pleco at night. And of
course any other live food I throw in the tank is eaten immediately.

Their main diet consists of Omega One Super Color Small Pellets which I
feed three times a day. They love the pellets and it makes their fins an
exceptionally bright red so worth the price IMHO.

I'd check water conditions and temperature first. I've noticed my
severums are much much more active if the temperature is closer to 80,
say 78 degrees instead of 74. Also they can survive pretty awful water
conditions but they get more finicky as water deteriorates so check your
water quality and do some frequent water changes if you aren't already.
I do a 20% water change weekly in my severum tank, though this is in
part because of my heavy feeding and may not be necessary in your
aquarium. Just remember that in the wild nitrates rarely get above 5ppm
so if you're reading 30 or 40ppm it won't kill the severum but it sure
won't help his mood.

Severums also tend to need dither fish. If he's the only fish in the
tank that might be part of the problem - or if he's in there with fish
that like to hide that's even worse. A couple of Zebra Danios or Tiger
Barbs would be an excellent addition to the tank that will make your
Severum much more comfortable and more likely to come out and eat. Just
make sure you get brave fish that are either fast or agressive so they
don't get beat up.

If you're trying to get him to transition from live food to dry food try
using freeze dried stuff as a middle step. My guys love krill, they'll
come up and eat it out of my hand if I hold it for them.

Your severum should be a very trusting, very easy to feed fish. In fact
I have yet to find a food that my severums wouldn't eat. That is part of
the reason I overfeed my severum tank - if I didn't the other fish would
never get a chance to eat!

-Daniel

"Sconad" wrote in message
...

I've had this guy for two years now, and while he's always been a bit
finicky, lately he's been much worse. Now the only thing he seems
interested in eating are bloodworms. I've tried adding all kinds of
extra things to his diet, with no luck.

Any ideas from any of you out there?

Thanks!

You can have my cat.

Limnophile

"Sconad" wrote in message
...

I've had this guy for two years now, and while he's always been a bit
finicky, lately he's been much worse. Now the only thing he seems
interested in eating are bloodworms. I've tried adding all kinds of
extra things to his diet, with no luck.

Any ideas from any of you out there?

Thanks!

You can have my cat.

Limnophile

Sorry for the double post. My newsreader isn't working right at the
moment...