Lapradei Bichir Problem

rayoddballfish

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May 2, 2017
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Hi everyone its me again. I have not been on MFK for a year, but I'm back because of my bichir. She has been with me for a year and a half now and after everything I've tried, such as general cure, salt, and high temps, she is still quite skinny and eats very little. She hasnt grown much in the years i have kept her (1 inch) and eats maybe 2 pieces of tilapia a day (1/2 inh chunks) She is in a 75 with a albino Oscar who is around 6 inches. They go together fine. Other than feeding, she is quite normal, swimming fine and going up for air like most other bichirs. I feel like she might have a parasite that General Cure doesn't treat? I did see one small wavy looking attachment on her head that disappeared after general cure treatment. I unfortunately do not have a picture of that. I will post a picture tommorow because I am busy (sorry for inconvenience) if anyone has advice let me know. I made a similar thread a year ago, but I dont know what to do anymore. I did find small white ick like particles all over her body and they seem to move around? IDK cause today i didn't see any. Hopefully someone can help me cause I have grown super attached to her cause she is so cool and so much fun too see swimming around lol. Thanks everyone and I will post shortly
 

tlindsey

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Aug 6, 2011
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Hi everyone its me again. I have not been on MFK for a year, but I'm back because of my bichir. She has been with me for a year and a half now and after everything I've tried, such as general cure, salt, and high temps, she is still quite skinny and eats very little. She hasnt grown much in the years i have kept her (1 inch) and eats maybe 2 pieces of tilapia a day (1/2 inh chunks) She is in a 75 with a albino Oscar who is around 6 inches. They go together fine. Other than feeding, she is quite normal, swimming fine and going up for air like most other bichirs. I feel like she might have a parasite that General Cure doesn't treat? I did see one small wavy looking attachment on her head that disappeared after general cure treatment. I unfortunately do not have a picture of that. I will post a picture tommorow because I am busy (sorry for inconvenience) if anyone has advice let me know. I made a similar thread a year ago, but I dont know what to do anymore. I did find small white ick like particles all over her body and they seem to move around? IDK cause today i didn't see any. Hopefully someone can help me cause I have grown super attached to her cause she is so cool and so much fun too see swimming around lol. Thanks everyone and I will post shortly


What is your nitrate level?
 

Vancouver_98683

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Dec 29, 2010
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How big is it now after your 1 year of ownership? Picture of the lap will be helpful. I too have a lap that hasn’t grown much. It’s 14” slender and doesn’t eat much either. Original owner had for about 2 years and I just got it about 2 months ago.
 

jaws7777

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Mar 1, 2014
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I doubt its a parasite. The fish is eating daily as per op.

Depending on the size of this fish it may have just it the slow down period or havw crappy genetics.
I have a koloton thats been a real slow grower
 
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rayoddballfish

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May 2, 2017
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Hello! Sorry to hear your lap isn’t feeling well.

Please post your parameters:
Ammonia, nitrite, nitrate. temperature you keep the tank at.

How big is the lap? Has activity level changed? Do you feed her anything besides tilapia?
When I use test strips so not sure about numbers (i will hopefully get some test kits (sorry for inconvenience)). She acts normal, except she does kinda breath a little heavy... maybe because water was a little cold? I kept it at 77 now its at 86. Also she constantly bites my oscar and she would be seen with bloody fins (they heal tho)
 

rayoddballfish

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MFK Member
May 2, 2017
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I doubt its a parasite. The fish is eating daily as per op.

Depending on the size of this fish it may have just it the slow down period or havw crappy genetics.
I have a koloton thats been a real slow grower
okay.She just seems to be a picky eater. If I buy her some feeder fish (guppies or cilidd) I'm sure she would feast on them. She is not interested in tilapia and shrimp that much. She used to eat at least some, but the past 2 weeks she's eaten nothing. Maybe because I was on vacation for a week and didn't feed her? Usually i see bulges in her stomach but recently nothing.
 
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