Help Jack is just sitting on the bottom.

John · Joined: 15 Jan 2008 Posts: 3

My Jack Dempsey has been fine in his new tank for about a month. Late
Tuesday he started sitting on the bottom just not moving and not going after
his food. When I put some food in today he came about 1/2 up the tank then
went back to the bottom. We added an algae eater a few days ago could he be
upset about his new tank mate? The temp in the tank has been warm I am
having a time keeping the tanks around 75 to 80 degrees. It went up to 85
before I got it to cool down some with a water change. Any advice?

Archived from group: alt>aquaria>tropical>fish>hobbist

Tynk · Joined: 16 Aug 2007 Posts: 200

On Feb 6, 5:57�pm, "John" wrote:
> My Jack Dempsey has been fine in his new tank for about a month. Late
> Tuesday he started sitting on the bottom just not moving and not going after
> his food. When I put some food in today he came about 1/2 up the tank then
> went back to the bottom. We added an algae eater a few days ago could he be
> upset about his new tank mate? The temp in the tank has been warm I am
> having a time keeping the tanks around 75 to 80 degrees. It went up to 85
> before I got it to cool down some with a water change. Any advice?

Hi there.
Please answer some Q's first, as this will help in figuring out the
Dempsey's problem.

What size tank is this, and how large is the Dempsey?
You mentioned him being in his *new* tank for about a *month*.
Was this tank cycled before adding him?
If so, how did you cycle it.
You said you cooled the tank down with a water change.
Was this done by adding cold water all at once or was it very gradual?
Water changes. Have you been doing them regularly, and how much at a
time?
Ditto on the gravel vacuuming.
Are you feeding him live feeders? If so, do you buy them or grow them
yourself?
Last...did you quarantine the algae eater before adding to the tank?