Why is my fish not eating?

As such, fish can lose their appetite if there is a build up of fish wastes (e.g. ammonia, nitrite or nitrate), if the water temperature is too low or too high, if the dissolved oxygen is low, if the dissolved carbon dioxide is high, if the pH is wrong and if there are toxins in the water.

Why does my fish not want to eat?

If you've added a recognisable source of food for the species concerned then the answer is usually stress. The first thing to rule out is water quality, most fishes will quickly lose their appetites when exposed to ammonia or nitrite or inappropriate water chemistry.

How long can a fish go without eating?

Healthy adult fish can go for a week or two without feeding. However, young fish don't have the fat stores of adult fish and they cannot go without eating very long. That doesn't mean you should routinely skip feedings, but your fish can safely be left without food over a long holiday weekend.

What are the signs that a fish is dying?

Weakness or listlessness. Loss of balance or buoyancy control, floating upside down, or 'sitting' on the tank floor (most fish are normally only slightly negatively-buoyant and it takes little effort to maintain position in the water column) Erratic/spiral swimming or shimmying.

How do you save a sick fish?

Why aren't my fish eating?

What's wrong with my fish?

Obvious physical signs, such as spots, lumps, missing scales or frayed fins are the easiest signs of sick fish. More subtle behavioral signs, such as incorrect buoyancy, listing, decreased appetite or increased respiratory effort take more experience to spot.

How often should fish be fed?

For the most part, feeding your fish once or twice a day is sufficient. Some hobbyists even fast their fish one or two days a week to allow them to clear their digestive systems. Larger, more sedentary fish can go longer between meals than smaller, more active fish.

What else can I feed my fish?

Live Food: Options include live brine or ghost shrimp, feeder fish (for larger carnivorous fish), crickets, and worms. Greens: If your fish are the type to munch on aquarium plants, such as anacharis, give them greens as well. Options include lettuce, cucumber, zucchini, and spinach.

Do fish get thirsty?

The answer is still no; as they live in water they probably don't take it in as a conscious response to seek out and drink water. Thirst is usually defined as a need or desire to drink water. It is unlikely that fish are responding to such a driving force.

Why is my fish hiding and not eating?

Illness – When fish start to feel sick, they may seek out hiding places to hide any weakness from potential predators and bullies. If a fish starts hiding suddenly, it is best to try and get a good look at the fish and note its eating and other behavioral habits to ensure the entire community does not become infected.

How do I know if my fish is hungry?

Why is my fish at the bottom of the tank?

When the water temperature inside your aquarium drops too low, your fish might lay motionless at the bottom of the tank to conserve energy. On the opposite spectrum, if the water temperature rises dangerously high, fish will stay on the bottom because that's where oxygen levels will be higher.

Why is my fish staying in one spot?

Heat. While most quality aquarium heaters are good at disbursing heat in such a way that the water stays at a constant temperature, you may find fish hanging out on one side of the tank rather than another because they prefer the temperature.

Can I leave my aquarium light on 24 7?

You should never keep your aquarium lights on for 24/7. There are are several reasons you should not do so but the most important is it will cause algae growth in your tank. And you can spend literally weeks if not months to clean out algae from your aquarium. Besides, just as we do fish also require darkness to sleep.

Is bread bad for fish?

Eating bread is bad for fish health because it contains too many carbs and, depending on the bread variety, too much fat for their digestive system to handle properly. Fish require a varied diet of protein and nutrients, which makes bread a bad choice when feeding your fish.

What food do most fish like?

How often should you change the water in a fish tank?

Change 10 to 15 percent of the water each week. If your tank is heavily stocked, bump that up to 20 percent each week. A lightly stocked tank can get by for two weeks, but that should be the maximum length of time between water changes as you do not want to place any stress on your fish.

Can you overfeed fish in a tank?

Can you overfeed fish? Yes, while your fish do need an adequate amount of food, it is possible to overfeed your fish. This happens way more often than you might think. Fish don't have very large stomachs, especially the smaller home aquarium fish like tetras, goldfish, Betta fish, and other such fish.

How long does it take for a fish to starve?

A healthy, grown-up aquarium fish can go from 3 days to 1 whole week, without eating any food. Some fish species can even live for more than 2 weeks without eating. Whether in nature or in an aquarium – an adult fish has sufficient body mass and fat reserves to skip a couple of meals once in a while.

Is my fish sick or sleeping?

Sleeping fish remain stationary but upright; they do not turn sideways or upside down. A fish that is leaning, is upside down, or lying on the bottom isn't sleeping but is likely sick.

How do you treat a stressed fish?

Change water frequently to keep nitrate and ammonia levels low. Try adding water conditioners like API Stress Coat Aquarium Water Conditioner, which is formulated to reduce fish stress by 40% by removing dangerous toxins.

Is my fish dying or sleeping?

It's pretty easy to tell when fish are sleeping: they lie motionless, often at the bottom or near the surface of the water. They are slow to respond to things going on around them, or may not respond at all (see some sleeping catfish here). If you watch their gills, you'll notice they're breathing very slowly.

Why is my fish dying slowly?

The two biggest reasons for fish illness are stress and dirty water. While some healthy fish can fight off the infection and get healthy, the weak ones may die. Therefore, it is important to watch for the signs of stress in your fish. Ich– It is a parasitic infection that passes in one fish from another fish.