White Cloud Minnow not eating

**serbusfish** · 12-12-2012, 09:59 PM

Today when feeding my fish I noticed one of my White Cloud Minnows was hiding out at the back of the tank and not taking any food. It is smaller than the others which I always thought was odd, but ive never noticed that is wasnt eating until today. I have 5 minnows in total, is there anything that might be causing this behavior and what should I do about it?

**j250nyahweh** · 12-12-2012, 10:05 PM

Is he smaller but still proportionate or does he looked malnourished, like with a sunken in belly?
How long have you have him?
Do you have any other fish with them? 5 minnows might not be quite enough for him to feel comfortable, how big is your tank?

**serbusfish** · 12-12-2012, 10:24 PM

Originally Posted by j250nyahweh

Is he smaller but still proportionate or does he looked malnourished, like with a sunken in belly?
How long have you have him?
Do you have any other fish with them? 5 minnows might not be quite enough for him to feel comfortable, how big is your tank?

He hasnt got a big belly like the others do, but it isnt sunken in, its just sort of flat. Ive had the minnows for around a month now so surely he must be eating something?

Yes there are also 4 Black Skirt tetras in the tank (never seen them bother the minnows). The tank is 27 gallons.

**j250nyahweh** · 12-12-2012, 10:39 PM

The one's with the big bellies would be the females, and he may just be the lone male, but what would you say his overall shape is? Is it "football" shaped like this ><> or more more elongated, like this >=> (if that makes any sense)
If it's like the second one he's most likely malnourished and likely not eating because he's not acclimating to his new home. In those cases there's not much you can do.
This happens and is kind of to be expected at times. I have around 30 white clouds and of those 2 or 3 have not made it past a month or so. The rest are perfectly healthy.

**serbusfish** · 12-12-2012, 11:13 PM

The second one, he isnt fat at all, I'll try and get a pic.

EDIT:

Hmm when you see it on its own it does look like the first example, but I assure you he is much smaller than the others.

**j250nyahweh** · 12-12-2012, 11:38 PM

This probably should've been one of my first questions, but is your tank cycled? Can you test the water parameters, Nitrite, Nitrite and Ammonia?

**Gogi** · 12-13-2012, 12:12 AM

It looks like it hasn't been eating for awhile from that pic. Maybe you can make the school a little bigger and he might get bullied less. My white clouds are constantly chasing each other but I have 15 in my 30 gallon so the chasing gets spread out and some get a break.

**serbusfish** · 12-13-2012, 12:21 AM

Originally Posted by j250nyahweh

This probably should've been one of my first questions, but is your tank cycled? Can you test the water parameters, Nitrite, Nitrite and Ammonia?

I think its nearly finished cycling. I got the minnows 5 days after I set up the tank and they have been my ammonia supply (I know, bad decision..) but I never let levels get above 0.25ppm and they have always seemed healthy and happy. I did a water change on Monday, on Tuesday morning I had 0.25 ammonia, 0 nitrite, 10 - 20 nitrate, but by the evening ammonia had dropped to 0, which it is still at. Someone told me this could indicate im nearly done cycling, but i'll wait a few more days and see what happens.

Originally Posted by Gogi

It looks like it hasn't been eating for awhile from that pic. Maybe you can make the school a little bigger and he might get bullied less. My white clouds are constantly chasing each other but I have 15 in my 30 gallon so the chasing gets spread out and some get a break.

Ive have never seen him being bullied, they are seem to get along fine. I dont want to get anymore as their are other species I want to add to the tank once its cycled.

**Gogi** · 12-13-2012, 12:41 AM

I understand. White cloud minnows are hardy fish and since you are being very proactive in keeping the ammonia down there is not much more you can do for it. Sorry I could not help

**serbusfish** · 12-13-2012, 12:37 PM

Well this morning I decided to test something, I put a little bit of food at the front of the tank and once the others started eating I put a tiny bit at the back where he hangs out. I saw him take a few little bits, and he even came out to where the rest where eating. I guess I will have to do this from now on and see if he starts eating better.