Black Ghost died this morning

[FishRnotFood]

We brought him home two weeks ago and this morning he died. I believe he died from starvation. I tried to feed him freeze dried tubifex and bloodworm. Also tried, frozen blood worms & brine shrimp. Nada. He would take a bite but would spit it out when I hand fed him. I even tried thawing out the food in a syringe mixed with aquarium water and would shoot it in his direction but he either ignored it or he would spit it out too.

I feel so bad for the little guy. I wonder if the bright lights are responsible for it. Our tank is bright with 4 65w 6700k lights with CO2 auto system but there were places to hide from the bright lights like inside two pieces hollow driftwood and uder some thick sword plants. During the day he would alwaya hang outbetween the glass and the Eheim's return sprayer bar. My son was VERY SAD too on his way to school.

This is not my first Black Ghost. I had one way back when I was 14 and he behaved very differently. During the day, he would hang out in his cave and he never had a problem eating and would always eat from my hand.

Chemistry is all within normal limits.
Nitrite 0
Nitrate 0
Ph 6.9-7.1

:'(FishRnotFood

[FMZ]

I think he died from lack of food. I have a high light tank too and using CO2. What what I have gathered feeding my BGK, she spits out her food if she doesn't like it. So far, only food she likes and wont spit out is bloodworms.

Next time you buy a BGK, ask your LFS what they were feeding it. Also, you can try live food such as live blackworms and many good LFS carries them

Good luck

[bryce2003]

Good advice FMZ. However I think it was more that there wasn't food availible for it when it was ready to eat. Some BGK'will get comfortable after they have settled in to a tank and eat when ever it is feeding time. However when introduced to a new tank they will resort to instinct and that is to feed after dark. The easiest way to get around this is to feed 1/2 hour after lights out. That way other fish won't knock off it's food, therefore it won't starve and should get used to any food that is availible. Fish are a lot like humans in that even when starving they will accept nearly any food as a matter of survival, perfect example being the Argentinian Unoin side who crashed in the Andes and ate their dead team mates for survival. As a last resort anything can or will be consumed for survival. Hope this helps and good luck with your next 1.
Cheers,
Bryce.

[steveo2004]

A little late posting once again but i just figured id add my 2 cents.. for the first week my bgk would not eat he would do the same spit the food out or just ignore it and let the others eat extra i was starting to get worried after a week with out eating.. he hangs out in a hollow log so i placed a nice clump of frozen blood worms in there i have done it before but he would just ignore the clump one day he just desided he was used to his suroundings and that he was hungry so he tore into the clump.. i was so releived he ate.. but i read (so that means its just someones thoughts not nessasarily true) that they eat once there comfortable and some will actualy starve themselves to death wich would not be your fault.. i beleive all the fish have diffrent personalities as do humans.. some just cant deal with the change of the wild to a tank.. (This is just a personal opinion)

[ryknier]

Bloodworms I find are real good, and i also find that brine shrimp work really good, in fact i think thats what mine favors!!!