Why Doesn't My Targetfish Eat?

[the_evil_duboisi]

He is only 1.5 inches long. Right now he is in a 30 gallon breeder with some plants, 6 zebra danios as dithers(Acually test fish), and some other fish who were getting beat up in my main tank. Either way, stocking levels are low(Total 9, biggest 2.5 inch), water is crystal-clear, due to constant water changes before introducing him, filteration's done by a aged Emperor 280 power filter, and no bullying. Oh yeah, also a handful of rock salt(So not a brackish tank in the full sense). PH 7.8.He keeps on running along the side of the tank. I've tried several foods, which were 1mm New Life Spectrum Cichlid food, Tetramin Pro Crisps and Tetra colorbits. I also have some small food with a high protein contant, but I've not tried that.Why doesn't he eat? What should I do? Should I remove the other fishes? Try temping with "richer" foods like frozen bloodworms? More salt(?!?!?!?!?) Higher PH will be acheived, do to adding 10Kg of coral sand tomorrow. He likes to swim around and be in the open.....What do you think I should do? I don't want to make life hard for a 1.5 inch edible guy! Oh, there is another possibility. Should I add more of his kind? Could he be lonely? Or should I just fast him for a few days until he learns? Would it not hurt his growth?

 

[nmonks]

As I think I mentioned a few threads back -- targetfish juveniles live in the sea, and it is really only the adults enter estuaries or freshwater. So yes, low salinity is the issue. At the least you should be keeping this fish at 50% seawater. That's SG 1.010 or thereabouts, with a nice high pH and lots of hardness. Marine salt mix, not tonic salt.

He is NOT lonely; juvenile targetfish are territorial and rather aggressive. Only as adults do they form schools.

Fasting juvenile fish always harms growth. Fish grow constantly, yes, but the rate changes over time. If a fish grows slower than it should when young, it never "catches up" with others of its age, and will always be relatively small for its age.

Cheers, Neale

What do you think I should do? I don't want to make life hard for a 1.5 inch edible guy! Oh, there is another possibility. Should I add more of his kind? Could he be lonely? Or should I just fast him for a few days until he learns? Would it not hurt his growth?