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Post by kagome on Nov 13, 2009 14:39:52 GMT -5
How long does it take for fish to gain weight typically? I have bought a new albino bushy-nose pleco and she was held way too long in a holding tank without proper food and she is very skinny. She's just a baby, only about four inches long. I've had her for less than week and she still seems very skinny even though there is a lot of algae and she's eating algae wafers. She is very active and otherwise seems very healthy should I be concerned?
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Post by bikeguy33 on Nov 13, 2009 17:57:33 GMT -5
a week is very lil time. she will need time with a good diet before you will notice a difference. this will depend on things like competition for food, how much and how often she is fed, a like other beings, her personal matabolism....if she is eating well tho, she will put weight on.
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Post by kagome on Nov 13, 2009 18:18:14 GMT -5
Thanks Bill. I am making sure to take the algae wafers and break them into several pieces so that everybody has a chance to feed in peace. She gets right on there and eats her fill.
I know that she was in this holding tank for over three months because she has a distinctive mark on her head and I had been in admiring her a couple of months ago. She seemed to be in good condition then and I wanted to buy her that day but decided not to. When I went in again last week I knew it was her and saw that she was skinny pretty skinny. I had gone in to buy an albino bushy nose, but didn't expect her to still be there, I figured a new one would have been shipped in. I quickly realized that it was the same fish and I felt bad for her and bought her even though she wasn't in the best shape. I hope I can fix her up.
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Post by kagome on Nov 15, 2009 0:50:19 GMT -5
My new little pleco still seems to be doing well. She doesn't hide all the time like my other plecos and so I see her a lot throughout the day and whenever I do see her she is eating like crazy. I guess I see her all the time because she has been so starved that all she wants to do is eat. I'm trying to get a good picture of her so I can show her to ya'll, she's quite a looker.
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Post by kagome on Nov 15, 2009 11:10:10 GMT -5
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Post by Carl on Nov 15, 2009 11:37:31 GMT -5
She is looking pretty good Just look out for tell tale signs of intestinal parasites which are often a cause of a malnutrition, especially for new arrivals. That said, since you have been watching her for some time at the store and since she is adapting rapidly, I think she is/was suffering from simple lack of proper nutrition. Carl
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Post by babygeige on Nov 15, 2009 17:40:23 GMT -5
She is a cute fish!
I have lots of spare chub that I could donate!
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Post by parker002 on Nov 15, 2009 23:29:52 GMT -5
I'd just keep an eye on her.
The LFS where I bought mine said it should grow about 1 inch per month or slightly less over the first few months before it tapers off.
After almost 3 months, mine hadn't grown more than a centimeter and it died just a couple of weeks ago. I have to believe it was malnourished - it likely had intestinal parasites because of what I dealt with with my other fish and my tank is still pretty clean too.
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Post by bikeguy33 on Nov 16, 2009 0:25:19 GMT -5
actually....she doesnt look that bad. i have seen way worse. she`ll bounce back quickly with proper care i am sure. her being an albino is gonna be the biggest downfall. they arent normally as strong. keep up the good work....
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Post by kagome on Nov 17, 2009 16:28:38 GMT -5
I am happy to report that my new girl is doing very well now. Her belly is now flat instead of concave. I really love how active she is and that I get to see her almost every time I look at the tank instead of only catching a glimpse of her inside a cave like with my other plecos.
Bill, I get what you're saying about the albino thing and how often they are weaker. Hopefully she'll have a good and long life.
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