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I've tried to keep a few of these,three I think, and have lost each one. I've read the water and general requirements for this fish but something always went wrong. One case may have been an overeating. The fish was found a feeder and several others in its mouth. I know I have VERY hard water and must adjust this.
IF I plan on taking this guy on again I would like to know if someone has found any "tricks" to keeping these happy and living long. I have seen this guy being fed red worms from a tweeser at the shop. It is healthy and feeding aggressivly.
Any help would be great. Thanks

I have kept these fish and have been stupid enough to loose them through nothing other than stupidity.
The first one I had from about 1 inch through to 6 inches, when I first got him I did not know what he was or anything.
He grew to about 3 inches in a comunity tank without me knowing what he was eating or how he survived but it turned out he was eating baby guppies, he then went on to eating big guppies.
I got him onto eating prawns by keeping him with pictus cats which he 'learned' to eat prawns from. I speak no lies he would not eat prawns no matter what until he saw a pictus eat some and that was it.
He died in an outbreak of the dreaded 'Super white spot' that was brought in with an adonis plec that wiped out many of my fish.
The second one got to about 12" and then burned itself terminally on a heater.
The third one died in a move to my new house he was about 1" and grew to about three inches before he died.
I know that may make my advice worthless but the only advice I can give regarding your problem is get them off live food ASAP.
It's pointless feeding them live fish, it costs more and increases the risks of disease and choking.
Matt

grokefish wrote:It's pointless feeding them live fish, it costs more and increases the risks of disease and choking.
Matt

I do agree fully. I've read ads requesting for cheap fish, I know the buyer will use as feederfish. howevre,r cheap fich does have more risks than expensive, and expensive fish (1 euro each, that is 0,66 UK pound, or today 1,30 US $) would be rediculous

Personally I solve this differently: I select my young fish before selling them. Everything I do not sell, will be eaten. the fish are healthy, I know because i raised them myself.

I would not touch a bought feeder fish with gloves on

Thanks for the reply.
I agree that the problems may very well have stem from the use of feeder fish from the chain stores. Over eating, sudden unexplianable deaths. I find no thrills in feeding live food to my animals. I keep alot of reptiles also. So there is no need to get back into feeders. I want to keep him alone to lessen any stress or anything. I love this fish and want to see one into adult in my home.

Have you heard of PH being a problem? Keeping koi I have gotten into testing water alot more often.

Would you say this fish is easy to keep should it not be fed live food?

I got him today. Its been in the shop for 3 weeks now and everytime we've been in there it has eaten small earthworm pieces from tweezers. NO FEEDERS and it will never get them.
Currently about 3 inches in length and enjoying massive airation and current.
So here I go.
Pics to come.

Is the pink something to worry about? Is there a water quality problem? There are only two fish and ample filtration. Water is hard. He is fed worm every other day by tweezers. Nothing bothers him. Could it be the flash?