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Hi! I kept a Gibbiceps for 15 years without a single problem. Its only perculiarity was it would rub its nose raw after the tank was cleaned out, but this only lasted a couple of days. I purchased a 'new' fully grown Gibby last week to replace the one that died a couple of years ago. The tank has been up and running for about 6 weeks. The ammonia, nitrites, nitrates, all seem to be in order. The water is very slightly acid and has very low dh. The temperature is about 24*C. I have Cardinal tetras which seem happy enough, so I don't think water quality is an issue...
The problem is, the Gibby doesn't seem to want to feed. I've tried him on Algae wafers, Plecostomus tablets, general catfish tablets, Tetra Prima, cucumber. It finds the tablet, but as it mouths it, it just stops eating and jets water through its gills in spasms. I can't see anything obvisously wrong with it's mouth or gills. It's also able to suck the glass normally and firmly. It has good colouration and it's not emaciated. In addition to this, it continuously swims against the glass rubbing it's nose like the old gibby I had used to on tank changes (or when I came into the room and it though it was going to get fed). Any ideas/suggestions? Thanks for your time and sorry for ranting on!
Guy

Hi!

How big is the fish? Are we talking 50 cm (20 inches)? I would go ask the person you got that fish from what they fed him...if the fish is really old hell have his habits and putting it into a new environment is imho more complicated than introducing a "baby" that can still learn.
I would try feed fresh veggies and live food or frosted (Bloodworms,cyclops,etc.). My plecos love potatoes of you wonna try that they keep their consistence for quite a while.

BTw hi and welcome to the forum! Overlooked that...

Thanks for the reply and the welcome! The Gibby is about 11 inches. I've never seen a bigger one (although I understand they can grow bigger) and my last one must've been about 20 years old before it died (and that wasn't of old age - it got stuck in a Teapot in the tank when I was away on my travels - my Dad assumed the fact it kept eating meant it was hungry and fed it about 10 times its normal rations so it bloated over the year I was gone and got fataly stuck in the teapot. I even changed my travel plans and Flew from Seattle back to Ireland to rescue it because my parents were afraid to smash the Teapot with him inside. Alas, to no avail, the much beloved family pet perished).
Sorry, ranting again... the current gibby unfortunately has no history. It was dumped in the pet shop just before I bought it so it didn't have a routine or feeding pattern there.

Thanks again!

Guy

Hi again!

I think my new Gibbiceps is settling in at last. I don't think it had ever eaten tablets before. It seems to be getting the hang of sucking them now! So it would seem you can teach an old cat new tricks!

Thanks!

Guy