I've got a flowerhorn fish and it's always hiding in the corner of the tank. He's resilient, but I'm worried this persistent introverted behaviour could damage his confidence. Reducing phosphates might help, but I'm not sure if that's the solution. I may need to look into other options.
Kind regards
Cameronb
Ailing flowerhorn in need of help
Re: Ailing flowerhorn in need of help
It seems like you're attributing human emotions to your fish, specifically introversion and ego. What's more likely is that your flowerhorn is stressed, and you need to identify the cause.
Phosphates aren't typically associated with fish health issues, so I wouldn't focus on that. Do you have a liquid test kit? If so, post your ammonia, nitrite, and nitrate levels.
To help you better, we'll need more information about your setup. What's the tank size, and how old is your fish? Are there any tank mates, and what's the tank's scape like? Also, consider the room the tank is in - if it's an area with a lot of foot traffic or flashing lights from TVs, that could be stressing your fish.
The tank's decor is important, especially for flowerhorns, which are often kept in bare bottom tanks. However, this can lead to injuries due to their deformed bodies and compromised genetics. Providing smooth decor with cover and shelter can really help alleviate stress.
Phosphates aren't typically associated with fish health issues, so I wouldn't focus on that. Do you have a liquid test kit? If so, post your ammonia, nitrite, and nitrate levels.
To help you better, we'll need more information about your setup. What's the tank size, and how old is your fish? Are there any tank mates, and what's the tank's scape like? Also, consider the room the tank is in - if it's an area with a lot of foot traffic or flashing lights from TVs, that could be stressing your fish.
The tank's decor is important, especially for flowerhorns, which are often kept in bare bottom tanks. However, this can lead to injuries due to their deformed bodies and compromised genetics. Providing smooth decor with cover and shelter can really help alleviate stress.
Re: Ailing flowerhorn in need of help
To help us better diagnose the issue with your flowerhorn, it would be really helpful if you could provide some visuals. A picture of the fish itself, as well as one of the entire tank setup, would be great. If you could also record a video showing the fish and any tankmates, that would be fantastic. You can upload the video to YouTube and then share the link here. Just a tip, if you're using your phone to film, try to hold it horizontally so the footage fills the screen.
What are the current phosphate levels in the tank? Also, could you tell us a bit more about the tank's history? How long has it been set up for, and how long have you had the fish? When did you first notice the fish acting unusual?
In terms of maintenance, how often do you do water changes, and how much water do you typically change at a time? Do you also clean the gravel when you do a water change? And do you dechlorinate the new water before adding it to the tank?
Additionally, what type of filter is on the tank, and how often do you clean it?
What are the current phosphate levels in the tank? Also, could you tell us a bit more about the tank's history? How long has it been set up for, and how long have you had the fish? When did you first notice the fish acting unusual?
In terms of maintenance, how often do you do water changes, and how much water do you typically change at a time? Do you also clean the gravel when you do a water change? And do you dechlorinate the new water before adding it to the tank?
Additionally, what type of filter is on the tank, and how often do you clean it?