pacus acting very strange

r1806 · New member Joined: 20 Apr 2006 Posts: 8

Hello,

I was hoping some one could help. I have 2 pacus very small right now, about two inches ( yes I know how big they get ). When I first got them they where very social and would not let food touch the bottom. I also have 3 cichlids each 1 inch in length. They seem to be getting along just fine. But the Pacus are not really eating that much and they are always hiding. In addition they seem to swim sideways. Not completely but about at a 45. I checked the Ph levels and they are fine. I was told since they where kept in hard water before I got them they should stay that way. I have tried to feed them a variety of different food. Beets, zucchini, dried peaches, shrimp pellets, flake food, cichlid pellets, They just ignore everything. As any one experienced this before please help.

t_chelle16 · Moderator Joined: 22 Mar 2004 Posts: 3436

What are your readings for ammonia, nitrIte, and nitrAte?
How big is your tank?
What are the other cihclids with them?
How long has the tank been set up?

-Chelle

r1806 · New member Joined: 20 Apr 2006 Posts: 8

nitrite, and nitrate are zero. im currently have no ammonia test but plan on getting asap. its a 55 gal. its been set up for about 2 months

t_chelle16 · Moderator Joined: 22 Mar 2004 Posts: 3436

r1806 · New member Joined: 20 Apr 2006 Posts: 8

the nitrate is just barley showing on the test strips i have. maby 5-10ppm(mg/l). there lake malawi cihclids a yellow lab. im not sure of the other names but ones orange ones blue.

kc5gvn · Moderator Joined: 15 Mar 2004 Posts: 1147

Hi r1806, There could be any number of reasons for them to swim at an angle. Watch for them scratching on the gravel in the tank. It can be a sign of high ammonia or nitrites or an ich infestation. If they are being harassed by other fish they will swim at an angle giving them a better view above and below them. Another common cause for Pacus swimming at an angle is because the tank is too small. Pacus will swim the length of the tank. If it is too small they swim at an angle and flip over at the end of the tank to swim back because of the small turning radius.

r1806 · New member Joined: 20 Apr 2006 Posts: 8

according to a web site i found the other 2 are red zebras 1 male 1 female.

r1806 · New member Joined: 20 Apr 2006 Posts: 8

I went and got ammonia test. its a little on the high side when I put in the treatment do I just pour the appropriate amount into the water or through the filter?

t_chelle16 · Moderator Joined: 22 Mar 2004 Posts: 3436

It really sounds like your tank isn't cycled.

What treatment did you get? Normally, I would not add chemicals to remove ammonia, they generally just cause more problems in the long run and prevent the tank from cycling.

Exactly how high was the ammonia (how many ppm?)?

I would start doing daily water changes and try to keep it as close to 0 as you can. You'll also start to see a rise in nitrIte so you'll have to continue doing water changes to keep that as close to 0 as possible. Eventually, the ammonia & nitrIte will stay at 0 and you'll have nitrAte readings. When that happens, the tank is cycled and you'll just have to do water changes to keep the nitrAtes below 20.

The one thing I would suggest you try to find is BioSpira (I don't recomend any of the imitations like Stress zyme or Cycle). That should almost instantly cycle your tank. Or if you could get some filter medis from an established tank, that will help speed things up a little.

-Chelle