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Female weak and isolated

danbb

Member
Messages
150
Location
Romania
I have a cacatuoides female who is chased by the other 2 females and one male. The tank is 80 cm long so she is caught in the middle. She found one secluded place in the surface and almost all the time she stays there. She is very weak, the last days she refuse food (frozen artemia and daphnia): like she was try to swallow, she chew but after she spit the food. Today I saw that she ate a little artemia. I don't think that she is sick, I think is just terrorized by the other fish, but she is not looking good...
The tank has a lot of plants but she chose that isolated spot to hide. What can I do? I don't have another tank available to move her.
Thanks,
Dan
 

Mike Wise

Moderator
Staff member
5 Year Member
Messages
11,202
Location
Denver, Colorado, U.S.A.
There are very few things you can do - other than move her to another tank. The stress from aggression will eventually kill her. If it were my fish and had nowhere to put her, I'd give her away. Otherwise all you can do is remove all of the fish, rearrange the aquarium decor to make 5 or 6 different territorial boundaries in it. Then add all of the fish back in - and hope that the female isn't too weak to establish a territory of her own. At this stage it is unlikely to succeed. Sorry
 

gerald

Well-Known Member
5 Year Member
Messages
1,491
Location
Wake Forest NC, USA
Can you get a perforated plastic tank-divider? If you can't separate her from the aggressive ones, she will probably die.
 

danbb

Member
Messages
150
Location
Romania
This is what I did for the moment: put her in a little rectangle device used for guppy's to give birth and she seems to be more fine. Still not eating but less stressed. Lets see...
Thank you.
 

Mike Wise

Moderator
Staff member
5 Year Member
Messages
11,202
Location
Denver, Colorado, U.S.A.
I find that such breeder boxes are not a long-term (more than a few days) solution. They are just too small. They cause just as much stress as being harassed in the tank. I think Gerald's idea of a tank divider is a better solution.
 

danbb

Member
Messages
150
Location
Romania
It's just temporary, and so far so good: she is eating. I must do something next days, divide the tank or give her.
 

gerald

Well-Known Member
5 Year Member
Messages
1,491
Location
Wake Forest NC, USA
If you must use a breeder-box for temporary holding, put in a couple small pipes (plastic or bamboo) and thick plants on top (Java-moss, Najas, Ceratophyllum, etc) or dead tree leaves to hide under and minimize stress.
 

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