Juvenile jack dempsey won't eat

Ohionick2017

Feeder Fish
MFK Member
Jun 21, 2017
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I set up a 55 gallon tank this past saturday and got a jack dempsey that sunday to do a fish in cycle. Since i got him I've done 2 water changes and i haven't seen him eat. I did see white fecies so i bought some api general cure and I put the second dose in today. His colors have come a long way since the day i got him but still wont eat. I should mention that the only decor in the tank is sand substrate and a couple small pieces of driftwood with anubias as i am waiting on some lace rock to come in the mail. Ive tried hikari cichlid gold and omega one freeze dried blood worms as well as api sinking wafers. I've also been treating the water with seachem stability and stress guard. Any advice would be appreciated I'm new to the hobby and this is my first tank since i was a kid.
 

tlindsey

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Aug 6, 2011
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I set up a 55 gallon tank this past saturday and got a jack dempsey that sunday to do a fish in cycle. Since i got him I've done 2 water changes and i haven't seen him eat. I did see white fecies so i bought some api general cure and I put the second dose in today. His colors have come a long way since the day i got him but still wont eat. I should mention that the only decor in the tank is sand substrate and a couple small pieces of driftwood with anubias as i am waiting on some lace rock to come in the mail. Ive tried hikari cichlid gold and omega one freeze dried blood worms as well as api sinking wafers. I've also been treating the water with seachem stability and stress guard. Any advice would be appreciated I'm new to the hobby and this is my first tank since i was a kid.


Its a very strong possibility that your aquarium is not completely cycled yet. Please list your water parameters so members can get a better idea of what is going on.
 

tlindsey

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Aug 6, 2011
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Possibly killed your beneficial bacteria unless the API general cure states it doesn't harm the bio-filtration.
 

jmf

Candiru
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Jul 2, 2017
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Possibly killed your beneficial bacteria unless the API general cure states it doesn't harm the bio-filtration.
It's not supposed to kill bb from my research
 
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jmf

Candiru
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Jul 2, 2017
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Ph:7.4
Ammonia: .25ppm
Nitrite:0ppm
Nitrate: 5.0ppm
Water is 74°
Keep doing wc. Also, as with most fish maybe up the temp a little to 77f.

What have been trying to feed the JD? My baby JD loooooves bloodworms. In fact, he will chase the swordtails away from the feeding spot if his getting worms.

I would also use some Epsom salt. If it gets really bad, try getting some Seachem GarlicGuard. Mix some GarlicGuard, Epsom salt and bloodworms. Fish go crazy for garlic.

One last thing, I have seen but not tried people putting a clove of garlic in the tank to get fish to eat.
 

Ohionick2017

Feeder Fish
MFK Member
Jun 21, 2017
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Yeah his mouth looks swollen and I'm seeing some white fuzzy looking stuff on his bottom lip so I'm going to treat him for cotton mouth and see if that does the trick
 

jmf

Candiru
MFK Member
Jul 2, 2017
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Yeah his mouth looks swollen and I'm seeing some white fuzzy looking stuff on his bottom lip so I'm going to treat him for cotton mouth and see if that does the trick
I am no expert at all but I see you are fairly new to the hobby. Please remember this is the net so take I or anyone else tells you with a grain of salt ;)

Try the garlic and see how it goes.

Do you know anyone else with an aquarium?
 

Ohionick2017

Feeder Fish
MFK Member
Jun 21, 2017
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I'm the only one i know with an aquarium and I'm new to the hobby for sure i bought this 55 off of craigslist and resealed it as well as a 90 gallon im working on right now
 
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